Veterans Appeal - CTR Changing Lives

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” -Winston Churchill

That has been our mantra since 2018, when we first partnered with the VA Maryland Health Care System to provide equine-assisted services to Veterans of our American Military. Over 400 Veterans from five different VA departments—and every branch of the American Military—have come to our farm to work with our horses, instructors, and volunteers since then. At CTR, they embark on a new mission: to experience healing for their minds, bodies, and spirits through the transformative connection between people and horses.

The men and women who attend Horses and Heroes, our Veterans Programming, live with disabilities and diagnoses that they received in service to our country. Some veterans arrive with physical disabilities due to combat, accident, and injuries that make it difficult to move with a full range of motion or participate in traditional forms of physical recreation. Our horses meet these people where they are, and regardless of whether the vets do mounted lessons and ride, or they do unmounted work with the herd and learn how to groom, feed, and care for them—they leave a little stronger every time. Some Veterans who attend programming at CTR also received psychological injuries and disabilities because of their service to our country. In their work with our horses, they often regain a sense of self, resilience, and relief. They tell us about how much they appreciate the opportunity to experience healing in completely new ways—ways that engage their minds, bodies, and spirits.

Though we apply for federal funding to continue to support our Veterans Program costs, there’s no guarantee that CTR will be awarded the more than $60,000 per year that it takes to serve these heroes who served us. And unlike traditional adaptive riding lessons, we charge our Veterans nothing to participate. We do this, knowing the debt we owe them for their service.

How can you have the biggest impact? You can directly support our Veterans by donating your fully tax deductible contribution via check or credit card at: https://ctrchanginglives.org/veterans-appeal/.

Your gift honors their service and sacrifice by ensuring their connection to the healing power of horses.

Thank you,

Cathy Schmidt
Executive Director

Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, Inc., also known as CTR, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation under Internal Revenue Service regulations (Federal Tax ID #26-0068227). A copy of our current financial statement is available by writing CTR at P.O. Box 475 Abingdon, MD 21009 or by calling (443) 528-7793. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.