Building Unique Relationships

Horseback riding is a fun and challenging activity for everyone. The Creston and District’s Society for Community Living’s (CDSCL) Therapeutic Riding Program makes this activity accessible to children and adults with disabilities.

It’s a way to discover a whole new world of adventure, freedom, responsibility, dignity and excitement. As well, it’s a way to improve balance and coordination and strengthen muscles. Most importantly, it provides an overwhelming sense of accomplishment for everyone involved – riders, volunteers, caregivers and instructors.

Riders may participate for a variety of reasons: rehabilitation, skill development, fun, recreation and may even compete. Lessons may consist of physical therapy, games, riding instruction, horsemastership instruction, trail rides – or any combination of these. The goal of the program is for the rider to be as independent as possible.

Benefits of therapeutic riding vary for each participant. Riders are becoming stronger and their posture is improving as a result of regular riding lessons. One rider is becoming more sociable in his daily life and another is working towards independence with his own horses with what he’s learned at therapeutic riding. Over the years, several riders have progressed from needing lots of assistance from horse handlers and side walkers to riding independently at the walk and trot.

Thanks to the hard work of Sarah Schmidt, the program was founded in 2005 as an addition to the CDSCL’s other programs that serve people with disabilities. Six riders participated in the first session and now, five years later, the program has grown to serve as many as 28 riders per session.

As a Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) full member centre with Equine Canada and CanTRA certified instructors, the program offers weekly lessons during an eight week spring session, a four-week summer session and an eight-week fall session.

The programs’ facilities are located at 849 Erickson Road on the former Endicott property and consist of an outdoor riding arena, a covered tack up, viewing area and paddocks for the horses. The program also has access to trail riding through the neighbouring orchards.

The program would not be able to operate without a team of volunteers and has been extremely fortunate to have so many people willing to come out and help the riders with their lessons. New volunteers are always welcome.

There is an Open House on Saturday, March 27th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at 849 Erickson Road. Everyone is invited to come down and find out more about the program.

...remember to pick up your copy of the I Love Creston magazine, available for free at most retailers in Creston!