Summary
Organization name
Front Range Exceptional Equestrians
other names
FREE
Tax id (EIN)
74-2479489
Category
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Address
PO Box 272452Fort Collins, CO 80527
Larimer County, CO, US
FREE underwrites approx. 50 percent of all direct costs associated with its adaptive horsemanship and groundwork sessions. Grants, fundraising and your donations make this possible--and our participants appreciate your financial support that keep them in the saddle and building bonds with horses.
Testimonials
"The rider started riding at age 7 not knowing this would change her life. The horses and people around her would become her friends and social network. This was the spark she needed to start talking, engaging and learning things that she was motivated to do. One lesson that stands out was the rider had to learn to pick up the foot of the horse. The rider struggled with this task. Her instructors would take the time to show her the method and challenged her to do it herself. They gave her the tools and support to achieve this goal, and it was up to her to get it done. When she accomplished this goal, it was a driving force that changed this rider's life for the better and steered her first steps into independence." -- Caretaker
"FREE is Skylar's 'happy place.' It's our 'happy place' as well as we watch Skylar improving her core strength, balance and listening skills while having fun. She loves interacting with FREE's instructors, volunteers and other riders. Thank you, FREE, for providing such an awesome place for people with special needs."-Holly H., parent of Skylar who has been riding with FREE for 10 years
"FREE staff and handlers are very kind, professional and knowledgeable. The horses were well selected for a group as completely inexperienced as mine. The horses clearly knew what I was supposed to be doing and they were patient! I would give FREE a 10 out of 10!"-Justin Abramson
"The interaction between me and the horse has helped increase my muscle tone and posture. It has also improved my self-esteem and is a lot of fun. I hope I will be riding for many more years to come." -- Anika P. 26 years old. riding with FREE for about 10 years
Mission
To allow riders with special needs to enjoy the benefits and freedom of adaptive horsemanship at an affordable cost and to use horses to help veterans, first responders and at-risk youth find hope and overcome challenges.
Background Statement
Front Range Exceptional Equestrians (FREE) is a Fort Collins-based 501c3 non-profit that has been providing adaptive horsemanship lessons for special needs individuals since 1983. In 2021 FREE expanded its offerings to include programs specifically designed for veterans, first responders and at-risk youth. FREE adheres to the standards set by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemen International (PATH) and is one of only six PATH Premier Accredited Centers in Colorado. All of our staff members are PATH certified.
FREE conducts its classes at the Temple Grandin Equine Center on the CSU campus. The Temple Grandin Equine Center is a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility that provides Equine-Assisted Services year-round and conducts research regarding the benefits of human and equine interaction. FREE is one of only three service providers for the Temple Grandin Equine Center.
In 2021, FREE provided more than 900 hours of participant instruction across three populations: special needs individuals, veterans, and at-risk youth. First responders were added to our program in 2022.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Fort Collins, CO 80527