December 5/2011 – Holidays are Coming!

Happy Holidays from all of the Horses at CTRA!

We are entering our final week of our Fall session and looking forward to the holidays!  With our volunteer appreciation/holiday party just around the corner, this is a time to say thank you to all the people and circumstances that make CTRA possible.

Thank you to our volunteers - without each and every one of you, there simply would be no program.  Whether you help out in the ring, around the office, during events, in the barn, or on our committees/Board of Directors, your dedication and commitment to our program makes a huge difference in the lives of the people we help!

Thank you to our participants – your smiling faces are what make our world go ’round.  Thank you for giving it your best and teaching as much as you learn.  You are the reason we all show up in the morning and go home late at night.  You are each unique and inspiring – we thank you for letting us be a part of your journey!

Thank you to our supporters – our program as we know it is a result of the incredible support we receive!  Your generosity enables us to keep our services accessible to those who need it most and your contributions make profound differences in the lives of those who benefit from our program.  Whether you have donated gifts, your time, or simply a kind word, your support has afforded 25 years of work in the Cowichan Valley – thank you!

Thank you to our staff – your dedication and commitment to the program and those you assist continues to amaze.  Thank you for not only being our staff members, but often our biggest volunteers.  Thank you for always going above and beyond and continuously putting the needs of others before your own.

Thank you to our horses – you are the heart and soul of our program.  You are what fill the dreams of children and adults alike.  You are strong, patient, compassionate, and magical.  It is for you that we all converge here.

Thank you to our community - thank you for 25 years in the Cowichan Valley!  We are so lucky to call this beautiful place home!  Thank you to all the individuals, groups, and entities that make this valley a remarkable place to live and operate.

All of us at CTRA wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season! We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

October 12, 2011 – Welcome to the Fall Session!

We are out of the gates and running for our Fall 2011 session with more participants than we have seen in a long time.  We are thrilled to welcome back our returning riders and very excited to greet our new participants.

Something new that is happening this Fall: our “Therapeutic Horsemanship” program.  We are piloting this program this session, offering a non-mounted therapeutic alternative for those who will may not be able to ride or choose to interact on a “ground” level.  We are very excited to welcome our newest editions to the herd – miniature horses!

Volunteers Sammy and Maddy demonstrate with Jo and Lu at the 2011 Cowichan Exhibition

Miniature horses provide an excellent alternative to full sized horses and can be more accessible for persons with certain disabilities.  Plus they are adorable!  ”Jo” and “Lu” will be here only temporarily during the week until we can construct proper (miniature) accommodations for them.

We are also pleased to announce the opening of our used tack store on November 5th – a Saturday – from 10:30am to 1:30pm. This is a great opportunity to check out our program, meet the therapy horses, and browse the merchandise. Also: have you checked out the FREE STORE yet? Read all about these projects here and make sure you stop by and check out these exciting new initiatives.

Lastly, we are really in need of some volunteers for our upcoming sessions.

Miniature horse "Jo" proves that bigger doesn't always mean better at the 2011 Cowichan Exhibition

In order to accommodate our growing number of participants we will need to see a growing number of volunteers.  If you have been thinking about it for some time, now is the time to get involved.  If you have been away for a while, we would love to see you back.  Our new Volunteer Coordinator and Operations Manager, Colleen Hunt would be delighted to meet you.  Come out, come out, wherever you are!  This is a great time to join an amazing team, give back to your community, and make a wonderful difference in the lives of persons with disabilities.

Here’s wishing all of our participants a wonderful fall session.  Thank you to all the volunteers who have come out to make this session possible!