Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding, Inc
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It offers therapeutic riding for children and adults with disabilities, a riding program for veterans, and equine-assisted mental health sessions. Its website says it serves about 50 riders a week.
- Therapeutic riding lessons (group and private)
- Veterans therapeutic riding program (10 weeks)
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy with a licensed mental health provider
- Horsemanship skills (grooming, saddling, leading)
- Corporate team building
- Trial rides
- Children ages 4 and up, teens and adults
- Riders with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or spina bifida
- Riders with developmental delays or sensory processing differences
- People with PTSD or anxiety
- Post-9/11 veterans
More about this center
About the Program
Mike and Twuana Raupp founded Loving Thunder in 2008 to give their daughter, who has a disability, a supported place to ride. According to its website, the organization received 501(c)(3) status in 2010, began serving wounded veterans in 2013 and foster children in 2018. PATH Intl. lists it as a Premier Accredited Center.
Group classes usually have two to four riders. The center says it serves riders with any disability, and its mental health page describes individual equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions that include a licensed mental health provider. The website says its youth-at-risk equine-facilitated learning program has reached capacity and is not currently available.
The Horses and Staff
The website lists 10 therapy horses. It says all instructors are PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors. Co-founder Twuana Raupp is executive director, and co-founder Mike Raupp is barn manager; both are listed as CTRIs and Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning.
Veterans
The veterans program is a 10-week therapeutic riding program funded by Wounded Warrior Project and PATH Intl. scholarships. Funding is limited to veterans with post-9/11 injuries who are registered with the Wounded Warrior Project, and the center says these veterans ride free of charge as long as funding allows. See our guide to equine therapy for veterans.
Volunteering
Volunteers serve as horse leaders, sidewalkers and barn assistants, and others help with office work, marketing and fundraising. The center provides training. Volunteers 14 and older may work independently, and younger children can volunteer with an accompanying adult.
Location
Loving Thunder is in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, near NM 528. Visits are by appointment only to protect riders' privacy, so call (505) 554-9493 for the address. The mailing address is PO Box 44517, Rio Rancho, NM 87174.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I enroll a rider?
Complete the participant application on the Loving Thunder website. The center encourages a trial ride first, especially for riders with strong sensory responses.
What ages does Loving Thunder serve?
Eligible riders are age 4 and up, and the center serves teens and adults as well as children.
How much do lessons cost?
As listed on its FAQ page, group lessons are $420 per six-week session, paid at the start of the session, and private lessons are $125 per hour. Eligible post-9/11 veterans may ride free when grant funding is available.
How do I contact Loving Thunder?
Call (505) 554-9493 or email info@lovingthunder.com.
Location
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.