Here at Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center, our mission is simple. We want to provide horse-based therapies to facilitate growth, learning and healing to people of all abilities including the disabled, disadvantaged and special needs. We could not do that without our dedicated volunteers or the following dedicated members on our board.

Jay D Muller, President & Co-Founder


​Jay D. grew up around horses all his life. Having attained a Masters Degree in special education, Jay D. taught in the public schools for 10 years and coached high school basketball for 17 years. He left teaching for 10 years and served as a Regional Vice President for a financial services office before returning to the classroom three years ago. It was in his time away from teaching that Jay D. and his wife Suzanne started Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center.

Susan Carter, Vice President​

Susan has always been a plant and an animal lover.  She has a degree in Ornamental Horticulture, from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture.  After working a few years as a production coordinator, she returned to school.  She acquired her Master’s of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University.  She and her husband Rich, moved to Colorado in 1992 and Fruita, CO in 2001.  
Susan and Rich have been volunteering for years including CO Parks and Wildlife, Boy and Girl Scouts, and Susan was a Planning Commission for 5 years for Fruita.  Their son is at CSU and their youngest has ASD and has benefited greatly from horse therapy.  Now three members of the Carter family volunteer at GVEALC.  Susan joined the board in December 2021.

Suzanne Muller, Treasurer & Co-Founder

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Suzanne is a Special Education teacher with Mesa County Valley School District 51 and has been for the past 20 years.  Suzanne receives joy from the work at Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center; joy from the interaction with clients; joy from watching the clients conquer their anxieties, fears, challenges; joy from our equine partners; and joy that each one of our volunteers brings to GVEALC.

Cheryl Tennant, Secretary

Cheryl has lived in Fruita since 2011. She and her husband Michael, have 3 sons and 1 daughter and 14 grandchildren. Cheryl graduated from Colorado State University in 1997 and has been teaching Family and Consumer Sciences for 24 years and is currently at Fruita Monument High School where she instructs the AP Culinary class, Food Science, Culinary Nutrition, Child Development, and Life Management. Cheryl is also a health coach, providing people support to improve their physical, mental, and financial health. Cheryl became interested in hippotherapy 15 years ago when a student did a career research project on it.
When she learned about the benefits to people and was introduced to GVEALC by a coworker, Jay D Muller, she decided to be a board member to assist in the cause. Cheryl is an active member of her church and believes that we were all put on this earth to help one another achieve the best life possible.

Bob Miller

Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1982 with a degree in Natural Resources Management. He was hired with the State of Colorado in 1983, and worked as a Park Ranger, Senior Ranger, and a Park Manager. Bob retired from State Parks after serving the public for more than 32 years. He has been on the Board of Directors with GVEALC since 2015. His greatest pleasure is working with horses and seeing how they can impact and heal people in our special need’s community.

Karen Huber

​Karen was born and raised in Denver, Colorado.  After graduating from George Washington High School, Denver in the 1960s, she continued my education to become a registered dental hygienist at the University of Rhode Island. Her professional life of 40 years was very satisfying and worthwhile.  Three years ago, and after retiring, they moved to Grand Junction to be part of a smaller community and be near family. Husband Franz and Karen have been married for 48 years.  They have 3 amazing children and 4 grandchildren! Son Nicholas has special needs.  Because Nick was born with a laundry list of special needs, Karen educated herself on how to be a good advocate for him, and to encourage him and others to concentrate on his abilities rather than disabilities. The prognosis wasn’t very encouraging, but he has persevered and succeeded in more than any “professional” ever thought! 
Karen volunteered with the Cherry Creek School District, Special Education Advisory Committee, inclusion in our religious school when he was younger,  transition training for a post-graduation meaningful life and training for newly hired direct care professionals for organizations that have supported him with vocational and residential programs.   Karen looks forward to working with GVEALC, as their vision of providing professional therapy using magnificent equine animals is close to my heart.  I have seen the improvements and the quality of life for our son.  Her inspiration in all she does is in her son and the love of family.