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About Us
Twuana Raupp, Co-Founder, ESMHL, CTRI
Nancy Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, Instructor in Training
Twuana Raupp, Co-Founder, ESMHL, CTRI
Twuana is our Co-Founder, Executive Director, Lead Instructor, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning. She is a PATH, Intl Certified Therapeutic Riding Intructuctor with a passion for horses and individuals with special needs. She stumbled onto the concept of Therapeutic Riding while she was a 4H leader for the Sandoval Sta
Twuana is our Co-Founder, Executive Director, Lead Instructor, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning. She is a PATH, Intl Certified Therapeutic Riding Intructuctor with a passion for horses and individuals with special needs. She stumbled onto the concept of Therapeutic Riding while she was a 4H leader for the Sandoval StarBucks 4H Club. She is the mother of a special needs daughter with developmental delays and Autism, and a guardian to her grandaughter with ADHD. Her search for Equine services for her own daughter made her realize that there are not enough providers and especially ones who truly understand the goals of a parent with special needs children. So in 2008, she got to work becoming certified, forming a non profit, and providing services for families of New Mexico. She makes certain that Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding is a program about the riders, not what is convenient for the instructor or volunteers. She strives to make certain that each rider is treated as an individual and is challenged to do as much as they can to become an accomplished horseman.
Chana Hodosh, Instructor in Training
Nancy Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, Instructor in Training
Twuana Raupp, Co-Founder, ESMHL, CTRI
Bringing over 20 years of horse riding and training expertise, Chana (pronounced Hawna) Hodosh's journey in therapeutic riding and teaching began in 2006. She has volunteered at several facilities since and one of her favorite things,while interacting with students, is the joy and smiles her riders display while learning!
Chana graduate
Bringing over 20 years of horse riding and training expertise, Chana (pronounced Hawna) Hodosh's journey in therapeutic riding and teaching began in 2006. She has volunteered at several facilities since and one of her favorite things,while interacting with students, is the joy and smiles her riders display while learning!
Chana graduated from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana majoring in Equine Studies in 2012. She continues her training at Loving Thunder where she is training to become a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor later this year. In her off time, she enjoys visiting with her two potbelly pigs, her horse Manzanita and two dogs Loretta and Lilac. Wherever Chana goes, her animals are not far behind.
Nancy Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, Instructor in Training
Nancy Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, Instructor in Training
Nancy Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, Instructor in Training
Nancy fulfills a long-time need for Loving Thunder and we are exstatic to have her as our bilingual instructor. Nancy speaks fluent spanish and brings a diverse level of experience to Loving Thunder. Nancy spent 7 years as a surgical technician, over 20 years working with horses and coaching students, and was the owner and CEO of Bruno
Nancy fulfills a long-time need for Loving Thunder and we are exstatic to have her as our bilingual instructor. Nancy speaks fluent spanish and brings a diverse level of experience to Loving Thunder. Nancy spent 7 years as a surgical technician, over 20 years working with horses and coaching students, and was the owner and CEO of Bruno Brothers Baby Organic Produce in Phoenix, Arizona, Bruno Bontempo in Costa Rica. Nancy is a certified, riding instructor FEI, riding coach trained in Bogota Colombia with Lars Meyer Su Bexten, and Diana Scaglietti in Santa Ana Costa Rica, and PATH, Intl certified therapeutic riding instructor, who trained here with Loving Thunder. Nancy is also a student of “HeartMath” and seeks to use its scientifically backed applications where possible. HeartMath data, backed by science, proves that a horse will mirror, through their behavior, an individual’s emotional state. She says, “Horses do not lie, the emotional state of an individual in the presence of a horse is reflected in the behavior of the horse.” Nancy is passionate about horses and giving back to the community by serving those in need. After managing guest ranches in Arizona and Colorado with over 100 horses and guests, she arrived in New Mexico by way of Colorado, with her chocolate Lab – Cocoa and her beautiful, registered Oldenburg mare – Starlite. Please welcome her to the herd as she brings her remarkable skills, and love of being present with horses both on the ground, and in the saddle, to Loving Thunder’s mission. Atentamente
Mike Raupp, Co-Founder, CTRI, ESMHL, Barn Manager
Mike Raupp, Co-Founder, CTRI, ESMHL, Barn Manager
Nancy Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator, Instructor in Training
Mike is the Co-Founder of Loving Thunder and manages all the aspects of the barns, including horse management and facility management. He is a PATH, Intl Certified Registered Instructor, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health.
The Loving Thunder horses feel loved and accepted because of his innate ability to whisper to them secretly and l
Mike is the Co-Founder of Loving Thunder and manages all the aspects of the barns, including horse management and facility management. He is a PATH, Intl Certified Registered Instructor, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health.
The Loving Thunder horses feel loved and accepted because of his innate ability to whisper to them secretly and listen to them in silence.
He knows firsthand the impact a horse can have on a child struggling with difficult situations during childhood. His many hours of riding the Pajarito Plateaus of Los Alamos at the age of only 12 years old gave him the ability to empathize with our riders, making him a great instructor and ESMHL.
Lauren Fry, Barn Assitant
Mike Raupp, Co-Founder, CTRI, ESMHL, Barn Manager
Lauren Fry, Barn Assitant
I am a 2021 graduate of Rio Rancho High school and am currently attending college at CNM where I’m considering Equine Studies. I have always had a love for horses and began riding lessons in the fourth grade in Virginia. This only ignited my passions that continues to grow. I now have been around these wonderful animals for many years a
I am a 2021 graduate of Rio Rancho High school and am currently attending college at CNM where I’m considering Equine Studies. I have always had a love for horses and began riding lessons in the fourth grade in Virginia. This only ignited my passions that continues to grow. I now have been around these wonderful animals for many years and am so grateful to be a part of Loving Thunder since June 2018. Loving Thunder has helped me grow as a person and my horsemanship. I have seen first hand how this program helps riders grow and develop and I can’t wait to see the amazing things it continues to do.
History
2008 -Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding was established by Mike & Twuana Raupp from a personal need for a supported riding environment for their own disabled daughter. Loving Thunder's mission is to empower and improve the quality of life for people with mental and physical challenges through therapeutic horsemanship, equine assisted activities and educational outreach to all. LTTR currently serves 50 riders per week.
2010 - Loving Thunder became a Non-profit Charity with an IRS determination as a 501 (c)3. Donations to help support the organization are deductible to the extent of the law.
2012- Loving Thunder became a Premier Accredited Center through PATH, Intl. (Professional Assn. of Therapeutic Riding, Intl.) We continue to be the only PAC in the entire state of NM. Accreditation is awarded after site visitors confirm compliance with 165 standards of care including facility care, horse care, volunteer training, records documentation, and staff certification.
2013- Started serving wounded veterans.
2017- Recertified as a PAC.
2018- Started serving foster children.
2019- Started the EFL (Equine Facilitated Learning) programs and serving youth who are in detention.
2022- Started a new LIFE for Loving Thunder at 1 Calle Caballo, Corrales, NM
Board of Directors
President
Vice-President
Vice-President
Twuana Raupp is the co-founder and the driving force behind Loving Thunder. She also acts as Executive Director and Lead Instructor. Her passion to see everyone be able to ride a horse at whatever level of achievement was the reason she and Mike started and continue to pour their love into the program. She can be reached at 505-554-9493. E-mail me
Vice-President
Vice-President
Vice-President
Kelley Allen was born and raised in the Midwest but has called New Mexico home for 30 years. She is an employee at Sandia National Labs and has extensive experience with Non-Profit board participation and development. She started as a Volunteer at Loving Thunder because of her love of horses but quickly decided to help in the management of the organization after seeing the value of this program. E-mail me
Secretary
Vice-President
Secretary
Susan Gothard has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music from Lake Erie College in Ohio serving as Associate Registrar and the Director of Veteran Affairs.
Susan has over 60 years of experience in partnering with horses. She has taught riding and horsemanship, competed inhunter-jumper and dressage shows. She is certified in Experiential Learning with Horses from the Lake Erie College Equestrian Department. Susan was a founding member and Secretary of The Chrysalis Adventure BOD, an ELH program in Ohio.
She says, “I have never had as rewarding of an experience as I’ve had volunteering at Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding Center. I look forward to the honor of serving on its Board of Directors and helping them to continue the amazing services they provide to so many deserving people.” She can be reached at (404)796-6757. E-mail me
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Michelle Allen has been an educator for twenty–two years. She earned her National Board Certification in 2001 as an Exceptional Needs Specialist. She has taught third through 8th grade special education and regular education; life, earth and physical science, history, english, journalism, and more. Currently She is an assistant principal at Volcano Vista High School. She has two children and has lived in New Mexico her entire life. She loves animals and has been volunteering at Loving Thunder since November 2018.
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Karen is an adult living with Spina Bifida. She resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her husband. She has three grown children, and one grandchild. Her educational background is a Master’s in Business with an emphasis in Project Management. Karen worked for over 25 years in Healthcare, primarily as a Healthcare Administrator. She is also a Service Dog / animal advocate, as she uses a service dog for mobility. Karen is keen to advocate for Service animal access that is equal and safe for those that use this special assistive technology. Karen is proud to be a part of the Spina Bifida community, working to improve the lives of all living with SB.
E-mail me