About Us | Programs | CTRC Riders | Our Herd | Get Involved | News | Contact Us

Our History

1980	Three women of vision, Jody Marken, Jaymee Brandt and Carol Chazdon – CTRC’s "Founding Mothers" - meet and develop the idea of a therapeutic riding center. They form Colorado C.A.R.E, becoming the first registered therapeutic riding center in Colorado.
1981	Jody goes to Cheff Center in Augusta, Michigan for two months to attend their Head Instructor Course. The Board of Directors grows to eight members. We become the proud owners of our first horse.
1982	The name of the organization is changed to Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC). Premier accreditation is granted by North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). CTRC finds a facility to use – High Country Stables on Nelson Road in Boulder, (now Triple Creek). Our herd has now grown to six, tack is brought in by car for each lesson and our first mounting ramp is built.
1984	CTRC moves to Schooley’s Boarding Stable on Highway 36, north of Boulder.
1986	CTRC helps to initiate and develop Colorado Council for Handicapped Horseback Riding (CCHHR), a statewide organization for therapeutic riding centers. CTRC begin its, now longstanding, relationship, with Special Olympics, hosting a Special Olympics workshop. CTRC holds its first Ride-A-Thon fundraiser.
1988	CTRC begins its first Hippotherapy Program, in cooperation with the Mapleton Rehabilitation Center.
1990	CTRC volunteer, Nancy Morton, receives NARHA’s Region 10 Volunteer of the Year Award.
1991	CTRC moves to a larger facility at 8778 Arapahoe Road in Boulder. Cart driving instruction is first offered at CTRC. Children with disabilities from Takarazuka, Japan come to spend a week at CTRC to participate in therapeutic riding – a tradition that continued each summer until 2003. The phenomenal Gandolph wins Delta Society’s Therapy Horse of the Year Award.
1994	CTRC successfully offers its first comprehensive Therapeutic Riding Instructor training course. CTRC opens a Fort Collins branch, operating at Colorado State University’s Equine Science center.
1995	CTRC holds its first tack sale. CTRC launches its first riding program to serve emotionally disturbed, at-risk youth.
1996	CTRC develops a long-term business plan that includes the purchase of a permanent facility. A property search begins.
1997	CTRC decides upon a property to purchase and the "Raise the Spirit, Raise the Barn" capital campaign is launched. CTRC hosts the Statewide Special Olympics Colorado Equestrian Championship – an honored tradition that continues to this day.
1998	CTRC purchases and moves to its new, permanent home at 11968 Mineral Road in Longmont. The Capital Campaign continues. CTRC hosts the U.S. Special Olympics Qualifying Horse Show. Two athletes qualify to participate in the 1999 Special Olympic World Games in North Carolina. CTRC holds its first Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Wine Fundraiser.
1999	Plans are begun to build an indoor riding arena. CTRC rider, Peter Schmutz earns two Bronze Medals at the Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina. CTRC receives the generous donation of a fully operating horse facility in Conifer, Colorado. Dr. Mark Fitch, CTRC’s veterinarian, receives CTRC’s first ever Life Time Achievement Award and the Denver Broncos Community Quarterback Award.
2000	The Capital Campaign is completed and a new campaign is launched to raise money to construct an indoor riding facility. Plans for the indoor arena are finalized. Miss Percy, one of CTRC’s most beloved therapy horses, wins NARHA Region 10 Therapy Horse of the Year.
2001	Groundbreaking for the indoor arena happens in July, construction is completed in November and our grand opening and blessing occurs in December! Second Phase of the Capital Campaign, for the construction of the arena, is successfully completed. CTRC volunteer extraordinaire, Helen Clark, wins both the NARHA Region 10 Volunteer of the Year and the NARHA National Volunteer of the Year!
2002	CTRC is able to provide classes indoors for the first time in 22 years! CTRC is able to quadruple the number of riders served during our winter session. Our beloved Jesse is named Morgan Therapeutic Horse of the Year, by the Morgan Horse Association.
2003	CTRC builds a hay barn and an additional outdoor arena. Lib Matsch is named NARHA Region 10 Volunteer of the Year and receives CTRC’s Life Time Achievement Award.
2004	CTRC holds its first ever All Abilities Summer Camp – and it is a huge success. Our old tack building is renovated into "Roy’s Ranch House" an inviting and useful clubhouse for the campers. CTRC offers the American Hippotherapy Association workshop for the first time. At this time, our herd has grown to 24 horses; we are serving 600 participants annually and our volunteer program has grown to 1,000 volunteers annually. And plans are begun to celebrate 2005– CTRC’s 25th Anniversary Year!
2005	CTRC celebrates its 25th anniversary with a grand on-site Carnival as well as a festive Gala Celebration! CTRC truly enters the age of technology by launching a website and transitioning to a wireless network.
2006	CTRC creates a Mini Troopers program in which miniature horse Carmella along with her staff and volunteer team begin outreach visits. After nearly two decades of volunteering with CTRC, amazing Donna Gisle wins NARHA Region 10 Volunteer of the Year.
2007	The book Robinette is published, a true story of a CTRC friendship formed between two girls and a special pony. Famed CTRC horse Neko wins NARHA Region 10 Therapy Horse of the Year and Morgan Horse of the Year.
2008	CTRC partners with Children’s Hospital and the University of Colorado Health Sciences to study the efficacy of therapeutic riding for children with autism. CTRC receives NARHA re-accreditation as a Premier Center. Jody Marken, CTRC co-founder, marries renowned horseman Marty Marten with a celebratory reception at CTRC.
2009	CTRC holds its first-ever Barn Dance, a new signature event that transforms CTRC’s arena into a marvelous social affair. Construction of CTRC’s sensory trail is completed allowing participants to explore on horseback, wheelchair or foot an interactive series of obstacles and special sensory areas. Beloved volunteer Frank Campbell wins NARHA Region 10 and CTRC (for the second time) Volunteer of the Year. CTRC starts its Facebook fan page.
2010	CTRC celebrates its 30th anniversary.