About Us
It all started with a girl and her horse...
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Michelle was in a horse barn within the first 5 years of her life. Her mother, who became an avid rider and therapeutic riding instructor, introduced her to the love of horses. Soon life got busy and Michelle found she had grown apart from the horse world. When at 16, she had a near death experience, she had spent a few years seeking what she felt was missing from her life. She found her missing piece when she met Gully. After close to a year working with horses again, Michelle decided to take the plunge and purchase a horse of her own. Gully, a 17-year-old Appaloosa, was Michelle’s “heart” horse. They worked at a therapeutic riding school together for almost 4 years. When the therapeutic riding school started an Equine Assisted Learning program, Michelle knew that horses had so much more to give than just riding lessons and was incredibly intrigued. However, Gully was ready to retire and Michelle knew it was time to put him to pasture and discover what else the horse world had to offer. Michelle went on to work at show barns, active racing Standardbred barns, and eventually began her own boarding stable (Willow Lane Stables) with her now husband, Wayne Mulholland.
January 2017 hit hard. Gully colicked and had to be put to sleep. Michelle was lost. She had lost her best friend and greatest teacher. Her world had crumbled. She did what she knew Gully would expect of her, and brushed herself off to continue on working with horses. When in 2018, Michelle had an opportunity to get a certification as an equine facilitator, she jumped at the chance. She had experienced first hand, how the nature of the horse brings out the best in people - and she had a strong desire to help others. Gully, himself, had saved Michelle, both mentally and physically, and he had taught her just as much about herself as about horses. Michelle knew she would enjoy being a facilitator, but found she absolutely fell in love with it. Willow Lane Stables decided to switch gears and become Gully’s Learning Ranch.
Our Team
Michelle Mulholland
Co-Owner, Certified EAL Facilitator,
BA in Anthropology, Diploma in Equine Studies,
Certificate in Equine Business Management
After being around horses for most of her life and working in the equine industry for some time, Michelle and her husband, Wayne, started a small boarding business, Willow Lane Stables, in 2016. Although they enjoyed their work, learning more about horses and equine business management, Michelle felt that she had a passion to work with horses to help people, and they began building their new business, Gully's Learning Ranch.
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In 2018, Michelle was certified through the internationally recognized Equine Connection - The Academy of Equine Assisted Learning, Inc. which complimented her array of Diplomas and Certifications from McMaster University and the University of Guelph.
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Although Michelle has experience throughout the equine industry, she has truly found her purpose in life by combining all of her knowledge into one dream career!
Wayne Mulholland
Co-Owner,
Property Maintenance and Development Manager,
Facilitating Team - Arena Assistant
Wayne grew up in a small town, and when he moved to the city, he felt like a country boy out of place. Longing to make the trek back home to the country, he always hoped he would live on a ranch.
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Although Wayne has never worked with horses before, meeting Michelle gave him a calling. Working with horses came naturally to Wayne, and soon he was working alongside Michelle at various barn jobs. Horses became a huge part of their lives. Wayne and Michelle began Willow Lane Stables, a boarding stable, in 2016.
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Being Property Manager at Gully's Learning Ranch starting in 2018, provided Wayne with, not only the opportunity to move back to the country, but also to use the contractor skills he had developed while working in the city. When we have large groups come through our program, Wayne is also a part of our Facilitating Team as our Arena Assistant.
Dreamer
Teacher
Breed: American Paint Horse
Age: 14-years-old
Height: 14hh
Colour: Bay with white spots
Dreamer is a Paint - that means she has beautiful spots on her! Dreamer has had quite a life before joining our herd. When she was a baby, she was in a horrible accident. She got her leg caught in a metal hay feeder. She ended up breaking her back right leg, cutting up her back left leg, and almost lost her left eye. Dreamer is healed, but cannot be ridden, and so, she became a fantastic horse teacher.
Dreamer loves people. She is very sweet and sensitive - which makes her a gentle and patient teacher. She has so much to teach us about perseverance and bravery - she fought hard to heal and live. Her ability to carry on after such tragedy, gives her the opportunity to help her students through difficulties.
Lady
Teacher
Breed: Shetland Pony
Age: 9-years-old
Height: 8.1hh
Colour: Cremello
Lady is a pony who is full of life. She is our youngest and smallest herd member, and with her silly personality, she has been given the nickname, "Ladybug". Lady is a unique colour - she has very light colour hair and pink skin underneath! Her pink skin can get burned easily. She also has 2 blue eyes - only certain colours of horses can have blue eyes! Because of her sensitive eyes and skin, she often wears her "sunglasses", a mess mask that protect her face from the sun. Lady has lived with our Miniature Horse, Sam, for many years - even before they jointed our herd! She lives with Sam and Sadie in our Mini Herd.
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Lady teachers her students that it is fun to be authentic and unique! She loves to cuddle, play, and make her students laugh. She has tons of energy and loves to connect, bringing out the best in her students.
Sam
Teacher
Breed: Miniature Horse
Age: 11-years-old
Height: 9.1hh
Colour: Buckskin with a white blaze and 2 white socks
Sam is sweet and sensitive, who loves people. Sam is unique because he has 2 different coloured eyes - one is brown and one is blue! Only certain colours of horses can have blue eyes. He has lived with our Shetland Pony, Lady, for many years - even before they joined our herd! He lives with Lady and Sadie in our Mini Herd.
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Sam teaches his students how important it is to be a supportive friend. He is quiet and calm, always with an eye on his students. He loves to cuddle and take things slow in the arena. He teaches his students that it is okay to slow down and enjoy the small things in life. Sam stops and smells the roses any chance he can!
Wayne "Wayner" Jr.
Teacher
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age: 19-years-old
Height: 16hh
Colour: Bay
We are lucky enough to have 2 Wayne's on our ranch! Wayne, our Property Manager, and Wayne, the horse teacher. Originally bought as Michelle's personal riding horse, they knew it was destined to be when they heard the name of this special boy. Wayne is a Thoroughbred with high pedigree breeding (he's registered with a race name of "Way Of The Wild" - by the prominent stud "Smart Strike"). However, Wayne is a perfect example of how temperament wins over breeding. Wayne was track trained, but never raced. He was too slow to even qualify.
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Wayne has a fun-loving personality. He loves to cuddle, play, and snooze - not exactly the personality needed for a racehorse! Wayne is uusually a Supportive Member of the Facilitation Team - keeping the horse teachers who are not working, calm and relaxed.
Sadie
Professor
Breed: Miniature American Spotted Donkey
Age: 15-years-old
Height: 9hh
Colour: Bay with white spots
Sadie is our resident Spotted Miniature Donkey, and she is a girl with a BIG voice and lots to say! Sadie was a broodmare (well, broodjenny) in a couple of different Miniature Donkey breeding programs. However, a few months prior to us, she miscarried her last baby. Our late Miniature Donkey, P.J., needed a companion, and Sadie needed to heal her aching heart. So, as a lovely Holiday present for P.J., Sadie came to us on December 17th, 2015. Sadie instantly fell into the care taking role for P.J., and they lived happily together, in the same stall, until P.J.'s passing on April 26th, 2023.
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Sadie is a very gentle, sensitive, and kind donkey. As a donkey, Sadie takes on more of a Professor role, as opposed to a teacher. Donkeys are different to work with than horses, and can be a challenge for students! She lives with Lady and Sam in our Mini Herd.
Muffin
Greeter
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Age: 9-years-old
Size: 10 pounds
Colour: Tabby Smoke (black with a grey undercoat)
Muffin is our Barn Cat at Gully's Learning Ranch. He is very sweet and likes to hang out in his cat tower in the barn office. If you pop your head into the office when you visit, you are sure to be met with this sweet face!
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Muffin is often the first animal to greet students. He is a sweet, funny, and happy cat, who loves to entertain and be silly. Muffin loves to purr when he is getting pet. Sometimes he even likes to sit on laps!
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You will often hear his meow before you see him!
Memorials
Gully
Teacher
July 28th, 1994 - January 31st, 2017
Breed: Appaloosa
Sex: Male (Gelding)
Height: 15hh
Colour: Spotted red roan
Gully, our namesake, was a kind, patient, and gentle horse, who came into our Certified Equine Facilitator Michelle's life just after she had lifesaving surgery. Michelle was lost when she welcomed Gully into her life when he was 17-years-old, and he taught her just as much about herself as he did about horses. Gully and Michelle worked together at a therapeutic riding centre until Gully's retirement in 2015. He continued to live with P.J., our late donkey, and his donkey friend, Sadie.
Our handsome, brave, and caring Appaloosa, Gully, passed away peacefully surrounded by those who loved him most. He was 22-years-old. When in 2018, Michelle had an opportunity to be certified as an Equine Facilitator, she jumped at the chance. She had experienced first-hand, how the nature of the horse brings out the best in people. Gully himself had saved Michelle both mentally and physically during a difficult time in her life. Gully had made such an impression on Michelle's (and Property Manager, Wayne's) lives, they wanted to honour him for being the amazing teacher he was, and Gully's Learning Ranch was created. Gully would be very proud of how our horses teach their students and Michelle is always reminded of the lessons she eared while she works in the equine industry and facilitates students through our programs. Thank you, Gully, for inspiring us through you patient and wise teaching. You are greatly missed by all. You will forever be in our hearts.
Lilly
Teacher
June 23rd, 1995 - November 24th, 2023
Breed: Shetland Pony
Sex: Female (Mare)
Height: 7.2hh (30")
Colour: Grey
Lilly was a tiny girl with HUGE heart! She was the smallest, and the oldest, member of our herd. She had a hard life before she came to be a teacher in our program. She was a mother to many babies, but never had a place to call home. She had so much to teach us about strength, perseverance, and trust. Lilly taught that, just because someone is small, does not mean they do not have might! Lilly was rescued on Easter Monday in 2018, and her full name was Easter Lilly.
Our brave, beautiful, and caring Shetland Pony, Lilly, passed away peacefully and surrounded by those who loved her most. She was 28-years-old. Lilly is recognized for her work as a horse teacher, and for all the hearts touched and lives changed because of her thoughtful, kind, and patient teaching. Lilly had been a horse teacher to over 100 students of all ages, during her meaningful career here at Gully's Learning Ranch. Lilly retired in January of 2023 after teaching for almost 4 years. Our sassy, funny, and loving Lilly started work as a horse teacher in June of 2019 and soon became a barn favourite with students. Lilly's patience, kindness, and compassion led her to being the first horse our students would work with. She was great for beginners or those who were nervous. Lilly had her fair share of health problems in the past few years. In March of 2021, Lilly bravely underwent surgery to have her right eye removed and an ear surgery in September of 2023. She began to struggle to hear and see with cataracts in her left eye. Lilly had also been battling arthritis for years. Thank you, Lilly, for all you have done for those who have worked with you. Lilly, your bravery and strength were an inspiration to all you met. You are greatly missed by all. We are grateful to have had youu in our lives. You will forever be in our hearts.
P.J.
Professor
March 2nd, 1999 - April 26th, 2023
Breed: Miniature Mediterranean Donkey
Sex: Male (John)
Height: 8hh
Colour: Grey with black dorsal strip
P.J. had been in our herd his entire life! We had the privilege of working with P.J. for 20+ years. He spent many years in the arena helping others develop life skills, such as patience, kindness, and leadership. He is recognized for his teaching elsewhere and here at Gully's Learning Ranch and for his love of children.
Our handsome, kind, and caring Miniature Mediterranean Donkey, P.J., passed away peacefully and surrounded by those who loved him most. He was 24-years-old. P.J. is recognized for his long-term service working with children - with over 15 years of experience and countless hearts touched along the way. He was loved by all who met him. He leaves behind his herd and his loving Miniature Spotted Donkey companion of almost 8 years, Sadie. P.J., Primo Junior, was named after our Certified Equine Facilitator Michelle's Great Grandpa Primo, who immigrated from Italy to Canada in the early 1900's. He spoke often to his daughter, Michelle's Grandma, of a donkey friend that he had left behind in Italy all those years ago. P.J. was a Mediterranean Donkey - the same breed of donkey that Michelle's Great Grandpa loved in the past. We bought him from a donkey breeder who was going to use him as their new breeding stud. Breeding studs are not always treated nicely, as they must be kept separately from the rest of the herd. We save P.J. from a sad and lonely life. He was ours before he was even born. Thank you, P.J., for all the work you have done helping others. You are greatly missed by all. We are grateful to have had you in our lives. You will forever be in our hearts.
Sierra
Teacher, Alpha Mare
January 10th, 2002 - January 10th, 2024
Breed: Belgian Draft Horse
Sex: Female (Mare)
Height: 17hh
Colour: Bay with white star and snip
Sierra was our Alpha Mare. This means that she was the fair, kind, and dedicated leader to our herd. You would often see her herding and protecting her family. Sierra taught strong leadership and self-esteem development. Although her size may have been intimidating, she had a heart that truly matched her size. She was confident, bold, and strong, and she loved to teach that to her students.
Our big, beautiful, and caring Belgian Draft Horses cross, Sierra, passed away peacefully, but unexpectedly, surrounded by those who loved her most. She was 22-years-old. She stood an impressive 17 Hands and weighed 2000 Pounds. Sierra is recognized for her work as a horse teacher, and for how incredibly empowering her lessons were to her students. Sierra was a gentle giant, with a heart that was even bigger. Sierra changed lives and helped many students to gain confidence and build their leadership skills. She had a sweet soul and was the definition of "do not judge a book by it's cover", with students often in awe of her size and timid to interact with her. But after working with Sierra, students felt the love and compassion that was given to them. Sierra's patient and giant heart taught over 100 students during her meaningful 4.5 year career here at Gully's Learning Ranch. Sierra is greatly missed by all of us. Sierra was the leader of our herd. She had a grounding presence. Thank you, Sierra, for all you have done for those who you have worked with. Sierra, your strength and kindness were felt by every student who had the opportunity to walk beside you. You are greatly missed by all. We are grateful to have had you in our lives. You will forever be in our hearts.
Cookie
Greeter
July 28th, 2007 - August 28th, 2020
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Sex: Female
Size: 8 Pounds
Colour: Tortoise-Shell
Cookie was the barn cat for the previous owners of the property. She had been here before all of us! When we heard her name was Cookie, we knew that we had to keep her - as our other barn cat is named Muffin! She was a very friendly cat who enjoyed being scratched. She was very social and would often says, "hello!", back to you. Cookie passed away peacefully, surrounded by those who loved her most. She was 13-years-old. Thank you, Cookie, for being loving, sweet, and caring. You are greatly missed by all. You will forever be in our hearts.