Our Program.

Our organization, known as CTRA, began in 1986 and moved to Providence Farm in 1988. This facility has an indoor arena, outdoor ring, a 20 stall barn and lounge/office area as well as miles of trails. Teaching staff at CTRA are all certified with the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA). Our staff consists of 3 Coaches, 1 Instructor, 3 Intermediate Instructors, 3 Assistant Instructors and over 85 volunteers.

Our six-day a week program operates in ten week sessions, three sessions per year. We offer individualized riding programs for 100-120 riders per week. Our children’s program comprises 60% of the total. We serve an area from Victoria to Parksville with the majority of riders living in the Cowichan Valley. We receive referrals from doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, schools and other health care agencies.

Our therapy programs are very diverse. Riding therapy, trail riding, and hippotherapy all play a part in improving the quality of life for our riders with disabilities. Physiotherapists, speech therapists, therapists for visually and hearing impaired, as well as caregivers all contribute to the overall planning and success of our program.

Riding Therapy makes use of functional riding skills to assist the rider in achieving specific therapeutic goals such as improved sitting balance, self-confidence or social skills.

Trail Riding gives riders the physical exercise of walking up and down trails and through fields, around corners and under trees and increases balance and coordination, muscle strength, and mobilization of hips and pelvis as well as the mental stimulus of a quite walk in the woods.

In Hippotherapy, therapists use the horse to improve the posture, balance, mobility and function of riders with movement disorders.