Meet people where they are
Every participant is encouraged to observe, choose, practice, and progress at an appropriate pace.
About
About the Ranch
Horses, movement, mindfulness, and meaningful practice—meeting you where you are.
A place to begin where you are
Handle With Care Ranch & Holistic Center is a place where people can build confidence, connection, and resilience through experiences with horses, movement, mindfulness, and community.
Located in Odessa, Florida, the Ranch offers equine-assisted learning, horsemanship, youth and adult programs, coaching, yoga, wellness experiences, and specialized programming for veterans and other communities we serve.
Some people come to learn about horses. Others come to reconnect with themselves, strengthen relationships, or practice meeting challenges differently. No previous horse experience is required.
Our story
Handle With Care was founded by Shannon Waters-Mitchell after more than a decade of serving, teaching, and gaining experience at equine programs throughout the Tampa Bay area.
The Ranch represents the next chapter of that work: a place where Shannon’s experience with horses, coaching, movement, mindfulness, resilience, and service can come together. With her own horses and a growing calendar of programs, Shannon is creating the kind of grounded, welcoming environment she believes helps both people and horses thrive.
As a U.S. Navy Gulf War veteran and breast cancer survivor, Shannon understands that resilience is not about pretending difficult experiences did not happen. It is developed through supportive relationships, consistent practice, meaningful choices, and the willingness to begin again.
Mission & values
Guiding principles
Partnership with horses
Our horses are respected as individual partners. Their welfare, communication, boundaries, and freedom to respond are central to every experience.
Unshakable presence
We practice remaining grounded, paying attention, and responding intentionally—even when something feels unfamiliar or challenging.
Small, meaningful steps
Confidence and resilience develop over time. We do not promise quick fixes. We create opportunities to practice, learn, connect, and grow.
Founder
Meet Shannon Waters-Mitchell
Shannon Waters-Mitchell is the founder and director of Handle With Care Ranch & Holistic Center and Handle With Care Ranch Foundation, Inc. She is a U.S. Navy Gulf War veteran, cancer survivor, equestrian professional, and wellness educator.
She creates a low-pressure place to begin—whether someone is meeting a horse for the first time, rebuilding confidence, or looking for movement and wellness practices that feel accessible.
Approach & scope
Education, coaching, and wellness
Handle With Care Ranch provides educational, experiential, coaching, horsemanship, and wellness services. These services are not psychotherapy, medical treatment, diagnosis, or a substitute for care from a licensed healthcare professional.
When a participant is also working with a licensed clinician or referring professional, communication may be coordinated with the participant’s written authorization and within the appropriate professional scope.
Learn more about Equine-Assisted LearningTwo entities
Ranch and Foundation
- Handle With Care Ranch & Holistic Center delivers programs, services, lessons, coaching, and experiential-learning opportunities.
- Handle With Care Ranch Foundation, Inc. is a separate tax-exempt nonprofit organization created to expand access through scholarships, sponsored participation, veteran initiatives, and community programming as funding becomes available.
Not sure where to begin?
Tell us what you are interested in, whether you have previous horse experience, and what kind of support or experience you are seeking. We will help you identify an appropriate next step.