All Things Equestrian

Roam Boulder County’s many equestrian centers and rescues 

By Teresa McLamb

Herds of horses once roamed Colorado, living off the land. Later, they were met by settlers from the east, who pushed westward and brought domesticated horses of their own to assist settlement. 

Today, that spirit lives on in Boulder County as many residents enjoy relationships with horses, from working partners to family pets.

Boulder County’s wide-open spaces and well-maintained trails are ideal for horses and riders. The area’s beauty has also attracted many new two-legged residents, resulting in some of the county’s farms and boarding facilities being converted to housing developments. There are, however, many still in operation and thriving.

One of which is run by longtime Boulder County residents Dan Michaels and Barb Haaland-Michaels, who own Rabbit Mountain Equestrian Center near Longmont. They’ve lived on the 20-acre property for the past 42 years and have three horses of their own. They also board horses and offer training through several independent trainers. 

An avid rider, Michaels takes weekly trail rides and invites clients to join him. Michaels was recently awarded a patent for a devise he invented for frangible fences for cross country jumps, which was featured in an issue of The Chronical of the Horse magazine. And in 2022, he was awarded the Governor’s Cup for his volunteer work with the United States Eventing Association (USEA). “There are many ways to achieve success in the world of horses, with the Olympics being just one component —as in most sports,” Haaland-Michaels said.

In the past, Michaels has competed with his Holsteiner horses, Landonn and Lance, at the USEA Preliminary Level, earning several local and regional trophies. He continues to participate in eventing, an equestrian triathlon that combines dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

The training programs at Rabbit Mountain Equestrian Center have evolved, too. Serious dressage—often referred to as “horse ballet”—is no longer offered. Instead, the couple focuses on having fun and prioritizes the relationship between the horse and the rider. Training includes basic riding, eventers and hunter/jumpers. Other specialized training can be arranged with the trainers.

At least once a year, on-site clinics are led by well-known trainers, which includes former Olympians. 

However, Haaland-Michaels worries for the future of the horse farms. Many have changed hands the past few years, and an influx of wealthy new residents may have contributed to a rise in property values, she speculates. And in May, they received their property tax notice. “The property valuation on our barn went up 300%,” she said. “That’s really going to have an impact on small barns already struggling to stay open. I know of a barn that’s closing at the end of the month. Their boarders are calling us. They can’t afford our board prices, and we operate with no
profit margin.”

Nestled in Black Hawk, Rudolph Ranch is another Boulder County horse boarding facility that’s located near Golden State Park. Like Michaels and Haaland-Michaels, Debbie and Corey Marshall live on the same property as their barns and pastures. 

The ranch is home to a corral for roping practice, a fire pit and a horseshoe pit, along with the many miles of trails that are often the destination of group rides. 

“We do live on site, so horses here get a lot of one-on-one care and attention,” Debbie said. “Our ranch is one of the few that offers pasture boarding and wide-open spaces for daily turnout.” 

The natural setting allows the horses to relax, she noted. “Their health seems to stay on point because they are always moving, allowing their digestive system to work naturally. They also wear their feet naturally in this mountain terrain, which helps cut down on farrier visits.” 

Busy work schedules can cause horse owners to spend less time with their horses than they’d like, which can cause stress for both the horse and its human companion. “At Rudolph Ranch, customers can be assured that their horse is out roaming with the herd and extremely free and happy. This is a huge peace of mind for horse owners,” Debbie said.

The happiness of their horses lies at the top of the list of many horse owners and inspired Elizabeth Riecks to join forces with Todd and Jill Giles to found Wildsong Ranch in Longmont. Riecks is the operations manager and head trainer, and the Giles own the facility.

“I had always dreamt of having my horses in as natural environment as possible,” Riecks said. Previously, her horses were boarded in a small paddock where they could wander, but their space to explore was limited. “My horses were just not happy,” she said.

“One of my trainer friends introduced me to a track on her property. I was intrigued.” The system, developed in the 1980s by renowned farrier Jaime Jackson, and explained in his book Paddock Paradise, mimics the daily life of a horse in a wild herd. “They travel up to thirty miles a day between food and water sources. They have a long path, a territory they follow,” Riecks explained. “This system seeks to mimic and synthesize the natural migration. They get way more movement and can maintain a better weight. They’re not standing around. Because of the movement and they live in herds, there’s tons of stimulation, and horses on this system are very alive.”

Since the trio teamed up five years ago, they’ve added five tracks and an arena and are working on beautifying the property. They’ve also inspired five nearby facilities to implement
the track. 

“It’s cool that it’s growing,” said Riecks.

Wildsong Ranch boards Riecks’ three horses in addition to 39 others—and there’s a long waiting list. They also host a team of mental health practitioners—therapists and coaches of different trainings and backgrounds—who work with equines to help heal their clients. “It has created another dimension of humans,” Riecks said. “It gives the horses a different purpose. They thrive having a job. They enjoy the work of helping humans.”

Helping humans and their horses is the goal of Boulder County Horse Association (BCHA), which has been advocating for the equestrian community since 1971.

Despite Boulder County’s long tradition of horse ownership, the possibility of zoning restrictions on horse property prompted the local equestrian community to band together. They began by advocating for access to trails and open spaces. 

It’s definitely a local issue,” said BCHA treasurer Carmen Porter.  

The advocacy group attends town and county meetings to stay updated on issues affecting the equestrian community. There’s also a great deal of social interaction among members: An extensive business directory connects owners and their horses to helpful resources. 

The all-volunteer organization provides educational outreach as well, specifically targeting biking and landowners’ communities, who share many trails with horses and their riders.  “There are rules of etiquette, and we do our best to try to work together. Some people who own open space don’t necessarily know about horses,” said Porter. Likewise, bikers may not know the proper way to approach a horse.

The BCHA also educates first responders, who are critical to animal evacuations, such as during the 2021 Marshall fire. Porter also instructs a 4-H horse program that teaches 55 young riders how to properly care for and ride their horses.

Colorado Horse Rescue, Longmont CO

More than two hundred volunteers join a dozen staff members at Colorado Horse Rescue, where the daily mission is to support the horse community by rescuing horses in danger and assisting loving horse owners in rehoming their cherished friends when circumstances don’t allow them to continue to care for the animal.

Now a 501(c)3, the organization initially focused on abused and neglected horses. Today, there are sixty horses living on the fifty-acre property, according to Sharon Gilbert, program manager for the Riding Connection. “They’re not all abused. Typically, the owner loved them enough to not sell them at auction or to a stranger,” she said. Because the rescue specializes in rehoming, the “goal is to get to know the horse physically with care of our vet and to determine where they are in their training in order to make them adoptable.

Situated in close proximity to Colorado State University, the rescue partners with equine science students in caring for the horses. The popularity of the county draws many professional people including veterinarians, she said.

The center regularly holds education clinics and offers its services as a community resource.  Their website is an extensive resource on everything from vendors to evacuation procedures.

(Photo above) Colorado Horse Rescue's annual fundraising gala, Mane Event at the Ranch (2022). Photo MorPhotos by Jace

Some of the animals come from the Fort Collins livestock auction. “We pick up horses that we think have a lot of promise and have no business being at the auction except for the circumstance of the owner. They may not know the full ramifications of such an act,” she said explaining further that each year hundreds of thousands of horses are sent from the US to Mexico and Canada for slaughter.

“Our biggest mission is finding those safe solutions.” Horses are placed in new homes under a contract that says at any time new owners can take the horse back to the rescue. In 2022 a record 63 adoptions occurred and safe solutions were found for 197 horses.  here are also local foster families who care for horses along with their own. The nonprofit’s Leg UP Program provides short term financial assistance to support day to day feeding, basic care, emergency vet care, gelding services or euthanasia. 

Horses are adopted as riding or appropriate only as nonriding companions. “The horse comes first, and what that horse needs is a priority,” Gilbert said. “There’s no magic crystal ball we have that ensures every person has the best of intentions but [a problem] is pretty rare with our process. We have to ask about income; this is not inexpensive.”

The inaugural Performance Equine Adoption Kickstart (PEAK) Training Challenge will be staged at the center June 4 from 10am until 2pm. It’s designed to introduce people to horses and the things they can do, Gilbert explained. I’m spearheading this project and it is amazing the talented trainers we have in the community – talented skills with hearts that want to help.” Five trainers have worked with five horses “and are doing amazing and wonderful things for them that will increase their adoptability.”

In September, the annual Mane Event fundraiser will be presented at the center. Tickets are available on at www.chr.org

“To rescue takes passion. To imagine a better world takes courage. Every day, we choose to keep our eyes, minds and gates open to what’s possible for the betterment of horses everywhere. Because, simply said, the status quo is no longer an option. At Colorado Horse Rescue, we believe that it’s up to us — all of us — to create new traditions in the best interest of horses, humans, and the partnerships we share.”

CHR is an industry leading 501(c)(3) impact organization. As an ASPCA Right Horse partner, EQUUS Foundation Mentor, and a recipient of the Candid Platinum Transparency seal, CHR is changing the paradigm of horse rescues. With an emphasis on rehabilitation and rehoming, every horse that enters CHR’s gates is given a second chance to find a safe solution that’s right for them. CHR boasts a comprehensive matchmaking process which helps both riding and nonriding horses get placed into new, loving homes. Through their educational clinics, CHR is working to change the perception of horses as tools and nurture the relationships that horses and humans share. To read more about CHR’s impact, read the 2022 Impact Report on their website.