It's been 25 years in the saddle for the Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association.
The small group of volunteers offers an alternative to regular physiotherapy to those with special needs. People are invited to explore a bit of adventure by riding horses and engaging in challenges to encourage new experiences and friendly interactions with knowledgeable volunteers.
The inspiration who spurred the group into existence was Brett, Barb Warkentine's special needs son, who needed ongoing physiotherapy. The Child Development Centre that provided physiotherapy to Brett, now 30, ended when he turned six years old and started school.
Warkentine looked elsewhere for continued programming for her son but quickly had it put right back in her lap to start something herself, explained Warkentine, the founder and president of PGTRA.
The association started out with one instructor Jeanne Abernathy and then a short time later along came Randy Petkau who stayed on for 17 years before succumbing to cancer.
"Randy was our main person," said Warkentine.
"She ran the horses and kids and everything and I just helped fundraise whenever they needed money. We were very small back then, we were a group of five."
Today the association serves 40 to 45 clients, with a total of more than 100 clients as young as age three being served over the last 25 years. The association uses the Agriplex Tuesdays and Thursdays and each rider is given a 45-minute session.
The team uses a special lift to get wheelchair clients on the horse.
During the session, the horse and rider can make their way through walking poles, which teaches the rider to reign the horse from side to side. There are different activities where there's a pole with rings on it and the rider can move the rings teaching occupational therapy skills while controlling the horse, said Warketine.
There's something called the car wash the volunteers built where horse and rider will go through a hanging hula skirt and the rider can feel the different sensations of traveling through the ribbons that go against their faces and hands that they can touch and feel to have a tactile experience.
There's even a basketball hoop for an added challenge for riders to try.
There are a variety of saddles that clients can use and range from regular saddles to saddles with velcro and there's even a specially made saddle that has a back on it.
The biggest need is volunteers and horses.
"If we don't have volunteers we can't ride, if we don't have horses we can't ride," said Warkentine.
"Each client has certain needs and we believe in safety so we need volunteers to be side walkers and leaders. The clients learn to ride but our program really starts with life enhancements and life skills."
Clients develop better core strength, improve their speech and listening skills and find a sense of community.
"And the life skills we all learn they just learn in a different way," said Warkentine.
The association owns four horses and always needs more for the program.
Within the last year, Variety, the Children's Charity, bought the association a cart so those who are not able to physically ride a horse can also enjoy the equine experience in a different way, said Warkentine.
"So we finally got our dream," said Warkentine.
The seventh annual fundraiser for the Therapeutic Riding Association takes place Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Treasure Cove where there is a dance and silent auction, a live auction, a raffle, and the popular heads and tails game.
Each year the association raises about $30,000 that goes towards operating expenses.
If anyone would like to volunteer with the Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association or has a horse that can be used to help clients call Warkentine at 250-962-5082.
