LESSONS FROM LOU MEMORIAL/EDUCATION FUND

  • Dear CTRC Friends:

    As many of you are no doubt aware, in the Fall of 2018 we had to say goodbye to our magnificent Lou, who had been a mainstay of the CTRC herd for 15 years.  That’s almost 40% of CTRC’s very existence!  Anyone who worked with or rode Lou knew what a schoolmaster she was, and how very much she loved her job at CTRC.  She obviously helped many riders, both program participants and Classics riders, become more skilled and comfortable.  She also helped many volunteers become better horse leaders.  During her years at CTRC, she positively touched many lives.

    To honor her love for her job, and to honor her mission of making everyone around her better at their jobs, we have established a memorial scholarship fund in her honor:  Lessons from Lou.

    This scholarship will be used to fund volunteer education that CTRC would not otherwise be able to afford.  We envision bringing in clinicians in various disciplines to provide a free or very low cost education to grow the skills of volunteers and thereby further CTRC’s mission.  Although nothing has been definitively scheduled yet, here are a few examples of the kinds of things that we would like to do with this fund:

    – Clinic on the Masterson Method of horse bodywork specifically targeted to the therapeutic riding environment, to help volunteers bond more closely with their horses, and to help the horses release stress of their jobs so that they are able to be in the program longer

    – Clinics on horse psychology, behavior, and body language, so that volunteers can communicate more naturally and effectively with the horses by “speaking their language”

    Please consider honoring Lou and furthering the mission of CTRC by contributing.  You may make single or recurring tax-deductible contributions.   Important!  Please indicate on your donation form that the donation is for “Lessons from Lou” and those monies will be earmarked for the program. You may donate HERE.

  •   For more information call Cathie Hook at CTRC (303-532-0164), or email her at development@ctrcinc.org

More about Lou...

More about Lou from Bonnie Livengood, who knew her well:
I was blessed to have Lou as my barn buddy for five years.  To me she was “Lou the Magnificent”, a sentiment that is probably shared by the countless lives she touched over her long career at CTRC.  I think it was nothing short of a miracle that she was a therapy horse for so long, far longer than is typical, and still responded to the lightest of cues.  When I led her anywhere the rope was always slack, because she knew exactly what was expected.  I could lead her through and turn her to face a gate with no pressure on the rope at all.  When grooming her, I could give the tiniest pressure and she would move sideways.  She always tipped her nose to seek the halter, and the bit.  She knew what order I used when I picked her feet, and raised the next foot before I got there.  There is no doubt in my mind that she was a “schoolmaster” horse, and loved her job.  I’m grateful that she was able to do it until the very end of her amazing life.
Wicked smart horse.  One day, after barn buddying her, I put her out in pasture 2E, but I had forgotten to put on her fly mask.  I went and got it, and by the time I got to the gate of 2E she was as far away as possible from the gate.  Rats, long walk for me.  But no!  Lou saw me standing maybe two feet into the pasture holding the mask, walked completely across the pasture to me, and lowered her head so I could put on the mask.   Then she trotted back to the best grass at the far end of the pasture.  I will always remember that as the most definitive proof that Lou was a masterful, exceptional, horse.  I am very grateful for the staff who showed her such love and respect during her last days, and for everyone who loved and appreciated her during all her years at CTRC.
Lou
LouTherapy Horse and Schoolmaster

Lou (aka Larimer) was born in 1991 and had a beautiful flea bitten grey coat that set her apart from the rest of the herd. She spent over half her life here at CTRC, changing the lives of our riders and teaching our instructors the ways of our mission. Lou was a powerhouse who lead an astonishing career here with us and was nominated multiple times for the PATH horse of the year award! The pride she took in her job was unlike any other and she was rewarded after every class by the uncontrollable smiles her riders left with. In the 15 years Lou spent with us, she touched countless lives here at CTRC and is absolutely an irreplaceable piece of this magical place!Lou was a magnificent Dutch Warmbood/Thoroughbred cross mare who loved her job.  Her contribution to riders at CTRC cannot be overstated.  She was a wonderful teacher, and we were honored to have her at CTRC.