Bonnie has been a dedicated member of the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC) volunteer community since January 2012. What began as a simple introduction to volunteering quickly grew into something much deeper: a strong sense of purpose, connection, and joy. “I didn’t realize how important the volunteer community would become to me,” Bonnie reflects. “I am grateful for that and all the opportunities I have to do things at CTRC.”

Bonnie first learned about CTRC through another volunteer at a horsemanship clinic. She admits that when she started, she didn’t realize how much there was to learn about horses. “One of the things I love most about CTRC is the volunteer training program,” she says. “It teaches you everything you need to know. The more you know, the more you get to do.” Over the years, Bonnie has become an integral part of the training team herself, guiding many “generations” of volunteers and watching them go on to train others. “It’s really cool to see people I trained training others.”

For Bonnie, volunteering at CTRC is as therapeutic as it is rewarding. “I’ve said before that I’m not sure who gets more therapy—the riders we work with, or me. Volunteering is great therapy. It’s outside, exercise, with horses, social, and service-oriented. It’s addictive, in a good way. I can go to CTRC at just about any time

and find something worthwhile to do.”

One particularly special connection is with Soc, her barn buddy since just two weeks after he arrived at CTRC in 2018. Bonnie had recently lost Lou, her previous barn buddy, and was grieving when she met Soc. “One day I went into his stall and put my hands around his neck. He let out the biggest sigh. It was very cool.”

Bonnie encourages anyone considering volunteering at CTRC to take the leap. “There’s so much to love and so many worthwhile things to do. All it takes is a willingness to learn. I learn something new almost every day that I’m at CTRC.”

Through her years of service, Bonnie has touched countless lives—both human and equine—and embodies the spirit of community, compassion, and growth that makes CTRC so special.