| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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