About Us

 

Children and Horses United in Movement or CHUM Therapeutic Riding Inc. offers the excitement of Equine Assisted Services to those who come! Our name was designed to honor a faithful equine friend who started as a therapy horse in 1980 and served for 23 years before he passed at 33 years old! Chum, Bonnie DePue’s friend and companion, introduced many children and adults to the world of horses and the gifts these magnificent animals offer. It has always been clear that CHUM is a God driven, Faith built, Grace guided program where individuals with and without disabilities share and develop their love for horses. In this process, we see ‘life lessons’ occurring in the barn, victories over challenges, hope and joy expressed, and relationship building in trust and love.

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CHUM Therapeutic Riding Inc. is a Premier Accredited Center by PATH Intl or Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. Bonnie DePue and her very talented instructors are credentialed as Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors. Bonnie has held CTRI-Advanced certification since 1982. Bonnie is also an Occupational Therapist who is credentialed with the American Hippotherapy Association as a Hippotherapy Certified Specialist. Sarah also brings her great talents as an Occupational Therapist with several specialties to CHUM! We have collaborated with other therapists in trainings, education, and research; OTs, PTs, and SLPs alike! All with the utilization of the equine movement and environment as the treatment strategy in therapy sessions. We also partner with multiple universities and organizations in research and education. 

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Bonnie continues to seek out opportunities to help the industry learn and grow. Over her many years in this industry she's had local, state, regional, national, and even international opportunities to present on all that CHUM offers in techniques, services, and research in many areas. Bonnie is passionate about sharing with other programs what we have learned here in both therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and equine movement as a treatment strategy!

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CHUM Therapeutic Riding Inc. offers the following and more...

• Therapeutic and Recreational Riding

• Lessons on specially trained horses for this part of the equine industry

• Public clinics; Riding and Training

• 4H Club Activities 

• Horse Shows and Special Events

  • Open Horse Shows/Dressage Schooling Shows​

  • Easter Egg Hunt on Horseback

  • Trick or Treat Harvest Fun on Horseback 

  • Fundraising events for the communities we serve

• Research and Collaboration with several universities

  • Baker College - Flint MI​

  • Michigan State University - East Lansing MI

  • University of Michigan - Flint MI

  • Concordia University - Ann Arbor MI

  • Central Michigan University - Mount Pleasant MI

  • Grand Valley State University - Grand Rapids MI

  • Western Michigan University - Kalamazoo MI

  • D'Youville University - Richmond KY

  • Washington University St Louis - St Louis MO

  • LaTrobe University - Australia