Meet the team

Founder, Owner, Occupational Therapist

Theresa, the owner of Car-ynne 4 Kids, graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1992 and has worked in hospitals, rehab clinics, nursing facilities, and home health care. In 2007, she launched her hippotherapy practice, serving children and adults with a wide range of diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, genetic disorders, autism, sensory processing issues, developmental delays and more.

She is a member of AOTA and OTAC, is registered with the American Hippotherapy Association, and is a Level 1 AHA therapist.

Theresa lives on the ranch in Littleton with her son and enjoys time with family, friends, and Colorado’s outdoor activities.

Safety Coordinator, Family Liaison and Blog Writer

Carson, son of founder Theresa Covey, is the “Car” in Car-ynne 4 Kids and a true inspiration. He is passionate about disability advocacy and works tirelessly supporting those with special needs at the capitol, seminars, conference, etc.

Growing up in the program, Carson helps keep staff, volunteers, and families safe around the ranch. He supports parents and staff, and helps coordinate trainings and meetings. He can be heard saying that  Car-ynne 4 Kids is truly in his blood!

Carson has a cow, named Enzo, on the ranch and is combining his love for his cow and disability advocacy in his blog. 

Chaplain

Gwen has been a Chaplain at  Car-ynne 4 Kids  since 2015, playing a vital role in supporting families and staff. She helps wherever needed—comforting siblings, answering tough questions, entertaining children with puzzles, sandbox play, or reading, and offering a listening ear to parents. 

Gwen’s ministry is to provide encouragement, care, and support to those who dedicate themselves to caring for individuals with special needs.

Read more about our Chaplain here.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Emily is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant who loves working with both people and horses. Originally from North Carolina, she grew up riding hunter-jumper and working with rescue horses. She earned double majors in Spanish and English at Appalachian State University before moving to Denver in 2017 for the mountains. She now lives in Arvada with her husband and dog.

After years of working with children—including as a full-time nanny—Emily returned to school to pursue Occupational Therapy and combined her passions. She graduated from Pima Medical Institute in 2023, completing one of her clinical rotations with Theresa at Car-ynne 4 Kids. She fell in love with the program and joined as a licensed COTA in 2024. Emily also works in home health and is grateful to spend her days serving families in both settings.

Lead Handler

After a rewarding career in the public school system, Ellen has fully embraced retirement and the chance to explore new interests. She brings that same energy and enthusiasm to Car-ynne 4 Kids, where she can often be heard telling her bosses how much she “loves her job.” Ellen enjoys being part of the team, connecting with families, staff, and patients, and contributing to the mission of the ranch in meaningful ways.

When she’s not at Car-ynne 4 Kids, Ellen pursues her many passions. She loves scuba diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, riding her horse and spending quality time with her children and grandchildren. Her retirement is filled with adventure, connection, and the joy of making a difference wherever she goes.

Lead Handler

Sanne was born in Denmark, where her family still lives. In 1997, she moved to Atlanta, GA with her then-boyfriend, now husband. After 20 years in the South, she and her family relocated to Denver in 2017, embracing all the beauty Colorado has to offer. She is married with two childeren and 3 rescue dogs and has spent many years around horses. She is a great attribute for helping train and work with the horses. 

In her free time, Sanne enjoys horseback riding, camping, exploring nature, and never passes up a trip to the beach. She is grateful to be part of the Car-ynne 4 Kids team and loves her days on the ranch. 

Lead Handler

Haley has been part of the Car-ynne 4 Kids team since  2023. A Colorado native, she has loved horses and the outdoors since childhood and spent many years riding with the Westernaires drill team She enjoys spending time with the horses, clients, volunteers, and her coworkers.

Haley is also passionate about the arts, writing novels and creating artwork, and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Digital Design. In her free time, she loves horseback riding, camping, exploring nature, and never says no to a beach trip. She is grateful to be part of the team and is a great asset that can ride and school the horses.