When Amanda Moore was a high school teacher she would take her students outside whenever she could. She says they would get a better grasp of the lesson when they could see it hands on, rather than reading a textbook.

Today, Moore’s classroom is the outdoors and students come to her at Reigning Grace Ranch, a non-profit facility complete with horses, donkeys, mini horses, one cow and, of course, the requisite dog. Moore has traded the normal teacher attire for blue jeans, a “rodeo” T-shirt and a baseball cap that says “Born Free.”

However, Moore still has the presence of a teacher. Her clear voice inspires one to listen and pay attention.

On the day The Times visited, about half a dozen students with the special needs class from Fountain Hills High School were at the Ranch. She was teaching the power of words and the meaning they hold.

After taping placards to everyone’s back – students, mentors and even Moore – the students were invited to move about and write a word of description about the person to whom the sign is attached.

The next step was using a water-based paint to transfer some of the words onto a group of equine billboards. The horses are remarkably still as the students use their fingers to write and draw on their sides. Moore does note that not all of the 50-plus horses wandering the nearby corral would be suitable for such a class exercise.

Reigning Grace Ranch sits on 15 acres just north of Rio Verde Drive, west of the Verde communities. It is a non-profit started by Moore and her husband, Christopher, eight years ago. Moore operates the ranch with about 55 volunteers and no paid staff. The volunteers receive about 18 hours of initial training to become mentors, a bridge between the horses and the kids who visit.

Moore said on weekends there are about 30 kids who come out to learn about the horses and the hardworking western cowboy values the ranch uses. The weekend visitors are kids who live in foster homes and/or are considered “at risk.”

Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Brownies also visit RGR to participate in activities to earn project or badge credits.

The horses at the ranch arrive from varying places. There are rescue animals with some available for adoption. Others are boarders that belong to some of the ranch volunteers. Some of the animals will live out their days at Reigning Grace.

The Reigning Grace mission stated on the website is “Redeem the horse and child; strengthen the family; discover the spirit.”

Moore and her husband both grew up with horses and learned about the work that went with keeping them. During their college days and early adulthood they got away from horses, until about 12 years ago when they took up the equine life again.

As the ranch relies on its volunteers for help their outreach can be limited, according to Moore.

“We can only work with as many kids as we have volunteers for,” she said.

The ranch also relies on donors for financial support.

The people of the Verde communities have stepped up as both mentors and providing financial help. Fountain Hills Rotary Club has also become a supporting organization. Reigning Grace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.

Moore is ready and willing to accept more help from those interested in becoming either a volunteer or a donor.

“We have a lot of areas were volunteers are needed,” Moore said.

Anyone interested in learning more can start by visiting the Reigning Grace Ranch website, azrgr.org, or visit info@azrgr.org.