My name is Jamie Murray, and at the heart of our little ranch is me and my 13-year-old daughter, Kieran Murray. We’ve lived in Fair Oaks Ranch for seven years now, and it’s truly become home. I’m originally from North Texas, but before moving here, I spent several years in Bandera.

When I found this property in Fair Oaks, I knew it was something special. It offered the space to build not just a home, but a vision. I wanted to create a place where my daughter could grow up grounded and brave—and where others could come to do the same. It’s been the perfect backdrop for raising animals, raising kids, and now raising a ranch rooted in emotional connection and hands-on learning.

I’m a former high school English teacher turned entrepreneur, but at my core, I’ve always been an educator. I own and run The Stable Minded Ranch right here in Fair Oaks Ranch, where I facilitate hands-on, animal-assisted learning experiences that build real-life skills like emotional regulation, communication, confidence, and self-trust. It’s not therapy, and it’s not traditional riding instruction—it’s experiential learning, taught by the animals, and guided by me. The ranch is both my classroom and my calling.

My background in education and my equine assisted learning certification helps me create meaningful, hands-on lessons, while my life experience gives me a deep sense of compassion for people navigating hard things.

Kieran is 13—and she’s the heart of the ranch right alongside me. She’s a dedicated show jumper and competes regularly with her horse, balancing barn life with school and training. Watching her grow up with this kind of responsibility, confidence, and connection to animals have been the greatest gifts of this lifestyle. She's not just learning how to jump horses—she’s learning how to lead, fail, try again, and trust herself. 

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology and my master’s degree in Women’s Studies from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. My academic background deeply shapes the way I see people, relationships, and personal development—and those insights now guide the work I do every day at The Stable Minded Ranch.

I’ve always had a deep love for teaching and storytelling, which shows up in everything from my years in the high school classroom to writing books and now facilitating growth through equine-assisted learning. I'm always thinking about how to connect what happens in the barn to real life. My background in education and my equine assisted learning certification helps me create meaningful, hands-on lessons, while my life experience gives me a deep sense of compassion for people navigating hard things.

Around here, our animals are also our teachers, coworkers, and family. We share The Stable Minded Ranch with a whole cast of four-legged (and feathered) characters who play a huge role in everything we do. From our horses - Vegas, Stickers, Oakley, Sam, and Vivian, to mini donkeys, goats, ducks, baby chicks, and even our cats, Milo and Honey, every animal here has a story, and every day they help teach us through their stories and personalities.

The Stable Minded Ranch is our way of giving back. Every session, every quiet moment with an animal, every child or adult who leaves a little braver or a little softer—that’s our contribution. We’re creating a space in the neighborhood that helps people heal, build emotional resilience, and reconnect with themselves through the wisdom of animals. It’s small and personal, but it’s already changing lives—and to me, that’s the heart of community spirit.

One of my favorite parts of living in Fair Oaks Ranch is how it feels like a true small town, even though we’re nestled in the middle of a fast-growing metro area. The proximity to everyday essentials like the grocery store is a blessing, but it’s the sense of community that really makes this place special. People show up for one another. Whether it’s a local cause or just everyday kindness, there’s a spirit of togetherness that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s that mix of connection and quiet that makes this neighborhood feel like home.

For more information about what The Stable Minded Ranch has to offer, please visit:

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