Accepting Differences

As many of you know, Zuma’s Rescue Ranch is a sanctuary — not just for animals, but for people as well. We serve individuals and animals who live with both physical and mental challenges, and that requires a deep level of compassion, awareness, and patience from everyone who steps onto the ranch.

Some of our horses exhibit behaviors that, to those unfamiliar, may seem unpredictable or even dangerous. Similarly, some of our neurodivergent guests or clients may express themselves in ways that can feel confusing or personal to others. Judging these behaviors or making assumptions without context can create unnecessary conflict or misunderstanding.

At Zuma’s, we do our best — and more importantly, we strive to continually evolve to create a safe, respectful, and healing environment for all.

You might ask, what does that look like in practice?

• It means recognizing that some horses have trauma histories that make them reactive to certain stimuli — such as being touched by a stranger.

• It also means understanding that some people carry their own traumas, which affect how they interpret the world and respond to others.

The key is this: we often project our own experiences onto others — animals and humans alike — without understanding the story behind the behavior. At Zuma’s, we are committed to building a culture of empathy, where we don’t just care for beings, but seek to understand them.

Let’s continue creating a space where all feel safe to grow, heal, and be seen for who they are — not just how they behave. Should a situation arise, I would hope that you would refrain from judgment and seek information to understand a situation versus reacting and deepening the trauma on either side.