| Ride-a-Thon Raises over $17,500!
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| CTRA's biggest fundraiser of the year was a success! Showing off jockey "silks", as well as their skills, riders got to challenge themselves in a Steeplechase-themed obstacle course and pose in the winner's circle during Ride-a-Thon week June 16-22. All through the Spring 2 Session, participants raised pledges, gathering over $17,500 towards CTRA's programming! On June 23rd, we celebrated with a big picnic featuring food, fun and fanfare! A big thank you to all who took part, as well as our sponsors for helping us put on a great event:
A&W Duncan
Alexandra Hamilton Alf Pink
Buckerfields Duncan Cal Kaiser Real Estate
Clement Real Estate
Cowichan Petroleum Sales
Creative Custom Services David Coulson Design Ltd Drillwell Enterprises Elmworth Construction Experience Cycles Joann & Colin Champoux Just Sew Custom Embroidery
Lake's Marine Supply
LMG Insurance Services Norm Fraser
Pacific Energy Stone Pacific Contracting
Top Shelf Feeds
Woodworks Renos
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No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. Winston Churchill
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| Farewell Dream Team!
CTRA is sad to say farewell to long-time Barn Manager Loree I'anson and Asstistant Barn Manager Gloria Edmonson. This amazing pair of incredibly hard working women kept our barn, herd, and well, all of us, in tip top shape. They taught us all so much and it will be difficult to adjust to their absence. Loree is finally taking her well-earned retirement and Gloria moves on to be Assistant Manager at Top Shelf Feeds in Duncan. We wish them the very best for the future and we KNOW they will be back to visit us often.
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| Hello Lovely!CTRA welcomes Sierra Kirk as the new Barn Manager. Sierra brings a wide variety of horse experience to CTRA. She grew up riding the hunter jumper circuit, worked at a ranch in Alberta riding western and working with kids, and then moved to Ireland to work at an eventing stable. Currently she has her own horse and takes on boarders on her property in Yellow Point. Sierra’s welcoming style & easy-going disposition combined with her training & experience makes her a perfect fit for CTRA.
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| Parking Lot Party at Small Block Brewery!CTRA is pumped to be holding a cool new fundraising event in partnership with Small Block Brewing Company! With a specially-made cask of beer brewed just for CTRA, Small Block is going all out to help us put on a great party Saturday, Sept 29th at their great new Duncan location. $25 tickets include food from one of the food trucks, a beer/beverage plus access to great raffles and musical entertainment. Proceeds to CTRA programming. Children are welcome at this venue. Party runs from 3 to 9 pm at 203 - 5301 Chaster Rd. Drop in any time--there is no set schedule, but once the special cask beer is gone it is gone! Don't worry, there will still be lots of other great Small Block brews to enjoy. Get your tickets now from the CTRA office at 1843 Tzouhalem Rd (on Providence Farm), info@ctra.ca, 250-746-1028!
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New Kids on the BlockGrady Is it an elephant? Is it a mountain? No, it’s Grady, our newest (and largest) member of the herd. Standing at a solid 19 hands high (6’3” at the withers), this 10 year-old Clydesdale x Quarter Horse is the definition of a gentle giant. The CTRA unicorn scouts traveled all the way to Quesnel to find this supersized fellow, who will be used in our Adapted Equestrian Vaulting program, as well as our Therapeutic Riding program for some of our taller riders. This extra-large unicorn was generously purchased for CTRA by Ann Lindwall and Foxstone Stables. Grady absolutely adores attention, so feel free to stop by CTRA and visit him, he’s not hard to find – just look for the horse that’s big enough to block out the sun! Loki If you’ve noticed an increase in the number of Fjords around CTRA lately, that is partly due to one of our newest therapy horses, Loki. Loki embodies the typical calm and quiet nature of the Norwegian Fjord which is so prized in therapeutic riding. Although he doesn’t have much formal experience in the ring, having been used mainly for trail riding, Loki has taken to therapeutic riding like a (very hairy) duck to water. Within weeks of his arrival he was already playing games like a pro, accepting a horse-handler and side walkers, and even did some lift-training with our electric lift!
As he puts on weight and muscle, Loki is beginning to look more like a typical Fjord, and once he has the traditional Fjord hair-cut he will blend right in with the others – just don’t accidentally call him Ember or his feelings will be hurt.
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Vaulting Demos at the RCMP Musical Ride& Cowichan Exhibition
CTRA’s vaulting team, the Warmland Vaulters, performed a demo before the HUGE crowd at the RCMP Musical Ride Aug 28 at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds. The Musical Ride features a full RCMP troop performing complex drills to music and raises money for local charities and non-profits. What a perfect opportunity to demonstrate equine vaulting--also putting moves on horseback and performing to music, although the uniform is more spandex than red serge! You can also see this amazing team perform at the Cowichan Exhibition's 150th Anniversary Fair on Saturday, Sept 9 at 11:00 am, and again at 4:00 pm. Cheer this hard working group on (quietly though!) as they show off all their hard work and dedication to this demanding sport.
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| Horse Sponsorship takes a "bite" out of the budget
CTRA therapy horses work hard and receive the best care we can give them, including the highest quality food, bedding and health care around. But these things take a big bite out of our budget! The solution? Horse Sponsors help us keep the feed buckets full and the Vet on call!
Individuals or businesses sponsor our horses with $2500/year and are entitled to all the horse snuggles and photo ops they want, as well as some classic recognition for their sponsorship. It is a great way to give some exposure to your business, rally staff together for a cause, and put a face on your philanthropy--a horse face, that is! Just look how happy Leo is that he is sponsored by the Malahat Lions!
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Easter Seals Helps with Access
To promote and enable access, Easter Seals offers two hallmark programs that offer discounts for caregivers and persons with disabilities.
Easter Seals has unveiled two programs to help caregivers and persons with disabilities: The Access 2 Program offers either free or significantly discounted admission for the support person of a person with a disability at member movie theatres, cultural attractions and recreation facilities across Canada. The Disability Travel Card can be used for reduced fares on a support person's ticket when travelling with Via Rail Canada, Greyhound Canada, Coach Canada and Motor Coach Canada.
For more information on both of these programs, please visit:
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Welcome New Board Members
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Both Kate and Doug have been long time volunteers around CTRA, mostly helping in the ring as Side-Walkers and Horse Handlers, but recently they have taken on additional roles as Board Members. We are so glad to have them--both bring a host of skills and experiences to the table and have already proven to be "Super Helpers" at several CTRA events.
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| Fun Fjord Fact
Fjords can be hard to tell apart, even by those who work with them a lot. When time allows, we sometimes get creative with the roaching of their manes to make them more distinct.
Roaching, or hogging, is the practice of cutting a horse's mane to about 2" from the growth point. Because Fjords have such a super thick mane, they often have this done for safety and comfort. It reduces the chance of tangling in tack and in being pulled by riders, and it is generally more comfortable for the horses by being less itchy or irritating. Traditionally, Fjords will have a crescent-shaped arch, enhancing the look of their neck, but you can do some fancy work if you know how!
It is said that, like people, horses can have quite a boost in pride when they have a freshly roached mane. Below are photos of some of our therapy horse haircuts over the years.
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Sage looking spiffy for Ride-a-Thon 2016 | |  |
Helgi is a master at fancy haircuts! | |  |
Ember's new "do" courtesy of barn worker Kindi. | |
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Summer Camps Supported by 100 Women Who Care Cowichan
More than 100 Cowichan women wrote their $100 cheques to CTRA at the last meeting of this amazing fundraising initiative, allowing CTRA to offer an even more jam-packed summer of horse camps this year. With the closure of the Easter Seals Camp in Shawnigan Lake this year, CTRA was keen to offer more camp spaces than ever to fill the gap in accessible camp opportunities. This welcome funding from the 100 Women Who Care Cowichan has helped us achieve not only this objective, but has also allowed for a few needed improvements to our facility. Summer camps have been shown to improve social integration, self-confidence, emotional intelligence and coping skills, and are the highlight of many children's summers. Inclusive camps are a needed community resource and CTRA is pleased to offer a variety of camp experiences for children of all abilities.
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Volunteering: Putting your values to work
Core values are principles that you hold to be of worth. They represent who we are now and not who we would like to be or think we should be. They are tangible and not something we have or do. Our values serve as a compass. To hone in on what these values might be, imagine starting a new job. What values would be most important for you. If you are travelling to a new and unknown place, what values would you want with you? Trust your instincts. Focus on things that are ‘must haves’ in your life. Think of peak moments or life changing events that revealed or focused a core value.
When we live in alignment with our values, we feel an internal sense of ‘rightness’. Honouring our values is fulfilling and energizing, even when it’s hard. We can make decisions based on what is most important to us and can harness our strengths. A great question to ask yourself is, “Will this action move me closer to my values?’ How values can serve you:
• You feel motivated to take action
• You can quiet your negative voices
• You have a more fulfilling life
Have you thought about your core values?
Our community at CTRA is a prime example of people who have put their core values to work. Check out our website to see CTRA's values and maybe consider whether yours might align! www.ctra.ca.
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| Funder Feature:
The Province of British Columbia
The Province of BC supports CTRA through an annual Community Gaming Grant (CGG). The CGG program is managed by the Province’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Through this granting program, commercial gambling revenues are distributed to eligible non-profit organizations throughout BC.
CTRA has received a community gaming grant for many years. This annual source of funding has played a significant part in securing CTRA’s sustainability by helping to offset the costs of stable staff and instructor wages. In 2018, the Branch approved an additional one-time grant of $10,000 (on top of the usual program dispersal) to cover the costs of purchasing new therapy horses – much-needed additions to our growing program!
CTRA sincerely thanks the Province of BC for this essential annual contribution to our program!
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| Time For A Rest
For approximately 5 years, Sage took her role as therapy horse very seriously, but this year she told us she was ready to retire from her therapy work. Always happy to play games and so easy to get along with, Sage has been a solid favourite with many of our participants, volunteers and staff. She has absolutely earned her retirement, which will be spent back at her former home after being generously free-leased to us all this time. We thank her owner Laurie Carrat for giving us the gift of Sage. At our recent Ride-a-Thon Picnic, we honored Sage with a beautiful cake and a portrait for her owners.
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Spiffing Up the Barn! CTRA had a summer make over this year! A huge shout out to board member & volunteer Doug Sanford for rallying his son and granddaughter, Arnie & Brittany Sanford. The Sanford team pressure washed and painted the entire facility over the course of a couple of very hot weekends. It was a massive job that has really spruced the farm up. Thank you to Rod Lowe of Brownsey Electric for providing the lift truck as well!
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| Pressure washed and ready to go!
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| Doug Sanford sweeps up Getting a lift!
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| Looking great after all the painting!
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Portrait of a Therapy Horse
CTRA is exceptionally lucky to have Lisa Pink on staff as Head Instructor, but did you know that she is a skilled photographer too? Lisa has generously donated a large amount of time to capturing the spirit of each of our therapy horses in amazing portraits. These are to be sold, in a limited number, as a fundraiser for CTRA.
The snaps below of these exceptional pieces of photographic art do not do them justice. Please come to the CTRA office to view them in person. They are simply stunning and would make an excellent gift or keepsake for anyone who loves horses. Framed portraits can be ordered for $60 each.
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Shriners in Your Community Fund
The Cowichan Valley Shriners Club offers funding to purchase orthopaedic equipment for children such as specialized wheelchairs, orthopaedic shoes, braces and other specialized equipment. There is an application form and any family can apply by sending a request with a detailed explanation of the reason and cost to the Hospital Chairman at the Cowichan Valley Shrine Club.
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- Save the Date! Get ready for the CTRA Parking Lot Party at Small Block Brewery Sept 29th!
- Fall 1 Session starts the first week of September. Make sure you are registered, paid and on the schedule! Contact Bren at 250-746-1028 or info@ctra.ca.
- The Warmland Vaulters will be performing a demo at the Cow Ex Fair Sept 9. Check it out!
- The Coastal Tack Shack will be at the Cowichan Exhibition Sept 8/9! Stop by to see the selection of great used tack and apparel, or just to say hi. This extension of the Jane James Used Tack Shop is made possible in part by Coastal Community Credit Union.
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| Don't forget to follow us on social media for the latest from CTRA! Posting your CTRA pics? Use the #CowichanTRA hashtag!
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This newsletter may have been "clipped" due to its size. In order to see the entire newsletter, scroll to the bottom of your email and click on "view entire message" and be sure to enable the images!
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Get Involved!
There are always many ways to support any non-profit. Here are some of ours.
Thirfty Foods Smile Cards By using a CTRA-linked Thrifty Foods Smile Card, your grocery purchases put money in our pocket! Thrifty Foods generously donates 5% of the amounts you load onto your card. It's so easy! Please contact us to get a CTRA Smile Card and start shopping!
Monthly Giving Committing to even a small monthly donation makes a difference to our bottom line. Having steady, reliable and unrestricted funding allows better budgeting for the basics such as utilities, wages and other overhead costs. Monthly donations are easily set up on Canada Helps.
Events Keep in touch to find out about our events. We hold several fundraisers each year, from Burger & Beer nights to our big Ride-a-Thon pledge week. Getting involved in events supports us in a fun way! Follow us on social media for what is coming up next (see bottom of newsletter for links)
Tack Donations We can always use tack! Donations of used horse tack are a great way to help. Items we can use in our own programs are sidelined--reducing our equipment costs. Items we can sell in the Jane James Used Tack Shop generate funds for our programming. Items that are not suitable for either of these purposes get recycled in our Free Store to keep them in use. Higher value donations are eligible for tax receipts if desired.
Planned Giving Consider a legacy gift in your will or as part of your long term financial planning. Talk to your financial advisor about how to set this up.
Volunteering Our volunteers make CTRA happen. Without them, we simply could not function. And most of them say that their time here is their therapy! There are many roles that CTRA volunteers can have, but the most common are side walkers and horse handlers to facilitate our lessons. To find out more about how you can take part in what we do, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Bren Pickel. 250-746-1028 or info@ctra.ca
Sponsorships/Donations philanthropy: the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes Financial support is still one of the best ways to support your favourite cause. Although we seek support from a variety of sources, funds are often restricted to certain purposes or uses. Unrestricted funds are harder to find yet are often the most important. Sponsoring an event or project, getting coworkers together to sponsor a horse, or simply making a donation, are all great ways to practice philanthropy in your community. You will receive recognition for your contribution and know that you have made a difference. Find out more here.
Being a CTRA Ambassador You keep in touch with us regularly, and you already support us financially. What more can you do? Be a CTRA Ambassador! Tell people about us! Make sure your sphere of influence knows about your interest in what we do. Promote our website and social media pages. Wear CTRA branded clothing (available at our office). Put up a CTRA poster at your gym or workplace (contact us for this). Nominate us for a philanthropy group such as 100 Women or 100 Men Who Care. Spreading the word about CTRA keeps us engaged with our community and garners support from our funders. Plus, it can help to direct new participants and volunteers to us.
Support Our Supporters Since many of our supporters are local businesses, it helps to let them know you appreciate their contribution to CTRA. Knowing that their involvement has been noticed is wonderful feedback to receive!
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