Changing Lives at Diego Ranch

At Air Lift, we have a saying that we live by, both as a company and as people – create better lives.

Everything we do pushes us toward our goal of being known as the air suspension company that helped create better lives. That’s not only for our employees, but for our customers, their families, and their communities as well. 

So, when we see people using our products to help create better lives for the people in their community, it’s really something special, and it really tugs on our heart strings.

Down in Arkansas, there’s a very special place called Diego Ranch. 

Owned and managed by Michael Jackson, Diego Ranch Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c) that provides equine assisted services to children and adults with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities, ranging from autism, PTSD, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, behavioral disorders, ADD/ADHD, grief and loss, depression, suicidal thoughts, and more. 

In short? Diego Ranch believes in investing in people with needs. 

“What we can learn from horses is infinitely more valuable than what we can teach them.”

“We have witnessed the impossible become possible,” Michael says. “Children and adults lacking physical mobility are gaining muscle function and movement, while other clients who have never spoken a single word in their entire lives are now verbal.”

At Diego Ranch, the therapy program emphasizes that “what we can learn from horses is infinitely more valuable than what we can teach them.”

Horses are non-judgemental and have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring the attitudes and behaviors of the humans that they are working with, making equine therapy a unique and effective form of alternative therapy. 

“We have witnessed the impossible become possible. Children and adults lacking physical mobility are gaining muscle function and movement, while other clients who have never spoken a single word in their entire lives are now verbal.”

Equine therapy teaches and allows individuals to develop the skills and attributes that are necessary to handle and ride a horse, leading them to gain accountability, responsibility, problem solving skills, self-control, and self-confidence.

But their reach doesn’t stop there. The team at Diego Ranch also serves local schools, churches, retirement homes, and everything in between, offering riding lessons and instruction for proper safety around horses. The team also works in collaboration with the Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the Pro-Rodeo Circuit, and similar organizations seeking to bring awareness and understanding of animals and horses to the public.

In order to make all of this happen, Michael has to be able to get his equine therapists to his clients in need. 

The ranch has three trailers – a 23-foot long, bumper-pull, three horse trailer; a 28-foot long, bumper-pull, flatbed cargo trailer; and a 28-foot long, gooseneck flatbed trailer. When you’re towing and hauling stuff that big, and assets as priceless as their equine therapists, you want to feel safe and secure when on the road.

“The Diego Ranch truck and trailers are of huge importance to keep our therapy horses safe in travel to […] events. We feel so much comfort knowing we are providing a better, safer ride for the therapy horses and all the equipment we travel with.”

“We had known for awhile that air suspension was needed, but didn’t know much about it at the time. I was always nervous driving, especially in the rain with the truck’s front end up in the air,” Michael says. “I really felt bad when someone would flash their lights at us because I couldn’t do anything about it.” 

In 2019, Michael added a set of our LoadLifter 7500XL air springs and the WirelessOne on-board air compressor system to his 2017 Ford F-250 in an effort to get the vehicle level and driving comfortably. 

The system was installed quickly and professionally by DNW Truck Accessories in Jonesboro, Arkansas (along with a new set of tires), and Michael was back on the road in only a few hours.

“The Diego Ranch truck and trailers are of huge importance to keep our therapy horses safe in travel to […] events. We feel so much comfort knowing we are providing a better, safer ride for the therapy horses and all the equipment we travel with,” Michael says. 

“Not only is it safer for us, but oncoming traffic doesn’t flash bright lights at us anymore. We feel more confident in less wear and tear on the tires and suspension of the truck and trailers. So far, it looks like our fuel mileage has increased, which is a huge savings as well.”

At Air Lift, we are honored to play a small role in helping Diego Ranch to create better lives and create true and lasting change within their community. 

You can find and follow along with Diego Ranch on Facebook and Instagram.

Special thanks to Michael Jackson, the team at Diego Ranch, and all of their clients for sharing their #lifeonair with us! 

Want to know how Air Lift can change your towing experience? Check us out at airliftcompany.com.