About
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide life support for our nation’s heroes to take back what the enemy stole. We serve active-duty military and veterans, first responders, and family members — Grounded in our Christian faith, we believe true healing comes from God. He can work through His creation of the horse and the peaceful environment of a ranch. Through His power, He restores hope, renews faith, and rebuilds lives.
Our Story
Eagle’s Nest Ranch was founded on a simple, but powerful truth: God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3. God is able to put our hearts and lives back together after trauma, grief, painful events and memories. They can become roadblocks to moving forward and enjoying life. Sometimes the lies that we believe about ourselves or others can steer us into giving up on a bright future or hope for tomorrow. Truth set us free. At Eagle’s Nest Ranch, our desire is that you and/or your family member will find truth, healing and hope for tomorrow.
Ranch Staff
Rachael Tesman
Ranch and Horse Operations
Rachael is our main Horse and Barn Caretaker, bringing a lifelong passion for horses and hands-on experience in their care. She has been working with horses since her youth and owns several horses of her own.
Since joining the ranch in 2025, Rachael has played a key role in maintaining the property and ensuring the health and readiness of the horses that support the ministry. She finds purpose in both the operational challenges of ranch management and in caring for the horses that serve participants on their path to healing.
Suzi Aaro
Volunteer and Event Coordinator
Suzi brings a strong background in leadership, volunteer management, and national event planning to Eagle’s Nest Ranch. She has spent years leading volunteer teams and managing large-scale events for corporate clients across the country, combining operational excellence with a heart for service.
Suzi has a deep connection to the military and first responder communities through both family and ongoing service. She actively supports veterans and public safety personnel through her involvement on a large church’s Public Safety Team and through long-standing personal relationships within law enforcement.
Now serving as Volunteer Coordinator and Event Planner, Suzi is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for participants while building and leading a strong, engaged volunteer community in support of the ranch’s mission.
Joy Rosburg
Office Manager
Joy is a Colorado native who grew up on a farm and has spent most of her life around horses. She was active in rodeo and 4-H, later earning a degree in Animal Health Technology and working as a veterinary technician for seven years. She raised her three children in 4-H and rodeo, and now enjoys time with her growing family, including her grandchildren.
Joy has a deep commitment to her faith and has faithfully served her church for over 30 years in roles including Sunday School teacher, Children’s Church leader, and Assistant Treasurer.
Her love for horses and heart for serving others led her to Eagle’s Nest Ranch in 2025, where she enjoys working with the horses and supporting the ranch’s mission in a faith-filled environment.
Lynn Boutillier
Horse Care Worker
Lynn was born and raised in Connecticut and moved to Colorado in 2006. She started taking riding lessons at 9 years of age and has been hooked on horses ever since. Whether it’s been showing, trail riding, or working on a ranch. She currently owns a mare named Cricket that she trail rides with regularly. When she learned about Eagle’s Nest Ranch, and our mission, she knew there was no question that she wanted to serve. She began volunteering weekly in 2024. In June 2026, she joined the ENR staff as a part-time employee - responsible for horse feeding and care. She also works for a web development company overseeing sales, training, and support. She has a herd of dogs and cats, but most importantly, she is very proud of her son who is a firefighter.
Ranch Leadership
Suzy Stanfill
Founder and Executive Director
Suzy brings a unique blend of ministry, nonprofit leadership, and equine experience to Eagle’s Nest Ranch. Her lifelong connection to horses began at age 13, when she earned her first horse after working at a local stable.
She spent 14 years as a missionary in the Amazon region of Peru and along the northern coast of Colombia, serving communities with compassion and faith. After relocating to Colorado in 2001, Suzy dedicated over a decade to a human services nonprofit supporting families in crisis, where she ultimately led Kinship and Military programs.
Suzy also volunteered with a local horse rescue and furthered her equine expertise through a Professional Certificate in Equine Management, Training, and Industry from Front Range Community College, complementing her B.A. from Moody Bible Institute.
A mother of four sons, Suzy enjoys gardening, hiking, and reading. She is deeply committed to the mission of Eagle’s Nest Ranch and the transformative impact of horses in the lives of those they serve.
Jamie Minner
Board Chair
Jamie Minner serves as Board Chair of Eagle’s Nest Ranch, bringing a deep commitment to faith, service, and leadership. A proud United States Marine Corps veteran, Jamie carries forward a lifelong dedication to serving others with integrity and purpose.
In his professional career, Jamie is a seasoned CEO in the communications industry, where he has led organizations through transformation, growth, and value creation. His leadership is grounded in a steadfast faith in Christ, which shapes his passion for helping veterans, first responders, and their families find healing, restoration, and renewed hope.
Robin Thompson
Board Secretary
Robin Thompson brings more than 20 years of service as a sworn member of the Aurora Police Department, offering a wealth of professional experience, resilience, and compassion to Eagle’s Nest Ranch. Through both her career in law enforcement and significant personal challenges—including her journey as a cancer survivor—Robin has developed a deep passion for meeting people where they are and helping them find hope, healing, and renewed strength.
As a session leader in training, Robin combines her background in peer support, biblical counseling studies, and personal coaching to serve veterans, first responders, and families with empathy and encouragement. A dedicated volunteer at Eagle’s Nest Ranch for several years, she is passionate about supporting first responders while also honoring and uplifting military heroes. Robin’s faith, servant’s heart, and commitment to fostering resilience make her a valued part of the ENR mission.
Lauren Capper
Board Treasurer
Lauren Capper has been married to her husband, Danny, for over 20 years. They moved from California to Colorado so he could pursue his dream of becoming a firefighter, and by God’s grace, that dream became a reality. Together they are raising two boys and have experienced firsthand both the blessings and unique challenges of the first responder lifestyle. Lauren has over 10 years of bookkeeping and accounting experience in the property management industry and currently serves as a Community Association Manager. She and her family have been deeply impacted by Eagle’s Nest Ranch, where the support they’ve received has strengthened their marriage, family, and faith. Their passion is supporting the mental health and well-being of first responders and their families. Lauren is honored to serve on the Eagle’s Nest Ranch Board, using her financial background and heart for ministry while watching God work through the Board and staff to continue the ranch’s mission of bringing hope and healing to first responder and military families.
Why Horses?
As fight or flight animals, horses assess their surroundings for their own survival. This includes assessing the people around them. They have the unique ability to sense and respond to human actions and emotions. They don’t judge or lie —they simply respond to what we bring into the moment. We are given genuine feedback to what we are putting out and that can provide a powerful opportunity to assess ourselves. By working with horses, we can learn to regulate our emotions, build confidence, and learn what we need to change in our life.
Additionally, horses are herd animals, which means they don’t like to be alone. Horses want relationship. If we show ourselves to be trustworthy, they will allow us to be a part of their herd. What a beautiful thing it is to be able to call a horse your partner and friend. They are like their Creator who also can be our partner and friend if we let Him.
Meet the Horses
Gunny
Gunny is a registered red dun American Quarter Horse gelding, foaled in 2014, and one of the largest horses at Eagle’s Nest Ranch. Owned by one of our dedicated volunteers, Gunny is playful, personable, and loves connecting with people. With his gentle spirit and engaging personality, he is being prepared to join our program herd, where he will serve veterans, first responders, and families on their healing journey.
Patience
Patience is a registered Missouri Fox Trotter mare. She was foaled in 2002 and has been here on the ranch since 2019. She is a beautiful Palomino who shines in the summer when her coat glimmers in the sun. Her name is truly a reflection of her personality. Not much phases her, and she does well on the trail. Her smooth gait allows older folks or people with physical concerns to ride without being jostled. She is also great with the children who also enjoy riding her. She is one of our “go-to” horses.
Chipeter
Chip is a registered Standardbred bay gelding, foaled in 2019, who joined Eagle’s Nest Ranch in September 2025 through our Horses in Hardship program. Once a trotting racehorse in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Chip’s path changed after a leg injury led him to a new purpose. Now, with the guidance of our trainer, Chip is learning a new way of life as he prepares to become one of our program horses. Full of personality, Chip loves engaging with people and has a playful, mischievous spirit that keeps everyone at the ranch smiling.
Emmylou
Emmy is a beautiful miniature horse, foaled in 2014, and while she may be the smallest at Eagle’s Nest Ranch, she is certainly one of the feistiest. Despite her size, Emmy confidently holds her own among the full-sized horses in the pasture. Her life is a powerful story of resilience—after surviving a devastating dog attack that left her critically injured and without both ears, Emmy overcame incredible odds with months of healing and determination. Though marked by trauma, her sweet, courageous spirit remains unshaken. With a heart of gold and an eagerness for connection, Emmy serves as a living reminder that healing is possible, hope endures, and life after trauma can still be full of purpose and joy.
Hope
Hope is a miniature horse, estimated to have been foaled in 2008, whose life is a remarkable story of rescue, resilience, and God’s faithfulness. Saved from severe neglect in Texas as part of a large cruelty seizure, Hope survived both abuse and the devastation surrounding Hurricane Harvey before finding her way to Colorado for rehabilitation and care. Later adopted by Eagle’s Nest Ranch in 2018, Hope was given her name because her life was saved not once, but twice—through rescue and through a serious medical crisis answered by prayer. Today, Hope serves as both a beloved program horse and part of our Pony Patrol, bringing encouragement, healing, and a powerful reminder that even through pain and adversity, hope can endure.
Gideon
Gideon is a dark bay pony gelding, born in 2015, who joined Eagle’s Nest Ranch in 2020 to serve the children and families who come to the ranch. Named after the Old Testament warrior Gideon—a “mighty man of valor”—his name reflects his purpose well. Though one of the smallest members of the herd, Gideon carries a strong, steady spirit and brings joy, comfort, and confidence to the children he serves. Loved for his reliability and gentle nature, Gideon is also a cherished member of our Pony Patrol, sharing encouragement and hope at community events for both children and adults alike.
Starlight
Starlight is a registered Pony of the Americas mare, born in 2001, who has been part of the Eagle’s Nest Ranch family since December 2018. Named for the star on her forehead and the Star of Bethlehem, Starlight’s life reflects her purpose—to help shine the way to Christ. Her beautiful Appaloosa markings resemble a blanket of stars, making her as memorable as she is meaningful. With her gentle, quiet nature, Starlight is a ranch favorite and is especially loved by the children who often choose her for rides and connection.
Joshua (Josh)
Joshua is a sorrel Quarter Horse gelding, born in 2000, who joined Eagle’s Nest Ranch in the summer of 2023. Donated by a retired Army veteran, Joshua once faithfully carried his owner through mountain trails during hunting seasons before being entrusted to a new mission. Knowing Joshua would continue serving fellow veterans and first responders on their healing journeys made his transition especially meaningful. Friendly, dependable, and full of personality, Joshua has become a beloved part of our herd, carrying forward a legacy of service, trust, and hope.
Brave
Brave is a part-draft pinto mare, estimated to have been foaled in 2009, who arrived at Eagle’s Nest Ranch in November 2023 after being rescued from a kill pen and lovingly adopted by Suzy. Though much of her story remains unknown, Brave’s journey reflects remarkable resilience. Having lost her left eye somewhere along the way, she carries visible reminders of hardship, yet her presence speaks to strength, survival, and the belief that every life has value. Brave now has a safe home, a renewed purpose, and the opportunity to help inspire healing and hope for those who come to the ranch.