| ...and the grazing is easy
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Leo the Therapy Horse, Photo credit to Helgi Sangret
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| RIDE-A-THON 2019RODEO EDITION! OVER $25,000 RAISED!
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This year's Rodeo-Themed Ride-a-Thon was a barrel of laughs (pun intended) and raised an unprecedented amount of funds for our ponies!
Participants rode a very creative course in the outdoor arena, with lots of "rodeo" activities. At the picnic, we turned that course into a "noodle horse rodeo" for entertainment, which got lots of laughs from the audience as CTRA Instructors and RBC Volunteers raced around the ring!
Our top five fundraisers received ribbons at an award ceremony during the picnic and we celebrated Floella's retirement with a cake in her honour.
Thanks to all of our staff, board members, participants, families, friends and sponsors for making this our best Ride-a-Thon ever!
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| | Many thanks to our awesome sponsors who make Ride-a-Thon a fun and exciting event for everyone involved!
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Horse Breed Spotlight:The Draft Horse
“Draft horse” (aka “heavy horse” or “work horse”) is the catch-all phrase to encompass the types of big horse breeds most commonly used to pull carts, sleighs, or plows. There are many breeds under this designation, including the Shire, the Percheron, and the Clydesdale (made famous by the Budweiser beer commercials). The “horsepower” of draft horses was essential to agriculture, transportation, and military operations prior to the invention of the internal combustion engine. Although vehicles have replaced the horse, draft horses continue to be used by some farmers (particularly in Amish and Mennonite communities) and in some forestry applications (e.g. when dense woodland or a lack of space prevents mechanized techniques).
These days, most drafts are found at exhibitions or on the streets of tourist destinations pulling carriages. Less frequently, they are used as riding horses (although draft/light horse crosses are very popular in a number of equestrian disciplines). Most recently, the popularity of equestrian vaulting (a blend of dance and gymnastics on horseback) has renewed demand for draft horses. Because of their large stature and steady disposition, drafts are excellent vaulting partners.
The Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association (CTRA) uses draft horses in their all-ability equestrian vaulting program. CTRA’s two draft horses are: Keagan – a younger Clydesdale who is currently in training, and Grady – CTRA’s resident “Gentle Giant.” Grady is a massive (19 hand) Percheron cross who is used for both vaulting and therapeutic riding.
Jennifer Barnes Van Elk
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Burger & Beer FundraiserOctober 27th, 2019
Drop in from 5 - 8 pm
Silent Auction ends at 7 pm
Wine pull, 50/50, burgers and beer!
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Tickets $25 at the CTRA Office. Find details here.
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| If you have items you wish to donate to our silent auction or a bottle of wine for our wine pull, please contact us at 250-746-1028 or visit the CTRA office at 1843 Tzouhalem Rd!
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Becoming Time Affluent
Does it seem like you never have enough time? What if I told you that you could gain time by volunteering?
The number one response for not being involved as a volunteer is ‘I don’t have the time’. So let me share the key to unlocking the puzzle of finding some time to volunteer. Just do it.
I’m not being cheeky. It’s actually very scientific. Obviously, you cannot create more time so it is a matter of accessing how you use your time. Your time is a powerful thing so you need to invest some of it in activities that bring you ease, happiness, and even energy! The technical term for the psychology behind this theory is becoming "time affluent".
time affluent: the feeling that one has sufficient
time to pursue activities that are personally meaningful,
to reflect, to engage in leisure.
In essence, this means that you need to trim down or simplify in some areas of your life and deliberately schedule in activities that are meaningful to you. When you are doing the things you love you are not fighting time anymore but living in a more holistic way, and as a result, you actually feel like you have more time!
Make a list of your most valued activities, family time, hobbies, and personal growth. Put some boundaries into place for work and social engagements. Start to add, in small simple ways, the items on your list. Have coffee with your mom. Go to the pool to swim before work. Put the time aside to volunteer.
CTRA has a variety of opportunities for you to get involved. Come be a part of team that is making a positive impact on lives every day! Whether it is working in the barn, side walking in a lesson, horse handling, or even gardening, it all works together to create and sustain this amazing place of inclusion and empowerment. Just do it.
Email our Volunteer Coordinator for more info – bren@ctra.ca
Next Volunteer Orientation: September 4th
Bren Pickel, Volunteer Coordinator
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From the Barn
Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program, we welcomed two new faces to CTRA this summer.
James Hodson took on the role of our Summer Maintenance Worker. James enjoys board games, solving a rubik's cube and playing the piano. He previously has been attending high school and working with his grandpa. James is aiming for a career in Aerospace Engineering.
Stephanie Olson signed on as Summer Program Assistant, with her main role being Camp Administration. Steph likes to hike with her dogs, hang out with horses and take naps! She was previously a Customer Service Coordinator for Winners. Steph hopes to own her own farm one day.
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We asked some questions to get to know our new staff better.
What motivates you to work hard?
James: I am trying to save up for University and I also get a lot of satisfaction from a job well done.
Steph: Money. Being able to provide for myself and my animals is a big motivator.
Any favorite accomplishments you've completed this summer AT CTRA?
James: I am proud of the extensive amount of weed wacking I've accomplished. You can really see a what a big difference it makes!
(we really have to agree with James on this one! The CTRA "jungle" can get really out of hand when we don't have a summer maintenance person)
Do you have a favorite horse at CTRA? Why is that one your fav?
James: Frosty is my favorite because he has such a cool personality. Whenever I am picking weeds in his paddock, he follows me around like a puppy dog. He even tries to eat the weeds right out of my hand. It's pretty cute!
Steph: I would say Keagan because he is very sweet and it is so easy to read his emotions.
Lastly, if you were a NON PROFIT super-hero, how would you use your powers to help CTRA?
Steph: If I had Non Profit super powers, I would turn horse poop into cash!
(Oh Steph--we wish it were that easy!)
Thank you to both James and Steph for their hard work around CTRA this summer! We hope we will continue to see you both around our facility in the future.
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|  | CTRA Instructor Dani on Yilden. Photo credit to Lisa Pink
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Welcome Yilden!
We are excited to officially welcome Yilden to the CTRA family! Yilden is a 17 year old Norwegian Fjord who comes with a strong background in dressage, as well as experience in eventing, jumping, and being a lesson horse.
He is fitting in well as an independent walk/trot/canter horse for our more advanced riders, as an on-lead therapy horse, and is in training as a vaulting horse for our tiniest vaulters. He has also been selected by the physiotherapist to be used for our pilot hippotherapy program, due to his beautiful forward walk!
We are so grateful that Yilden was generously donated to the program by Jaret Clay and Laure Hartwig-Clay!
You can follow his adventures using his hashtag: #YildenOfNarnia
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Hollywood Here We Come?
The lens has been on CTRA a lot this year! Our program and a few riders have been featured in two amazing productions just released, one from the AMI and another from the FEI.
"AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal."
Accessible Media Inc (AMI) featured CTRA in an episode of Our Community. Find this special episode here.
"The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is the international governing body of equestrian sports.
As an organisation and a governing body, we are passionate about our sport. We celebrate the unique bond between horse and human (#TwoHearts) and strive to develop equestrian sport globally in a modern, sustainable and structured manner with guaranteed athlete welfare, equal opportunity and ethical partnership with the horse.
As a not-for-profit organisation we re-distribute revenues straight back into our sport with our values at the very heart of our endeavours - reflecting our commitment to the unique attributes of the equestrian world and our responsibility to nurture and encourage best practice and good horsemanship at all times and all over the world. We are also very committed to a transparent and proactive dialog when it comes to the decision making process with our 134 member National Federations."
The FEI created a two part film about CTRA. Find these here & here.
We are so incredibly grateful to both of these companies for their superb productions. The crews were gracious, respectful and a lot of fun to work with! We also extend thanks to our participants and staff for making it happen at the CTRA end.
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| Pony Birthdays!
Smokey - August 31st
Josefa - September 17th
Jake - October 22nd
Loki - November 29th
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| Several members of our CTRA family received medals at the recent Special Olympics Awards Banquet and we are so proud of them for their achievements!
Debbie McPheators was once a participant at CTRA and is now a key part of our barn and office. Debbie constantly shows us her dedication to CTRA and commitment to her personal improvement. She is very active in Special Olympics and her awards were for bowling and swimming.
Kody Anderson has participated in special Olympics for over 11 years.
He participates in 5 Pin Bowling, Club Fit, swimming, soccer, track and field and bocce ball. Kody won the Most Dedicated Award for 5 Pin Bowling at the 2019 Special Olympics Awards Banquet.
Darien Tielemans has been a participant at CTRA for many years and won 4 awards in bowling – highest male average, highest male triple, highest male single & most accomplished!
Way to go everyone!
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| | The Big Guy is Back in Action!
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The "Take a Leap" Vaulting Camp crew giving Grady extra attention! Photo credit to Helgi Sangret
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Grady has asked us to write an update, to let his fans know how his recovery is going. He dictated the message to us, but it just looked like “neigh, neigh, whinny, snort.”, so allow us to paraphrase:
As some of you already know, Grady recently had a worsening of his condition, known as Roaring. Also known as laryngeal hemiplegia, roaring is a condition of the larynx, which causes the cartilage to no
longer do its job of helping the throat open to allow airflow. Due to the throat becoming paralyzed, the horse will have more difficulty breathing, especially during exercise, and will make a whistling or
“roaring” noise when breathing heavily. The paralysis in Grady’s throat, in addition to irritation on the non-paralyzed side, was essentially causing him to “breathe through a straw.”
Our veterinary team determined that surgery was the best course of action for Grady, and in late June he traveled over to Aldergrove for his procedure with Dr Virgin. Basically the operation’s purpose was to partially tie back part of his throat to allow for better airflow. The surgery went very well, and on his return Grady was put on a strict recovery regimen, including
twice-daily cleaning of the operation site, a short period of stall rest, and eating and drinking from floor-height. The hardest part was that he was not allowed to whinny, which meant always feeding him first and making sure he always had a friend nearby.
On July 31 st, Grady’s regular vet Dr McDonald scoped him to have a look at his throat, and was happy to report that it was healing up nicely, and that his airway was more open than before. Grady was given the OK to begin some gentle walk work to slowly start getting his fitness back. Grady is excited to take on two walk lessons per week for the Fall 1 Session, and is hoping to return to one or two more, plus some light vaulting come Fall 2. In the meantime he will be (lightly) hitting the gym to get his respiratory fitness and muscle tone back on track.
Grady would like to thank everyone who donated to his Go Fund Me campaign for his surgery, and everyone who has stopped by to wish him well and give him a snuggle. He is especially grateful to the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, who not only signed on to be his sponsors for the next 3 years, but who also generously donated $2,000 towards his operation. Thank you all for helping Grady breath easy, or in his own words, “neigh!”
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| If we had a million dollars......the first thing we'd buy is a tractor! Managing a farm with over a dozen horses, two riding rings, many paddocks and lots of land needs some mechanical advantage. Our old, old, old tractor is great for harrowing the ring, but she doesn't have a bucket or a plow. So, we are on the lookout for a good deal on something like this:
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If you have a line on a used tractor or are a business looking for a sponsorship opportunity, please give us a call. Winter is coming...
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Jumpstart Funds Horsepower to Empower
On July 8, 2019, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities announced the recipients of this year’s Para Sport Jumpstart Fund grants. Included in this list was Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association (CTRA), a Duncan-based charity that provides therapeutic riding and equine-facilitated interventions for children and youth with special needs.
CTRA will receive $32,000 for inclusive and adapted equestrian activities that include therapeutic riding, para-equestrian sport, inclusive equestrian vaulting, therapeutic horsemanship, and adapted equestrian agility. The range of highly individualized opportunities supported by this funding funding allows a large number of children and youth with unique needs, skills, and goals to participate in the program and benefit from the positive outcomes of sport and play.
“Many of the children taking part in CTRA’s programs face barriers that preclude involvement in other community sports and recreational activities,” explains Jess Fraser, CTRA’s Executive Director. “CTRA provides youth who may experience marginalization because of a disability or mental health challenge a place to get active, develop their strengths, and share their love of horses. The sense of achievement and belonging fostered by our organization is truly transformative. Not only does it better a child’s immediate circumstances, it helps to develop and elevate diverse leaders who shape more resilient communities in the long run.”
With this grant, CTRA will provide equine-assisted activities and interventions to 125 youth (aged 4-25). Referrals to CTRA’s services come from general practitioners, therapists, counsellors, community navigators, and educators and cover a wide array of diagnoses including congenital and acquired disabilities and psycho-social challenges. Funding will help to cover a year of CTRA’s operations including regular sessions and spring/summer camps.
CTRA is one of 40 community organizations across Canada receiving support from this year’s Para Sport Jumpstart Fund. A total of $800,000 will be distributed across the country as part of Jumpstart’s Play Finds A Way movement, dedicated to helping community and sport organizations remove barriers to sport and recreation for children and youth with disabilities.
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CTRA Rider Bryan Downey strikes a pose with therapy horse “Jake” and volunteer Joanne Raab (Photo credit to CTRA)
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The Para Sport Jumpstart Fund was created in 2013 out of a partnership between the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. To date, over $2.5 million in funding has supported 90 organizations nation-wide, helping to ensure access to safe and affordable play for approximately 7,000 children.
“At Jumpstart, we are committed to removing financial and accessibility barriers to sport and play so that all kids have the opportunity to get in the game,” said Scott Fraser, President, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “Through our partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Para Sport Jumpstart Fund allows us to expand our reach, help more kids, and work together to create a more accessible and inclusive Canada.”
“Sport can have such a positive influence on the development of children in so many ways, and that is only possible if they have access to safe and affordable ways to play,” says Karen O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “We applaud the great work of the grant recipients, who are making a huge difference in the lives of kids and who are an important part of the Para sport system in our country at the grassroots level.”
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CTRA Rider Gabi Williamson gives a volunteer a high-five during Ride-a-Thon (Photo credit to CTRA)
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| Want to feel good? Give repeatedly!
Two recent studies demonstrate that unlike the good feelings that fade from things such as a good song or a nice meal, the feelings from giving to others does not decline in the same way or at all in some cases.
Both studies suggested that "giving reinforces our connection to other people" and that experience remains for a long time.
For the article about these studies click here.
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Ross, on Ember, with his Sea-to-Sea Competition ribbon
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Ross Wristen Inclusion Garden
Ross Wristen was a well-loved CTRA participant for many years. We are pleased to pass along the information below about this great memorial initiative in his name!
The Cowichan Agricultural Seed Hub has built an inclusive safe space for those that may find getting their hands in the soil challenging for a variety of reasons. Connecting, growing skills, getting fresh air and watching things grow are all freely available in this lovely setting.
The Ross Wristen Inclusion Garden includes four lengths of 120-foot wheelchair accessible rows in farm style with several accessible garden tables in the works. These are open for hands on work by groups or individuals of varying abilities, youth at risk, and elders feeling isolation. Learning to grow and harvest food and seed in this way encourages people to reconnect with their food, nature and community. Working the soil together creates many opportunities for socializing or simply a place to open up to an outreach worker or counsellor.
Groups that choose to come regularly have a dedicated portion of a row to work their gardens from seed to harvest, with chores such as seeding, transplanting, weeding, watering, and staking while maintaining organic and sustainable farming practices.
There is also the option to just come and water, weed or walk amongst the crops while making connections. We also have opportunities for ‘farm art’ such as adding to seed mosaics.
For more information contact Karen at karen@cowichangreencommunity.org
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| Get Involved!There are always many ways to support any non-profit. Here are some of ours.
Returnables
CTRA has a large Return It bin at the top of the driveway leading down to the stable. Drop off your returnable drink containers any time! Plastic and metal containers go in the big bin. Glass returnables go into the blue bins alongside. This ongoing fundraiser is easy and effective!
Returnables can also be taken to the Duncan or South Cowichan Island Return It Depots and donated to our account. Simply tell the cashier they are for Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association when you reach the counter.
Thrifty 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 that many grants won't cover. 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 and equipment are a great way to help. Items we can use in our own programs are sidelined to reduce 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 our more about how you can take part in what we do, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Bren Pickel at 250-746-1028 or info@ctra.ca.
Sponsorships/Donations
philanthropy: the desire to promote the welfare of others, espressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes
Financial support is still one of the best ways to support your favourtie 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 for us.
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 that 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 philanthropy/fundraising groups 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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| Upcoming Events
September 9
Fall 1 Session starts
September 12
PPID Session
October 27
Burger & Beer at Cobblestone Pub
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| | Visit our website for everything you want to know about CTRA! You can find press releases, informaiton about our herd of therapy horses, forms and much, much more.
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| | Facebook is a great place to see what is happening at CTRA with press releases, event updates and more. Follow us to stay current!
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| | You will smile. You will laugh. You will cry. You will relate. Follow us on Instagram for memorable moments that will touch your heart.
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