The Right Step Inc Celebrates New Barn Opening for Therapeutic Riding Programs

A volunteer providing a therapeutic riding lesson for a young girl with a disability.

First Steps for The Right Step, Inc.

EquuStyle: To start at the beginning, what was the initial spark or "why" that led to the founding of The Right Step?

Christine: The Right Step, Inc. was founded at a family-owned hunter/jumper lesson barn. They had a barn full of school horses who didn’t necessarily need to jump anymore, but needed a job. They also had a client riding with them who was on the Autism Spectrum, so it was a natural fit.

EquuStyle: How has the organization’s mission evolved from those early days to where you are today?

Christine:  In the early days, it was mostly about just getting kids and adults with disabilities on horses and watching the magic happen. Today we are much more professional and focused. We also recognize the benefits of working with the horses on the ground. It isn’t all about riding. It’s also the connection that is built between horse and human.

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EquuStyle: Looking back at the previous location, what are some of the most impactful milestones or success stories that defined that chapter of your history?

Christine:  We were able to hire more staff and even hired our first paid Executive Director! We celebrated our 15th anniversary and then went on to have two increasingly successful galas. And all this happened even though Covid shutdowns happened less than six months after we had moved into that location. We shut down completely for 3 months, with a small group of us being responsible for the horse care. We reopened cautiously to very appreciative clients who were not doing well with doing everything virtually. And then we grew until we couldn’t grow anymore.

The Transition & New Location

Six of the horses arrive at their new home

EquuStyle: A move of this scale is a massive undertaking. What were the primary drivers behind choosing this specific new location for the horses and your programs?

Christine:  Sisters Erica Gandomcar-Sachs and Tara Hieb of Of Horse You Can have an amazing vision for building an equestrian community on the grounds of the Denver Polo Club. The barn we are leasing is the second they have planned in a series of five in a “village” for programs of all disciplines to lease. The barn next door to us is a hunter/jumper program, and we have already benefited from their advice and assistance. In return, we are helping them by leasing a few stalls to them for their overflow sale horses while we still have room in the barn. It truly takes a village! 

"Dot" checks out her friends as they enter their new stalls

Choosing this location came about because one of our instructors, Sarah Nadler, is also a polo player. She knew of the planned community and provided the introductions. The location is ideal because it is only 20 minutes away from our previous location, so we were able to retain most of our clients and volunteers. We were also not financially able to buy our own property. Leasing a brand new barn that we can somewhat tailor to our needs is amazing!

The new space includes a dedicated 20-stall barn, indoor and outdoor arenas, and turnout pens, allowing us to expand our adaptive riding and horsemanship programs, improve accessibility, and serve more clients from our 280+ person waitlist.

This move represents a transformational step forward for our mission, our horses, and the communities we serve. I am thrilled to move into our own space, where we'll have the opportunity to move people off our waitlist and allow them to experience the immeasurable power

of horses!

EquuStyle:  How does the new environment specifically enhance the healing experience for both your clients and the horses?

Christine:  The most important thing is that we don’t have to share the space! We came from a busy lesson barn where there was always something going on. We can create a more calm and private space for our clients when needed. It can be even more of an oasis from the outside world where everyone can just breathe and be in the moment. Logistically, our schedule has opened up. Clients are better able to find lesson times that fit their needs. We’re also adding more lessons and bringing in more clients.

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Our horses also benefit. They have all-day turnout and bigger turnout pens that allow them to be in social groups. We also have access to trails on the property so we can get them out of the arena, which can be really good for their brains.

EquuStyle: You recently mentioned that there is "light at the end of the tunnel" regarding the move. What has been the most rewarding part of seeing the staff and horses settle into this new space?

Christine:  I love seeing the look of “wow” whenever anyone steps into our new space for the first time. It has been a lot of work and a lot of long hours, but we have a great community who has come together to make it happen. The true reward will be when lessons start up again on June 7th, and we see the immeasurable power of our horses to improve lives again every day. We’ve missed the clients!

Looking Forward

EquuStyle: Once you are established in the new location, what are your primary goals for the remainder of 2026?

Christine:  The rest of this year will still be a time of settling in. There will be a lot of evaluation of what works and what doesn’t in this new space. It will take a while to figure out the flow. We will increase our lesson numbers, but slowly. We want to take the time to do everything right.

We will also be working hard to continue our fundraising efforts so we can make further improvements to the barn and obtain all the equipment needed. A big part of it is everything needed to keep the barn comfortable in all weather-fans in the summer and insulation and heating in the winter.

EquuStyle:  Are there any new programs or community collaborations that this new location makes possible?

Christine:  We will be expanding our “Connections” program, which is a curriculum-based, ground program focused on building relationships with horses while developing personal awareness, emotional balance, and life skills. Participants learn through guided interactions with horses and structured learning activities. We have one full day a week dedicated to having different groups come in for this program.

We are excited to be able to host events at the barn. For example, on June 18, we are hosting a Sunrise Social networking event for the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. 

An affectionate moment following an adaptive riding lesson.

Participants of all ages and abilities have an opportunity to develop strength, balance, confidence, and communication while riding or working alongside specially trained horses.

We’re also looking forward to being a part of polo and other events on the property. We will continue to provide volunteers and an information table for the Polo Club’s Sunday Fundays. We also hope that we will be able to have information out at the horse shows on the property. 

EquuStyle:  When you look toward the "long arc of change" for The Right Step, what is your ultimate vision for the impact you hope to have on the community in the years to come?

Christine:  This move is a step toward becoming a more sustainable, successful program that improves the lives of everyone it touches. Our vision is to become a model program in the Equine Assisted Services industry. We would love to have other programs come to us as the standard for how to do things right.

Grand Opening Celebration

The Right Step, Inc. (TRS) is proud to invite the community to celebrate the Grand Opening of its new home at Of Horse You Can! Village on Sunday, July 26, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

This special event will officially welcome clients, families, volunteers, donors, community partners, and supporters to the organization’s new facility while showcasing the life-changing impact of equine-assisted programs throughout the community.

Guests will enjoy an afternoon of fun and connection featuring:

•  Special guest speakers

•  Live entertainment

•  Professional horse photography sessions

•  Fairy hair

•  Snacks and beverages

•  Guided barn tours

•  Meet-and-greets with TRS horses, instructors, volunteers, and clients

Most importantly, the celebration will highlight the incredible clients who are at the heart

and soul of TRS’s mission of improving lives through the immeasurable power of horses

TRS empowers individuals of all abilities to build confidence, connection, independence,

and joy through inclusive equine experiences that inspire growth, learning, and belonging.

The Right Step, Inc. Celebrates Grand Opening of New Home

at Of Horse You Can! Village

Sunday, July 26, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

The Right Step, Inc. at Of Horse You Can! Village

6359 Airport Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135

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  PATH INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITED CENTER

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  2025 EQUUS Foundation Award for The Right Step, Inc.

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All images Copyright The Right Step, Inc. and EquuStyle Magazine -all rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced for any purpose without permission from The Right Step, Inc. and/or EquuStyle Magazine.

#TheRightStepInc #equine-assistedservices #adaptiveriding #therapyhorses #adaptiveridingcenter #equustyle #equustylemagazine

Equine-assisted Services: For the Benefit of Horses and Humans Alike

Dr. Temple Grandin with a therapy horse at TGEC

World-renowned Autism advocate and livestock handling and welfare expert, Dr. Temple Grandin, claims “Horses were my salvation.  Horses saved my life.”  Therefore, it was natural to create an initiative in Dr. Grandin’s honor where horses and the horse environment were studied and used to help benefit human lives as well as where those studies also focused on equine welfare and the horse’s role in society.  Voiila, the Temple Grandin Equine Center!

The Temple Grandin Equine Center (TGEC) is Colorado State University’s initiative focused on research, education, and outreach in equine-assisted services (EAS).  Named after CSU Professor of Animal Sciences, Dr. Temple Grandin, the TGEC operates out of two locations: the flagship center is at the CSU Foothills Campus in Fort Colorado, CO (https://agsci.colostate.edu/tgec/) and the second center has recently opened at the CSU Spur campus at the National Western Center in Denver, CO (https://csuspur.org/tgec/).  Both centers have research studies pertaining to EAS and host EAS programs and services such as occupational and physical therapy, mental health counseling, and therapeutic and adaptive horsemanship.  The TGEC in Fort Collins is home to undergraduate education focused on EAS, while TGEC at CSU Spur hosts internships and fieldwork for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students.

A young client receiving equine-assisted services at TGEC

Research is the foundation of the TGEC.  Commencing in 2015, TGEC faculty and students performed a Systematic Mapping Review of the EAS industry to determine the state of knowledge based on scientific research studies and results.  Since that time, the TGEC’s research efforts have included three ongoing programs of research:   1) Continued Mapping Reviews of the literature on EAS, 2) Occupational Therapy in an Equine Environment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and 3) Adaptive Riding for older adults with dementia. 

Additionally, the TGEC has identified six emerging initiatives in which TGEC researchers have engaged with a diverse collective of practitioners and researchers in Colorado and nationally: 1) Practice and Safety Patters of OT, PT, and SLP Incorporating Equine Movement, 2) Therapeutic Riding for Youth with Autism, 3) Optimal Terminology for Services that Incorporate Horses to Benefit People, 4) Psychotherapy Incorporating Horses for Transition-aged Students, 5) Measuring Participant Outcomes of Community-based Adaptive/Therapeutic Riding, and 6) Effects of Equine-assisted Social-emotional Learning on Human and Equine Wellbeing.

Temple Grandin Equine Center offers equine-assisted services to benefit people.

The TGEC is proud to boast an elite leadership team of industry experts.  Dr. Sharon Butler, DVM, CTRI and Associate Professor is the Program Coordinator of the TGEC center in Fort Collins.  Debbie Mogor, PTA, CTRI, and Registered Therapist is the Program Coordinator of the TGEC center at CSU Spur.  Dr. Caiti Peters, PhD, OTR/L and Assistant Professor is the Director of Research. 

For more information about the TGEC research, education, or programming, any one of these individuals can be contacted, as well as the Director of the TGEC and the Associate Director of Equine Sciences, Adam Daurio, Esq.

The TGEC was recently featured by the City of Denver in their Elevating Denver campaign, which showcases people and programs making positive impact in Denver.

https://youtu.be/LWuIg0sGLwE?feature=shared

Launching the TGEC program at the CSU Spur campus was also featured as a premiere University program through STATE, The Magazine of Colorado State University System, and that story can be read here https://magazine.csusystem.edu/2022/01/03/a-gift-horse/.

Visiting the TGEC facility in Fort Collins is by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling (970) 491-1651.  Visiting hours at the TGEC facility at CSU Spur are between 10am and 5pm Monday through Friday and the second Saturday of every month.

This video explores the unique role of the horse with providing comprehensive therapy to help individuals heal from physical, emotional, and developmental challenges.

https://youtu.be/QbloYFyfDK8?feature=shared

Temple Grandin at the Exceptional Rodeo. Each year the Temple Grandin Equine Center at CSU Spur hosts the PRCA Pro Rodeo's Exceptional Rodeo — an adaptive, accessible rodeo for children of all abilities.

https://youtu.be/lb68UCg7m70?feature=shared

Temple Grandin Equine Center Website

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EquuStyle Art & Travel magazine thanks Adam Daurio, Director of Administration and Outreach at Colorado State University, for writing an excellent article and sharing photographs. Our sincere thanks to Dr. Temple Grandin for her outstanding contributions to the humane treatment of livestock and autism.

All images Copyright Temple Grandin Equine Center and Colorado State University -all rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced for any purpose without permission from Temple Grandin Equine Center or Colorado State University.

#templegrandinequinecenter #csuspur #coloradostateuniversity #templegrandin #equine-assistedservices #therapeuticriding #adaptivehorsemanship #autism #vetranequineprograms #therapyhorses #horses #equustyle #equustylemagazine

The Right Step, Inc. is a Small Nonprofit Making a Big Impact

Improving the lives of People Through the Immeasurable Power of Horses.

The Right Step, Inc. provides equine-assisted riding and adaptive horsemanship programs

The Right Step, Inc. in Littleton, Colorado provides "adaptive riding and horsemanship programs for clients of all ages with a range of physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities experience freedom they have never felt before."

Like many equine-assisted organizations, The Right Step, Inc. in Littleton relies on the generosity of its donors and volunteers to provide valuable therapeutic services for clients from 4-years-old and up.

The healing power of their horses is backed up by dedicated individuals who care for the horses and the clients who receive physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits from equine-assisted therapy.

https://www.therightstepinc.org

https://www.facebook.com/1597908454/videos/176978298811294/

The Veteran’s Program at The Right Step, Inc. is changing lives through the remarkable healing power of horses. Your donation, of any amount will enable The Right Step, Inc. to provide the necessary resources, staff and equine partners to facilitate the healing process for our veterans.

Amazing Horses at The Right Step, Inc.

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  Chicklet is a Norwegian Fjord

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  Archie is a Quarter Horse

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  JP was rescued from a kill pen

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  Challenger is a Gypsy Vanner

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  FredBob is a Quarter Horse

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  Dot is a former hunter/jumper

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  Sponsor a Therapy Horse today

These amazing equine partners are an integral part of The Right Step, Inc.'s programs and proper care for our herd is a top priority. Sponsoring a horse is a great way to help support The Right Step and make sure our herd is happy and healthy. Click on a photo above and you will be redirected to the page to learn more about what it means to sponsor that horse and how to give.

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This short video shows The Right Step, Inc. in action with horses, clients, staff, and volunteers making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. The horses have been given new purpose and are loved and appreciated by every person.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/3ef27f_9f5cb57c0dc94d1492ac10cc11009252/240p/mp4/file.mp4

To Donate: https://www.therightstepinc.org

To Volunteer: https://www.therightstepinc.org/become-a-volunteer.html

To Sponsor a Horse: https://www.therightstepinc.org/sponsor-a-horse.html

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Consider sponsoring one of the therapy horses at The Right Step, Inc. Help support their therapy horses that provide people with disabilities an opportunity to "experience freedoms they have never felt before."

All images Copyright The Right Step, Inc. -all rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced for any purpose without permission from The Right Step, Inc.

#therightstepinc #equine-assistedtherapy #therapyhorses #adaptiveriding #therapeuticriding #horses #horseshelpingpeople #autism #equine-assistedservices #equustyle #equustylemagazine