The Temple Grandin Equine Center is Colorado State University’s initiative that integrates research and education in equine-assisted services. There are two locations of the TGEC: CSU in Fort Collins and CSU Spur.

The TGEC’s mission is to help advance, sustain, and promote the horse’s role in society and the EAS industry while monitoring and enhancing animal welfare. EAS includes utilizing the horse and the equine environment for the betterment of individuals with all types of abilities and disabilities. 

TGEC’s programming is for the betterment of horses and humans alike. It’s a place where individuals with special challenges heal, therapists treat, instructors teach, students learn, scientists research, and horses are studied, cared for, and advanced. Programming includes:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Mental health counseling
  • Adaptive horsemanship and therapeutic riding
  • Equine facilitated learning

The Temple Grandin Equine Center at CSU Spur offers equine-assisted services to prescheduled clients. Sessions typically run Mondays-Fridays; check the CSU Spur calendar for exact times.

Many client sessions and horse arena time may be observed by the public; however, sessions are subject to delayed starts, early endings, or cancellations, depending on the needs of the client. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding of last-minute changes to the schedule.

Side profile of a horse head with a CSU logo on the bridle.

A Gift Horse

She arrived at the horse barn like many little girls – wearing jeans and canvas sneakers, her curly blonde hair neatly plaited. But Laura Fischer came in a wheelchair, her 7-year-old frame held in place with black nylon straps. For her, horseback riding is not merely recreation. It is therapy, designed to improve her muscle strength and movement, which are severely impaired by a rare genetic disorder.

Laura’s disorder also inhibits her speech: She can utter sounds, but not words. So, as she recently waited to ride a Welsh pony named Bond, Laura used an assistive communication device to express herself. Unprompted, she tapped a sensor with her temple and picked a word to display on a computer tablet. “Like.”

Yellow Spur logo

We need your help

Volunteers are integral to providing TGEC services and programming; they assist with horse care, facility care, sidewalking and leading horses in appointments, event planning and fundraising, and more.

Contact us

Email the Temple Grandin Equine Center at [email protected] with any questions.