What is CTRC?

Written by Michele Bruhn, Executive Director, CTRC

As I sit here at the large wooden picnic table under the gazebo that Eric Seelig built on a crisp morning, I am reminded of how special this place is. I can hear the geese overhead, the run of the tractor harrowing the arena, and a wheelbarrow moving and squeaking about. 

As the executive director of CTRC, I have been asked to write our first blog post for the organization. While many topics flew in and out of my brain regarding what might be the “best” one to start with, I began this blog post many times. With an organization with such reach and so many details—from horses to volunteers, to leadership, to nonprofit management, to disability awareness—the options seem endless. Finally, I settled on one that feels important to share: What are we? What is CTRC? What is our organization that has been part of the community for over 44 years? What does it mean to support the people, equines, and community at large? What does it mean to be an organization built on the principles and values of interconnectedness? How does this drive our mission, operations, and impact?

Who We Are: An Overview of CTRC

The Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC) is a 44-year-old nonprofit in Boulder County, Colorado. CTRC is a therapeutic riding center, the oldest therapeutic riding center in the state, and one of the largest in the nation. CTRC is a PATH Premier Accredited Center. How can that be? How did we get here? What does this mean inherently for all who walk, roll, and amble their way into our hearts and lives?

Challenges We Face as a Nonprofit

As a nonprofit organization, we face many challenges that are common to this type of business, including securing funding, building reserves, diversifying funding, operational needs, staffing needs, finding stellar board and staff members, finding and training volunteers, budgeting, strategic planning needs, volunteer training, communication needs, maintaining our 501(c)(3) status, and filing our 990s.

We have similar governance and strategic planning needs as other nonprofits. As a small nonprofit in Boulder County, we are also subject to the ebb and flow of the ever-changing and transforming local, state, and national society changes and needs, the economy, weather, climate—you name it. CTRC embodies the principle of interconnectedness through our shared challenges, opportunities, and collaborations with other organizations in the region. Nonprofits, including CTRC, often work with businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions to address community-wide issues. These partnerships are based on the understanding that the well-being of community residents, especially vulnerable populations, depends on a collective effort.

CTRC’s collaboration with schools, healthcare providers, and disability services echoes this cross-sector interconnectedness. The needs we face are often similar to those of other nonprofits in the area, reinforcing the mutual dependence and value of working together as a broader network of service providers. In embracing interconnectedness, we not only strengthen our capacity but also contribute to a stronger, more resilient nonprofit sector.

What It Means to Be a Therapeutic Riding Center

A layer deeper, CTRC is a therapeutic riding center. Many of you reading this have at least some understanding of what that means. It means we provide services to people with disabilities through horses. It means we support children and adults with sometimes debilitating needs, facing unimaginable challenges to their physical, mental, and emotional health. It means we provide a service that supports the well-being of people who are in and out of hospitals, have multiple surgeries, and often take a range of medications to manage symptoms.

We may be one of several therapies our clients may be involved in. We offer opportunities for people to reach new heights, transform, and live a life they have never known. Our holistic approach recognizes that each participant is connected to their families, caregivers, and broader communities. CTRC tailors its services to support this wider circle of influence. CTRC often becomes a source of connection and support for families, fostering a sense of community among those sharing similar experiences.

Managing Our Farm

CTRC is a farm. We are a 40-acre horse farm. A horse farm in Boulder County faces all the other challenges that many equestrian communities face in our region, state, and country. We face a need for hay and the need to manage the land. We manage the sloping acreage and high areas, depressions, and the sloping nature of the property, the physical land, and dirt that we are standing on today. We manage the erosion, runoff, and rainstorms wreaking havoc in our driveway.

We also have buildings we care for, some of which are historical, like our 100+ year-old farmhouse. We manage and care for the horse’s husbandry, the fences, panels, shed runs, outbuildings, the main arena barn, the shed runs, the round pen, the retiree area, the hay barn, the mini horse playhouse, gazebos, and maintenance sheds. We also manage our equipment, such as our Gators, the Suzuki mini truck that runs every day all day, and the 2019 Dodge Ram truck that replaced our stolen truck a few years ago. We have a John Deere tractor, its attachments, mowers, tools, and now a new water wagon. We manage the dirt in the arena and remove it once it gets pulverized to dust by our horses’ hooves and shoes. We manage the water, including ditch water that supports our grass, city water, well water, and delivered water for drinking that is sitting in my cup of tea at the moment. We manage the foliage, grass, weeds, and care for our trees. We grow some of our hay. We test the soil, fertilize it, care for it, and nurture our hay each year to support the greatest yield possible.

We fertilize the fields with the manure created by the horses eating the hay we grow on the property. Now how about that? Our very own little micro-ecosystem! There is a major internal focus on maintaining our 40-acre property. Where we are located also connects us to environmental sustainability. CTRC recognizes that the environment plays a role in the therapeutic experience, emphasizing care for the land, the animals, and the ecosystem.

The Heart of CTRC: Our Horses

I would be remiss in describing who we are if I don’t mention our horses. We have a unique herd compared to any other equestrian community on the Front Range of Colorado. Our horses are mainly geriatric or nearing the end of life, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our horses come to us from all walks of life. We have ponies, draft horses, Quarter Horses, Arabians, Morgans, Norwegian Fjords, warmbloods such as Hanoverians, Trakehners, and Irish sport horses. We have horses from all walks of life, from 3rd level dressage to backyard trail horses. We have reiners, ranch horses, hunters, and jumpers.

In some cases, they can no longer be cared for because of a death in the family or unexpected life circumstances. Others come to us from professional equestrians looking to scale back their herds, or from the show circuit where they are of an age they can’t jump as high or turn barrels as quickly. There are many reasons horses find their way to us, each with their own unique story.

Because the age of our horses ranges from about 8 to 29, with a variety of backgrounds, breeds, and disciplines, we work to meet their needs ranging from metabolic issues, corrective shoeing needs, arthritis, gastrointestinal issues, and the regular run-of-the-mill needs of aging horses. Our horses’ health and wellness are a cornerstone of our organization.

Our horses see chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists, and have weekly conditioning regimens. Their health is monitored daily—not only for physical needs and regular vet care and farrier visits but also for their mental health. We can tell when a horse is ready for retirement by assessing their overall condition, temperament, behaviors, etc.

We are so dedicated to our horses that they are guaranteed a spot for life with us in our Retired Horse Sanctuary, certified through the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. We are committed to the well-being of our horses. This commitment reflects a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and animals. By investing in the health, care, and conditioning of our horses, CTRC ensures that this relationship remains mutually beneficial, with both participants and animals thriving in our environment.

CTRC: A Community of Healing

But what is CTRC really? It is, of course, all the things mentioned above, and it is also a place for people to come together. CTRC is a place of healing, love, connection, joy, and vulnerability. It is a place of community.

CTRC would not be where it is today without the dedication of our volunteers. With a need for many daily and weekly volunteers, CTRC is deeply reliant on its volunteer network. Volunteers are not just helping hands; they are an integral part of the organization’s fabric, daily functioning, and success. Our volunteers’ connection to the participants, staff, and mission helps build a community of shared purpose, where everyone is invested in the success of the programs.

CTRC is a place of community. We work in partnership, we solve problems, we discuss options, we seek out support, and we engage our community. We certainly face challenges that help us grow and transform with every new day and every new human and equine who finds us—or whom we find.

CTRC is a place that draws people in and brings people together. We have been, and always will be, that place. Whatever challenges we are facing at the time, moment, year, or decade, we are a community that works together within our heart spaces supporting and caring for each other, our horses, our riders, and our participants.

Our Values and Commitment

CTRC is a place of belonging and a place of values. We hold dear to our hearts, in a foundational way, the values of community, integrity, ethical conduct, compassion, equity, transparency, inclusivity, collaboration, diversity, respect, and service to others.

In every aspect of our work, CTRC demonstrates the principles of interconnectedness—where people, animals, the community, and the environment all play vital, interdependent roles in fulfilling our mission. This interconnectedness creates a resilient organization capable of adapting, growing, and making a lasting impact.

CTRC values interconnectedness because we foster collaborative relationships that amplify our ability to change lives—not only of our participants but also of our volunteers, staff, and horses—by ensuring that our entire community thrives through shared support, resources, and impact. That is CTRC.

Join Us in Our Mission!

Thank you for exploring the heart and soul of the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center through this first post in our blog series. As we continue to support our riders, horses, and community, we invite you to be a part of this journey.

Together, we can create a community where both humans and horses thrive. Thank you for your support!