When Jay D. Muller finally made the decision to move the Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center (GVEALC) from its home of six and a half years at Reimer’s Rainbow Ranch, he couldn’t believe his timing. First was the fact the property was available, and more difficult second, because COVID 19 hit before the official closing of the deal.

But all’s well that ends well. And “well” endings are what the GVEALC and Moon Farm in its current, and growing, state is all about.

That’s because the owners of the Moon Farm, David and Jannae Moon, while turning down offers from several real estate speculators during the COVID down period, knew they had picked the right buyers with Jay D, his wife Suzanne, and their burgeoning passion known as the GVEALC. “We were so fortunate the Moons were patient while we worked our way to funding the purchase. They could have sold it for more, but our common vision to keep the Moon Farm a fun, learning destination in sharing their family legacy and in funding the GVEALC kept and now fuels our dreams as well,” said Jay D. “And today the GVEALC continues to grow with exciting plans for the future in strengthening our community.”

As most passion dreams begin, GVEALC’s began with a happenstance. While the original version was successful in treating patients one-on-one, something caught Jay D’s attention out of the corner of his eye. That something was a young brother of a patient passing time during his sibling’s appointment while playing in the dust of the Rainbow Ranch. “And that got me looking at what the parents were doing during the appointment, and then because the physical limitations of many of our patients take up so much time and effort that the family needs our services as well,” said Muller while noting 81 percent of families with physically affected members end in divorce. “And in order to provide those, we needed somewhere which could provide a sanctuary for families.”

Enter the Moon Farm and even more success stories for the GVEALC. One of the first being that little boy playing in the dust at Reimer’s Rainbow Ranch. He just completed a movie role as a stand in in Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga” filmed around Moab, Utah.

Another is Kath Carter, who came to GVEALC when she was suffering from ADHD, autism and sensory issues and received mental health horse therapy. Fittingly, Carter, who was a student of both Muller and Jannae Moon and a member of the last summer camp at the Moon Farm, had successful therapy and landed work tending horses at the Moon Farm and has continued her success to certification in foot reflexology and looks to offer that therapy at the GVEALC in the future. Carter found both of her working positions through partners of the GVEALC.

Those partnerships are very important in both growing the GVEALC and in bringing back many of the familiar features of the Moon Farm.

Muller points to partnerships with local businesses that adopt buildings to help with upkeep and decorate and participate in Moon Farm events; business partnerships in GVEALC’s homeschool program and enrichment builder programs for education and therapies; and a growing partnership with Colorado Mesa University’s early childhood program, along with the university hosting an occupational therapy sensory day and building sensory fields on the ever-expanding property. “We’re becoming a multi-layered onion excited to be peeled,” added Muller.

According to Muller, the three prongs of the current edition of the combined GVEALC/Moon farm are the horse therapies; a teaching facility for autism patients via The Autism Group, or TAGteach which provides education and therapies for parents and patients alike; and in time creating a research facility to enhance the work being done to share with other facilities providing the same services.

Recent additions to the property include bringing back the petting zoo (from a grant from the Fruita Thrift Store), hay storage facilities, a shaded riding arena and an indoor riding area, soon complete with internet and cameras for remote sessions with expert therapists assisting the staff and patients year-round. The GVEALC also has partnered with the Colorado Agribusiness and Equine Services Academy to provide homeschooling and kids’ enrichment in working with horses, care, horsemanship and learning breeds.

But as the air turns crisp and the calendar flips to fall, events and fun take center stage at the Moon Farm. Once again, the pumpkin patch is open daily through Halloween where you can choose a prepicked pumpkin or wander the field for that special pumpkin, Trick or Treat Street on Oct. 26 and a newer tradition in December with the Moon Farm’s Festival of Lights featuring decorations and lighting throughout the property and a musical light show featured in and around many of the Moon Farm’s classic buildings.

The merging of the Moon Farm and the GVEALC is now a full-time labor of love for Muller who is transitioning from his teaching career to overseeing operations across the property. But it’s all made easier with the help of countless volunteers from local businesses and success stories like Carter. “To see Kath come so far in her healing is amazing and wonderful to see” said Muller, “From where she came to tagging along as a spokesperson for interviews and working along side is proof our mission is working in our community.”