At more than 13,000 feet above sea level, a horse carries its rider across a narrow Rocky Mountain pass. The air is thin, the trail unforgiving, and the bond between horse and rider is the only thing that makes the climb possible. For the men of the Roundup Riders of the Rockies (3R) and the horses who carry them, the “Big Ride” is a test of stamina, trust and partnership unlike any other.
Years later, some of those same horses — resilient, steady and unflappable — take on a new calling at Colorado State University’s Temple Grandin Equine Center. Instead of scaling mountains, they help a child speak their first word or bring comfort to adults with disabilities. TGEC’s two facilities, in Fort Collins and Denver, provide equine-assisted services to individuals with physical, emotional and developmental challenges.
Adam Daurio, director of the TGEC, joined 3R in 2015 and has ridden every Big Ride since — a weeklong, 100-mile trek through the Rockies with more than 100 men from 15 states…