On July 26, The Right Step (TRS) celebrated its relocation to the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia, just east of Highway 85 and Airport Road. The program provides equine therapy to all ages with safe, supportive and empowering experience for adaptive riders.

The nonprofit began in 2008, inspired by a client with autism. Christine Remy is the executive director and has been involved from the start. Her equestrian daughter and background working with individuals with disabilities set the stage for her continued efforts over the years. “The combination was just perfect for me,” Christine said.

TRS started at a family owned hunter-jumper barn in Littleton, and by 2013, became a premier accredited center through Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). There is a long list of requirements—including treatment of horses and clients, policies and procedures and instructor education. All instructors must be certified, and the TRS’s accreditation is renewed every five years.

In recent years, sisters Erica Gandomcar-Sachs of the Denver Polo Club and Tara Hieb of Cottonwood Riding Club had a vision to support the local equestrian community by expanding the Denver Polo Club. The expanded facility has multiple 20-stall barns with arenas for organizations and trainers to lease. TRS now has its own barn and arena there and is responsible for the care and upkeep.

Equestrian therapy is very popular and all programs in the area have waitlists. What sets TRS apart, according to Christine, is its proximity to town and its sense of community. “We are very close knit and welcoming. People involved feel very passionately about it and have developed connections and wonderful friendships,” she shared.

The waitlist is long; most clients stay indefinitely. Christine hopes to double lessons with her six part-time instructors by early next year, from 40 per week to 80. That means more horses and more volunteers are needed. There are currently10 horses, mostly leased by TRS, but enough stalls for 19. As for volunteers, about 75 are active; Christine would like to double that number to 150.

The horses are the heart of TRS. “They are magical,” said Christine. Since older horses tend to work best, it is a retirement job for them. “They are kind of like ‘been there, done that.’ Things don’t phase them,” she added. Clients and horses are matched based on personality and fit.

Volunteers aged 16 and older lead the horses during lessons. Younger volunteers (ages 14 and 15) muck stalls and feed horses. All adult volunteers are background checked. “You just need to be willing to learn. We train everyone,” said Christine.

Efforts are underway to insulate the arena and barn to help keep things cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. On October 24, TRS is having its annual Gallop to Give Gala at The Hudson Gardens & Event Center. Tickets are open to all; proceeds benefit all of the TRS expansion needs.

Learn more about TRS and purchase gala tickets at TheRightStepInc.org.

Interested in volunteering? Apply online or contact admin@therightstepinc.org. If you have a horse for therapy consideration, contact Christine at christiner@therightstepinc.org.

 

 

By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Christine Remy