Meet Chris and Amanda Moore
The Founders Of Reigning Grace Ranch
Christopher and Amanda founded Reigning Grace Ranch in 2009, bringing with them over 30 years of combined experience working with children, teenagers, and horses. As a dedicated equine therapy and horse rescue ranch, their passion for helping others and their deep connection with animals has shaped the vision and mission of the ranch, creating a place of healing, growth, and community. To get to know the rest of our amazing team, meet our crew here.
Meet the Moores
Destined to spend their lives together, Christopher and Amanda Moore met when they were just 12 years old. As professional competitive dancers who traveled around the country, they became dance partners and a true friendship blossomed. The rest is history!
Amanda started her career as a Secondary Education Teacher in the Deer Valley Unified School District. There, she taught for 10 years in the areas of Theater, Stage Production, and Language Arts. In tandem, she and Christopher created an after-school theater arts program in the community, The Vaudeville Youth Theater Company, to incorporate children ages 5-19 into the performing arts. After leaving the public education system, Amanda began searching for a new way to make a positive impact in tomorrow’s future — kids.
So how on earth do you go from theater to playing with horses?
“By the Grace of God I Go,”
“By the grace of God I go,” seems to be the mantra that has led Christopher and Amanda throughout their lives. As the years passed, economical changes and new experiences forced a new way of life. The couple found themselves in a place where they were growing apart through the financial strains of a recession.
In hopes of finding what was most important again, the Moores decided to head back to their roots and the world of horses. As such, in 2008, they welcomed Shiloh and Patience, two Tennessee walking horse mares into their family. Almost immediately, they began to see daily miracles happen around these two divine animals. Shiloh and Patience taught them beautiful lessons about hope, love, perseverance, and about being authentic and open to what really matters in life. Soon Legato, Lady, and Aria made their horse family complete. With their horse family growing, Amanda and Christopher made the move from the city to the Rio Verde Foothills area of North Scottsdale. Settled in their new space, they began to feel a calling to minister to youth again, this time, incorporating these majestic horses.
Reigning Grace Ranch was born
After Much Prayer, Contemplation and Hard Work
After the rescue and rehabilitation of several neglected horses (65 to be exact), Christopher and Amanda soon became a witness to what these amazing animals can do in a child’s life — change it profoundly! Together, Christopher and Amanda have been on a spirit-led crusade to pair disadvantaged youth and families with redeemed neglected, abused and slaughter-bound horses to mend broken hearts, strengthen the spirit and instill hope, in both human and horse.
