BROKEN ARROW RANCH
Broken Arrow Ranch is a stunning pocket of high desert range nestled in a remote corner Central Oregon. The ranch spans 2,000 acres of sagebrush grassland and commanding buttes, a landscape shaped about 50 million years ago by the Clarno volcanic event.
This sprawling land holds areas of beautifully intact native sage biome, wildlife habitat, and pockets of jasper, petrified wood, and quartz, each telling the story of the land’s ancient history. Signs of long-dormant springs hint at the potential for renewal, forming the foundation of a long-term restoration initiative. The ranch’s mission is to restore a flourishing high desert ecosystem, weaving together rotational grazing of horses, native plant propagation, and soil regeneration. We envision a space where the land itself can heal and thrive once more, alongside all of the beings who call it home—horses, humans, wildlife and plants.
Some places speak to the soul, whispering their stories through the wind, the soil, and the quiet moments of stillness. The land the ranch rests upon, it is one of these places.
In 2016, Mark and Angela Crandall purchased the ranch as a place where they could reconnect with nature and find solace in the land’s quiet embrace.
They envisioned vast open skies, the rustling of wildlife in the brush, and the soothing rhythm of an untouched landscape. But as they came to know the land, greeting it with each careful step, an unsettling stillness met them. The land was silent, not with the peaceful hush of the wilderness, but with an emptiness that felt unnatural. No deer trails wove through the sagebrush, no birds soared overhead, and the wind moved through the grasses like a whisper of something long forgotten. It was as if the land was waiting, holding its breath for something yet to come.
The first time Angela set foot on the land, she had a vision of wild horses running across the landscape. It was brief, fleeting, and beautiful, but she didn’t understand what it meant. Later that day, as she walked the property with Mark, their friend John, and their dog Mo, a weight pressed in around her. The air felt heavy, thick with something unseen, and sadness clung to her in a way she couldn’t explain. It was difficult to breathe, as though the land itself carried an unspoken grief. As she walked, absorbing the vastness of the landscape’s history, her eyes were drawn to the ground, where a broken arrowhead lay nestled in the earth. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands, and in that moment, something shifted. It was as if the land itself was speaking, offering a sign that this was the place, this was the work, this was home.
In the months that followed, she invited energy practitioners from the wellness center she founded in Bend to work on the land, hoping to release whatever lingered there. Though Mark was still focused on their original vision for the ranch, he remained open to the possibility that the land needed something different. As Angela sought answers, she began to understand the weight the land carried…the echoes of its past, the memories held in the soil, the unspoken stories woven into its silence.
Angela spent the next few years working with different practitioners to restore the land’s energy. Guided by her deep connection to the land and a determination to restore balance, she witnessed subtle shifts…signs that the heaviness was beginning to lift. As the energy of the land shifted, so too did its inhabitants. For the first time in years, animals began to return. By 2020, Mark saw the spark the land had created in Angela and allowed her the space to create something new—a refuge for horses in need Broken Arrow Ranch & Sanctuary) and a retreat center for Blissful Heart.
Time and time again, as she built the multi-species sanctuary from an idea into reality, doubt would creep in, and the road ahead would seem uncertain. And yet, just when she needed reassurance, another broken arrowhead would appear. These sacred discoveries felt like a dialogue between the seen and unseen—affirmations that she was on the right path, encouragement to keep going, proof that she was not alone in this journey. Over time, the name Broken Arrow (head) Ranch emerged.
When Jordanna and Andrew, our Ranch Managers, moved onto the land in August 2024, they too began finding broken arrowheads. An enrolled member of the Hupa Tribe, Jordanna acknowledged the knapped gifts as a sign of approval from the land and ancestors. Her deep understanding of Indigenous symbolism brought profound clarity to the ranch’s purpose, revealing how the broken arrow has long been a sacred emblem of peace, balance, and the renewal of life.
In Indigenous traditions, the broken arrow is a revered symbol of peace, harmony, and the restoration of balance. It represents the end of conflict and the creation of a space where all beings can thrive in connection and mutual respect. At Broken Arrow Ranch, this meaning resonates at the core of our mission, shaping a space of interdependence, renewal, and deep remembrance.
Broken Arrow Ranch embodies the simple and cyclical rhythms of life. Here, horses, wildlife, and the land itself are not merely inhabitants but our partners in a shared journey of remembering. The desert teaches us that true abundance arises not from excess but from the delicate equilibrium between all things.
Broken Arrow is more than just a name, it is our guiding principle. It reminds us to foster peace and harmony, to listen to the wisdom of the land and the animals, and to honor the unseen forces that guide us. At Broken Arrow Ranch and Sanctuary, we are dedicated to this sacred work, knowing that our greatest strength lies not in separation, but in unity, connection, and the interwoven fabric of life itself.
Broken Arrow Ranch is home to more than one story, and each of these presences adds something to the character of this place:
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Broken Arrow Ranch & Sanctuary (BARS) provides lifetime sanctuary for seven formerly wild equines—five Mustangs from the Steens Mountain herd in southeastern Oregon, and two horses from the Yakima Reservation. Life here is designed to honor where they came from: wide ranges to move and forage on, minimal handling, and as much freedom as domestication allows. These horses aren't pets or companions. They are wild at heart, and the organization’s mission honors that. Learn more here
Broken Arrow Ranch & Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization | EIN #88-3141963
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The Blissful Heart, a wellness center based in Bend, Oregon, has found a home base for their herd of twenty horses here at the ranch and their presence is anything but passive. Through rotational grazing, these horses are playing a direct and vital role in healing the land. Their hooves aerate compacted soil, their manure returns micronutrients to the earth, and their movement patterns mimic the native grazing behavior that shaped these high desert landscapes for thousands of years. This herd of healing-hooves are actively restoring the land alongside human hands. Learn about the ranch’s Regenerative Land Initiative here
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The Oregon Tarpans are a small herd that may carry the unbroken genetic legacy of North America's original native horse. Formally recognized under the Tarpan Registry of America, these horses bear a striking resemblance to the ancient equines depicted in European cave art, and their existence quietly challenges the assumption that horses disappeared from the Americas at the end of the last Ice Age. Their modern lineage traces back to the 1950s, when Harry Hegardt of Redmond, Oregon, gathered wild horses from eastern Oregon that displayed rare primitive traits—grulla coats, dun markings, distinctive facial patterning—and carefully stewarded them to breed true. Today, the Oregon Tarpans live at Broken Arrow Ranch under the care of their custodian-owner Jordanna Anawalt, who also serves as one of the ranch's managers. Their presence here is both a act of preservation and an invitation to remember something ancient.
“To be whole is to be in right relationship with all that is.”.
— Unknown
Meet the Boots On the Ground
The ranch’s day-in and day-out operations are possible because of this team. For our onsite managers, ranch life is their daily reality. They handle all of the animal care, specialty equine handling, rotational grazing, equipment maintenance, property maintenance, and a plethora of projects in between. Backing them up is dedicated ranch supporter who is ready to step in whenever and wherever an extra set of hands (or two) is needed. Together, they are the backbone of everything that happens at Broken Arrow Ranch.
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With over 15 years as a professional in the equine industry, Jordanna Anawalt brings a wealth of knowledge in herd management, equine husbandry, and animal communication to Broken Arrow Ranch. As a barn manager, horsemanship instructor, and the owner/operator of CHOICE Tribe LLC, she has dedicated her life to fostering deep connections between humans and horses. Her unique approach to equine engagement is guided by her intuitive gifts, allowing her to facilitate profound transformations for both horses and people.
An enrolled member of the Hupa Tribe in Northern California, Jordanna works with individuals from around the world to help them reconnect with their indigenous wisdom and restore harmony in their relationships with the natural world. She is a Drum Dreaming facilitator and spiritual guide, supporting students in remembering their ancestral knowledge and the language of the land. She views all animal relatives as equals, honoring their voices and wisdom in the co-creation of a more balanced and respectful existence.
Beyond her work with horses, Jordanna is a passionate artist who enjoys painting, beading, and birthing medicine drums and rattles—sacred tools that carry the heartbeat of the earth. Her deep reverence for the land extends to her advocacy for the voices of the horses, plants, wildlife, rocks, and ancestors, all of whom are integral to what is being born at Broken Arrow.
Jordanna Anawalt
Andrew Houghton
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Andrew is a hands-on problem solver with a passion for working with both the land and machinery. A skilled heavy equipment diesel mechanic and welder by trade, he brings invaluable expertise to Broken Arrow Ranch, keeping essential equipment running smoothly and assisting with ranch infrastructure projects.
Originally from Grand Haven, Michigan, Andrew’s love for mountain biking and skiing led him west in his early 20s, where he developed a deep appreciation for the rugged landscapes of the high desert. Horses became a part of his life in 2017 when he met Jordanna, and together they have built a life deeply connected to the land and animals.
Andrew always dreamed of living on a remote piece of land in the country—where he could search for artifacts, explore the geology, and create lasting memories with loved ones. He is excited to be part of the land regeneration initiative at Broken Arrow Ranch, working to restore the health and vitality of the ecosystem alongside the sanctuary’s mission. When he’s not working on equipment or tackling ranch projects, he enjoys restoring and driving first-generation Toyota trucks, rockhounding, and cheering on his favorite hockey teams. An avid animal lover, Andrew is always ready to lend a hand—whether it’s fixing a tractor, mending a fence, or simply sharing his enthusiasm for the ranch’s mission.
Mary Nash
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Mary is the ultimate all-around horsewoman—whether she’s building fences, feeding the horses, or channeling the energy of the land, she brings skill, strength, and deep intuition to every aspect of ranch life.
Mary and her husband, Mark, a dedicated board member, frequently spend their weekends at the ranch, tackling projects and ensuring the horses receive top-notch care whenever the ranch managers are away.
Mark Nord
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Mark is the person you call when there is a tree to cut, a slash pile to burn, or a construction project that needs finishing. He steps in where the work is and gets it done.
Mark and his wife, Mary, frequently spend their weekends at the ranch, tackling projects and helping with horse care whenever the ranch managers are away.
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