Kirsten’s Why

Kirsten and her husband Rick at the 2024 NTRC Evening of Hope Gala

Since joining the NTRC family, I found what makes my heart soar.

From a young age, I deeply loved horses and knew I wanted them to be an integral part of my career pathway. At first, I thought about being a vet, but quickly realized that wasn’t for me even with just thinking about all the feeling that would be involved.

While volunteering as part of the Girl Scout horsemanship program, I found it very rewarding teaching basic riding skills to others. I also found the therapeutic riding industry as a volunteer while completing a Girl Scout badge during high school. It was a place where I could combine my desire to reach out and help others have a better quality life and my love of horses. 

What began as one night a week quickly morphed into four nights a week and my family never seeing me.  With the help of the center where I was volunteering, I worked towards my PATH certification knowing that this would, at the very least, be something I wanted to do part time.  My true dream was finding a therapeutic riding center that would allow me to make this a full time career.  This would take some time, but NTRC found me years later, and reached out.

From the first time I stepped on the property, I was in love with their mission, participants, and staff.  Shortly after I joined the NTRC staff, the position of Program Director presented itself and I found my career.

I am so happy to be working with a wonderful team of staff, instructors, and our equine partners to bring programming that will help enrich the lives of so many in the years to come.

I love my time both in and out of the arena helping to fulfill NTRC’s mission.