Amanda Charlton Hurley - Owner/Trainer
About Us
Located in South Fork, CO, Second Chance Ranch is a haven for equines in need. As an equine rescue and training program, we rely on the dedication and generosity of the people around us who believe in our mission. From volunteers who give their time to help care for and rehabilitate the horses, to local businesses that provide donations and sponsorship, our community plays an integral role in our success. It is through this collective effort that we are able to give these magnificent animals the second chance they deserve. Our shared love and passion for horses unites us as a community and drives us forward in
our mission to create a brighter future for these extremely deserving creatures.
Amanda C. Hurley is the trainer behind the rehabilitative efforts of Second Chance Ranch.
A lifelong horsewoman, Amanda began her career with horses in the competitive hunter/jumper world in the American Northeast. Ultimately realizing that competition for competition’s sake was not the realm within which she could live her best life with horses, Amanda moved to the Rocky Mountains to focus on Natural Horsemanship techniques and working with horses outside of the arena.
After working at a ranch in Colorado in 2016 and living off-grid with equines, Amanda developed a passion for spending extensive time in nature with these magnificent animals. In 2017, Amanda completed the world’s longest horse race in Mongolia, the Mongol Derby — 630 miles across the Mongolian wilderness, ridden on the backs of 28 feral horses.
Amanda returned to the United States to study dressage, endurance riding, and eventually the art of Mustang training. Since then, Amanda’s repertoire of equine communicative skills has evolved to encompass colt-starting, gentling Mustangs, training the fundamentals of dressage and jumping, and developing the young endurance horse.
Amanda’s passion for the horse has led her to building Second Chance Ranch —
a place where every horse is given the opportunity to succeed.
It all begins with an idea
Lady the Mustang was Second Chance Ranch’s first rescue project. Found in a kill-pen in TX, Lady proved over the course of 6 months to be an incredibly gentle, willing partner. Ladybug absolutely loves going out on the trail and is always ready for an adventure with her people!
She now lives with her forever family in Moab, UT, where she is thriving.
Accomplished
through love.
Second Chance Ranch rescued Wynston and Cora from the same pen where we had found Ladybug in December 2023. Cora’s physical condition was extremely poor, so we were very nervous about her ability to withstand the 700-mile haul from Texas to Colorado. Both horses are well on their way to rehabilitation and will be available for adoption in the coming months.
Furthered by passion
Margaret is an 8-year-old Arabian who was neglected and abused by former owners before being sent to Second Chance Ranch in July, 2023. She learned to trust humans again, before being started under saddle and introduced to endurance riding. She now lives in Mancos, CO with an amazing human who is excited to continue her career in endurance.