Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association

06/05/2026

☀️ Summer Riding Lessons at CTRA! 🐴

Our therapeutic riding sessions are now scheduled for the summer, which means we have a limited number of lesson spots available for community riders!

Whether you're looking to:

🐎 Learn to ride with a strong foundation in horsemanship, or
🐎 Continue developing your riding skills

We have a program for you.

Our summer lessons are offered in two 4-week sessions, Monday to Friday:

📅 July Session: July 6 – July 31
📅 August Session: August 10 – September 4

Lessons are suitable for riders looking to build confidence, improve skills, and enjoy time with horses in a supportive environment.

For more information or to register:
📧 [email protected]
📞 250-746-1028

Spaces are limited, so contact us soon to reserve your spot!

06/04/2026

💛 What an incredible evening at our 3rd Annual Mending Fences Fundraiser this past weekend! 🐴

As we celebrate 40 years of serving our community, we are filled with gratitude for the many people and organizations who helped make this year's event such a success.

A heartfelt thank you to Vertical Bridge HR, our presenting sponsor, for investing in the future of CTRA and helping ensure individuals and families can continue to access the life-changing benefits of therapeutic riding.

Thank you to Chris Anders for setting the tone for the evening with live music and creating such a welcoming atmosphere for our guests.

We are also grateful to Real Canadian Superstore for the beautiful flowers that helped transform our venue, Arctic Glacier Premium Ice (Duncan) for their generous donation of ice, and the Cowichan Valley Shrine Club for providing invaluable food preparation support behind the scenes. Your generousity helped make the evening run seamlessly.

To our volunteers, donors, sponsors, auction contributors, and everyone who attended, thank you. Your support is what makes our work possible.

For four decades, CTRA has been building confidence, independence, connection, and hope through the power of horses. Because of this community, that impact will continue for years to come.

Together, we are mending fences, strengthening our community, and changing lives - one ride at a time.

Thank you for helping make our 3rd Annual Mending Fences fundraiser a tremendous success! 💛

05/28/2026

We’re so grateful for the incredible support from our community. 💛

A big thank you to our sponsors and donors who are helping make this year’s Mending Fences event possible.

Your support goes far beyond one evening. It helps create meaningful, confidence-building experiences for our riders and ensures our horses receive the care they need.

🎟️ Join us this Saturday, May 30 at Providence Farm.
Tickets available at www.ctra.ca

05/21/2026

Raffle tickets are officially on sale for Mending Fences! 🎟️

We’ve gathered some incredible prizes thanks to the generosity of our community, and we’re excited to start sharing a few of them with you 👀

Every ticket purchased helps support our riders, horses, and programs — while giving you the chance to win something special 💛

🎟️ Purchase raffle tickets here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/2026-mending-fences-raffle-tickets

05/20/2026

Last week, CanTRA Instructor Examinations took place here at CTRA, and we were honoured to host not only our own instructors, but also two visiting instructors from therapeutic riding facilities on the mainland completing their examinations alongside us.

We are incredibly proud to share that all four instructors who were upgrading their certifications passed their exams with flying colours! ✨🐴

These certifications represent countless hours of learning, preparation, mentoring, teaching, and dedication — and we could not be more excited for each of them.

A heartfelt thank you also goes out to the amazing riders, volunteers, horses, and families who gave their time during our week off between sessions to help make the examinations possible. From riding in lessons and side-walking, to horse handling, setup, support, and cheering everyone on, it truly took a community effort.

Congratulations to everyone involved on this incredible accomplishment! 💛

05/17/2026

We’re excited to share that Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association has been nominated in the Community Groups category for Cowichan Valley Votes! 💛

If CTRA has touched your life — whether as a rider, volunteer, family member, supporter, or community friend — we would be incredibly grateful for your vote.

These programs are made possible because of the amazing community that stands behind us, and this is such a meaningful way to help spread awareness and support what we do.

🗳️ Voting closes May 17th

You can vote here:
https://cowichanvalley.communityvotes.com/2025/12/sports-recreation-and-fitness/community-groups

Thank you for cheering on our riders, horses, volunteers, and programs. We truly couldn’t do it without you! 💛

Official 2026 Community Voting Awards Platform for Cowichan Valley, BC. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

05/14/2026

What makes a great therapy horse? 🐴

It’s not speed or skill. It’s patience.

It’s the horse who stands quietly while a rider finds their balance.
The one who takes slow, steady steps when needed.
The one who seems to understand exactly what their rider needs that day.

Therapy horses are chosen and trained for their calm nature, gentle spirit, and ability to connect with people in a truly special way.

They may not know the difference they’re making… but we see it every day. 💛

05/12/2026

Just another day at the barn.

Quiet moments, fresh air, and the steady presence of our horses. It’s what makes this place so special. 💛

05/11/2026

Community service clubs are a big part of what keeps nonprofits going. 💛

On April 4th, the Chemainus Rotary Club gave us the opportunity to take part in their Saturday bottle return, with all proceeds donated to the Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association.

We were also grateful to welcome the Duncan Lions Club, who delivered their annual sponsorship cheque for our therapy horse, Yilden, and took time to learn more about our current efforts to replace the arena footing.

In total, CTRA receives support from eight incredible service clubs. Their generosity, encouragement, and belief in what we do means more than words can express. Their contributions help keep our programs strong and create meaningful opportunities for riders and families throughout our community.

Many service clubs today are facing aging memberships, and with that comes the risk of losing not only vital financial support for local organizations, but also the spirit of volunteerism, connection, and quiet leadership these groups represent.

To every service club that stands behind us: thank you. Your impact reaches far beyond any one donation, and our community is stronger because of you.

05/08/2026

There are moments in teaching that stay with you.

Recently, one of our instructors had the privilege of watching a rider complete something she had been working toward for over a year - successfully riding a dressage test as her submission for the 2026 BCTRA Video Competition.

As a senior rider, she shows up each week for her lessons, navigating health challenges, with determination and quiet strength.

But it wasn’t just the ride itself that made this moment so meaningful.

It was everything that led up to it.

The consistency.
The commitment.
The willingness to keep going, even when it wasn’t easy.

She arrives early to spend time with her horse before her lesson.
She studies video footage of her lessons.
She gives everything she has during her ride.
And no matter how tired she is after, she always takes the time to give her horse a massage before she leaves.

As an instructor, watching her see this goal through was emotional.

And what made it even more special was the way our team showed up for her.

Before her test, one of our barn staff took the time to carefully groom and prepare her horse and tack — knowing how important this moment was to her.

Seeing everyone come together to support her and set her up for success was just as powerful as the ride itself.

Because this program isn’t just about individual achievement.

It’s about community.
It’s about support.
It’s about people coming together to make unforgettable moments like this possible.

Moments like this are a reminder of why this work matters.

Growth doesn’t happen all at once — it happens in small steps, over time, with dedication, support, and heart. 🐴

And it’s a moment that won’t soon be forgotten.