The Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding Association (SSTRA) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this spring and invites the community to join them.
The organization that provides horse riding lessons mainly for young people with mental, emotional and physical challenges has seen a new board secure grant funding and other donations in the past year and is poised to expand instruction hours and grow its program offerings. Two more things are needed to realize that vision: One is support for new Adopt-a-Rider and Adopt-a-Horse programs, and another is a successful fundraiser on April 11. Set for Meaden Hall, it will include a gourmet meal from chef Brody Paine and his Salt Spring Catering team, live music, plus both silent and live auctions.
“The Salt Spring community has been amazing with their auction donations,” said board member Becky Citra, who also volunteers with the program. “We’ve been out searching for donations, and the response has been absolutely fantastic. This is a very generous island.”
In addition to many gift cards and baskets from local stores and restaurants, artwork pieces and unique items like a handcrafted wooden blanket chest, a signature experience is a weekend at Sundance Guest Ranch in the B.C. Interior near Ashcroft.
Tickets ($75) for the April 11 event are available at Foxglove Farm and Garden Supply, Salt Spring Books and Salt Spring Coffee if paid with cash. SSTRA volunteers will also be selling tickets at Thrifty Foods on Friday, March 20 and Country Grocer on Tuesday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with credit/debit payments or etransfers accepted. Payment instructions for etransfer on other days are available by emailing gillianptaylor@gmail.com.
Citra explained how the Adopt-a-Rider program works.
“We’re offering the opportunity to sponsor a rider for either half of a session, which would be five or six lessons, or a full session,” noting that costs for some, but not all, riders are covered by organizations like AutismBC and that some families find it difficult to afford lessons. Sponsors will receive either a photo or drawing of the child and a progress report from the instructor.
“It’s such a wonderful program,” said Citra. “I’ve been volunteering for eight years, and it’s just amazing to see how the kids thrive and get more confidence.”
Riders may be nervous at the beginning when they first meet the horses, but grow and learn so much with each session, she said.
“Lots of animals are therapeutic, but horses are so big, and a big, quiet horse can be incredibly reassuring to a child. It’s this big, quiet, steady animal that’s there every week, no matter what happens during their week,” she said.
The Adopt-a-Horse program has different options for people to contribute to the care of one of SSTRA’s five horses.
“One option would be to pay for the care of a horse for a month, which would include his feed, farrier costs and any related costs,” said Citra.
Smaller options could see someone pay for a farrier visit for a horse, or buy 20 bales of hay, for example. Supporters would receive a photo and be invited to a meet and greet with the horse.
“I’m hoping it will attract people who love horses, see that the program is really valuable and would like to maybe have a little connection with a horse.”
One of the grants received in the last year came from the 100 Men Who Care Salt Spring group.
“It was huge for us,” said SSTRA president Rick Way, “because it enabled us to get a tiered pricing system for the riding to make it more affordable for families who can’t afford it.”
SSTRA will also soon have three trained instructors, making it easier to accommodate more riders. A group program for teenagers that ran last year thanks to grant funding will also be offered again this spring, said Way.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said of being involved with SSTRA. “It has been a lot of work this year, but it’s worth it, believe me.”
For more information about the SSTRA, including how to donate and volunteer, visit sstra.ca.