About Zuma’s

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to Zuma’s! Here are a few answers to questions we receive from first-time visitors.

We are happy to guide you through the most commonly asked questions!

Of course! If you’d like a tour, you can sign up for a Ranch Tour here. When you arrive, make sure to find a staff member (we wear red!) and they’ll get you a release form to sign.
Zuma is the Messenich Family’s first horse, her untimely death changed the family’s life and was the spark to start the nonprofit.
Boomer was one of the family’s original show horses that lost his life to a misdiagnosis, another human error. Boomer’s life changed how we care for horses in regard to nutrition, fecal samples, and colic care.
Lucky was a 2009 rescue that was found in horrible condition living in a city neighborhood backyard. He was the ambassador for our first at-risk youth group program with Shiloh House Denver. We sadly lost Lucky to colic in 2013.
We’re so happy to have you! To become a Zumateer, attend a new volunteer orientation third Saturday of each month, 9:00-12:00. After you attend Volunteer Orientation, you are officially a Zumateer!
If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities with more hands-on animal time, be sure to sign up for our mandatory Horsemanship 101 class. This class covers the basics of interacting with our herd and will allow you to spend more time with our amazing animals.
At Zuma’s, we make a conscious effort to not discuss our herd’s history in front of the herd, as many have come from traumatic situations. If you have a question about a specific horse, be sure to visit Our Herd page, or chat with a staff member.
No, these are different.
Sponsoring a horse means you help Zuma’s provide food, care, and medical attention to that herd member but you do not own them.
Most of our rescues are here to stay! We don’t usually adopt out our herd members unless we feel that they have found a perfect fit, because we want Zuma’s to become their forever home.
If you’re interested in leasing one of our horses, check on their bio page to see if they are available!
When you sign up for riding lessons at Zuma’s Riding Academy, our experienced instructors will select a horse that would be a good fit for you at your current riding level. Most likely you will get to ride several of our incredible lesson horses over the course of your riding education.
Here at Zuma’s, we strive to ensure every experience is as beneficial to the horse as possible. Together with The American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), we suggest that horses should not carry more than 15% human and 5% tack weight for a combined 20% of their body weight on their backs, as this can cause damage to their spine and connective tissue.
If you’re looking to spend time with our horses and gain more knowledge, please explore our Additional Equine Education Options. All of these classes take place with everyone’s feet on the ground and are inclusive of every experience level.
What to Wear When Volunteering
Closed-toes shoes are required at all times. Otherwise, dress for the weather and bring layers!

A water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, work gloves, and sunglasses are helpful items to bring as well.

What to Wear To a Riding or Equine Lesson
Long pants are required, and wear a comfortable shirt for the weather or indoor arena. Our program has boots, half-chaps and helmets to borrow.
What have we done over the years?
2008- After four years and 15 rescue horses, we formalized our 501c3
2009- We went on our first large-scale rescue, helping 200 mustangs from a hoarding situation, partnering with HSUS to get them home
2010- We partnered with Denkai to home some of the Mustangs we saved. The man who starved the horses in Alliance, Nebraska, in 2009, went to prison with the information Zuma provided to the District Attorney
2011- Jodi, our founder, became an advisory board member for ASPCA, HSUS, and AWI Homes for Horse Coalition. She held that post for 10 years. We saved 6 horses from various situations.
2012- We partnered with Denver University Graduate School of Social Work to complete a 12-month-long pilot study of the benefits of rescued horses and foster children.
2013- We formally began our Z.E.A.L. Program, Zuma’s Equine Assisted Learning program for foster children.
2014- We partnered with CASA to offer more mental health programs for foster families
2015- we rescued 23 horses in one day from a corrupt brand inspector colluding with a kill buyer at Centennial Auction. This placed our herd size at 71 rescue horses
2016- We became a referral program for Arapahoe/Douglas Children and Family Services
2017- We partnered with Metro State University and Prescott University to host interns in our mental health
programs
2018- We began our Safety
Net Program for Horse Owners, which helps keep horses at home with feed and veterinary assistance.
We began the plan to create Colorado’s only non-profit large animal clinic.
2019- We received our Use by Special Review from Douglas County to allow the large animal clinic and camping for horse owners with horses in our care.
2020- We had the architectural renderings done for the non-profit clinic. We also began budgetary plans for the clinic
2021- We began the capital campaign for the large animal clinic
2022-We began our horse owner education classes to help new horse owners learn preventative care, colic care, wound management, and nutrition.
2023- We restructured the entire team and changed leadership, realizing we were not ready for a succession plan.
2024- No new partnership this year, continued maintaining feeding 43,800 meals a year to our herd and averaging 780 mental health sessions for our community members
2025- We began the remodel of the hay barn to construct the new non-profit clinic