Therapeutic Riding

Just wanted to post and see how many of you participate in your local therapeutic riding association? I'm in the process of working towards my CTRAI (Assistant Instructor with the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association), and it has really been fantastic so far. Definitely food for the soul! Does anyone else have stories they'd care to share? Has anyone gone through the stages of becoming a Canadian instructor with CanTRA?

I've done a fair share of volunteering at therapeutic riding centers, and my aunt is a physical therapist that works part time at a riding center I've helped at. It's really an incredible experience. The children I see come out to ride are just so incredibly excited and show such vibrance and happiness when before they started riding their parents could only describe them as listless. Horses can have such an amazing impact on anyone, but I think it's especially evident in those people that, without horses, would never be looked at the same way as someone else. Horses give them a sense of control and of being, well, whole again.

Well I don't have any experiences with it yet, but this summer I'm planning on volunteering at a therapeutic riding center near me. I feel like it'll be a really good experience!

Anrz, I think you'll have a great time! It really is a lot of fun. There is a whole new appreciation for horses and riding at the center that I volunteer at that I haven't seen in a long time. Kinda makes you appreciate the opportunity you have when you're schooling dressage normally - the fact that we're able bodied and in good shape, you know? Just kinda makes you take note of how lucky you are. It's really inspiring. Helps you take even more joy out of the sport then I think you would originally.

Plus, the only chance I get to work with ponies is when I'm there, so that's just super cute in itself. ;)

I have volunteered at a local theraputic riding center for the past two years. I LOVE IT! I have really been inspired to continue with it for the rest of my life. I hope after college to earn my certification as a NARHA instructer (North American Riding for the Handicapped)

Yes I plan to go there for volunteer hours!

I volunteered at one for about a year before I got my first job, I looooved it! I was going to start the CanTRA courses but the lady that was providing them never ended up calling me back... (though I know she IS at Rolex right now with her coach so that could be why, hopefully!).

I am going to try to voluntere this summer :)

I want to do this when I get older. Esp. For emotionally and physically tramatized teens. But im going to gain horsey knowledge before I pursue it though. Its just a dream.

We should do our CanTRA together as positive motivation! Are you going to call her when she's back?


For everyone else, it's awesome you are all already involved, or want to be! I love it! It's such a feel good thing to do!