HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Every rider needs to be assessed for the suitability of therapeutic riding and which program best fits their specific needs. Each program has a slightly different referral process and procedure to follow prior to the rider becoming accepted and registered in a program. Riders are required to pay a rider fee with their registration which helps to cover a portion of the program costs.
CVTRS operates from September to June each year, with weekly classes ranging from 12-30 weeks, depending on the program.
Each class is 40 minutes long, and the cost to the rider is $60 per class. We are happy to work with various funding agencies such as Jumpstart, KidSport, Autism Funding, School Districts, PIE and Self Design to name a few!
Please review our program descriptions for more detailed program info.
If you are insterested in being placed on the waitlist for a program, please complete the Rider Intake below!
PROGRAMS
The Barn Buddies program is a class designed for our youngest riders who are on the autism spectrum. Due to the riders ages, 5-7 years, they are unable to ride consistently for an hour, because of both physical limitations and attention spans. We have designed a program to address this issue by incorporating the care and responsibility of the horse along with a shorter duration ride.
Children with autism face a very unique set of challenges, and our goals are to address and bring awareness of these issues to the child in a safe and inclusive environment. Some of the challenges faced by children on the autism spectrum are a disregard for boundaries, their own and others, a lack of understanding of the dangers of everyday life, and an inability to maintain focus on their present surroundings. By caring for the ponies, the children are given the opportunity to learn and practice these skills in a safe and structured environment, using the animals as bio-feedback for their own emotions and actions.
The Barn Buddies program helps the children to learn and recognize their abilities and challenges. The program provides the tools not only to help with self-regulation, but to stay in the moment and remain present. When the pressures and expectations of social situations and school trigger anxiety and exhaustion, the children are able to use the learned skills. When we help empower our members of society with special needs, we all benefit.
CVTRS offers a variety of therapeutic riding programs for people of all ages with physical, cognitive and behavioral complex needs.
Through lessons, therapy and trail riding participants gain a variety of physical benefits as well as psychological, social, educational and recreational benefits. This program is for children and adults who are hearing and visually impaired, accident victims, brain injury, Down syndrome , cerebral palsy, polio, developmentally delayed and many other complex needs. There are a variety of supports available in the class such as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, aides, caregivers, and primary caregivers.
The Stable Program welcomes those youth ages 8-18 who live with mental health challenges such as anxiety, trauma, and ADHD. The unique characteristics of horses allow them a special role in this 12-14 week experiential learning program. This unique, engaging and curriculum based program is designed to help these young riders form a foundation of respect, accountability and skills to propel them forward in all aspects of their lives.
Teamwork, social skills, honesty, trust and respect are an expectation of our riders. Over the years this program has proven to be very effective in helping to develop appropriate skills and coping strategies out in the world. They include improved emotional regulation, self-esteem, social skills and focus. We witness enormous success, secure in the knowledge that the lessons learned here are transferable to other areas of our young riders’ lives.
In collaboration with Indigenous Education (SD71) and K’omoks First Nation (KFN) this 5-6 week program is a brief introduction to our Stable Program for Indigenous youth. For information or to inquire about registration, please contact: