Pony Pals Stables

Pony Pals Therapeutic Riding Association
Where Riders are Unlimited

A Registered Charity in Canada- Registration # 854319456RR0001

A new program developed especially for children and adults aged 3 years and older who are faced with life challenges.

• Our lesson programs are varied depending on the individual needs of the client. We encourage riding in semi-privates or groups to enrich the experience through social interaction with peers and enriching the learning experience:
  • One-on-one privates are offered to our clients who are severely impacted by their diagnosis.
  • Semi-privates or  groups of up to 4 riders at a time
• PPTRA runs on two-month rotations- one a rider is in the program, they can stay involved as long as they like. Should a rider need to take a session off due to health issues, etc they are not penalized for this and will NOT loose thier place in our program.

The actual cost to the program is $70 per rider per ride- the cost to the riders is $35.  As such we are dependent upon Sponsorships, volunteers, and donations to keep our program running.

Pony Pals is a fully insured facility. All clients must have completed medical packages with waivers completed and returned to us prior to their first assessment.

We are currently accepting new riders, as we are a non waitlisted program. If you have any questions,  or would like to request a new riders application please contact us or feel free to contact the stables for a tour.

Progressive, goal oriented lesson planning along with an empathetic and respectful approach towards our riders helps to nurture the learning process. Our gentle, experienced, carefully trained horses and   ponies will help your child make the most of their experience; in a safe comfortable manner. Equine therapies and riding can lead to positive long term life changes

Our friendly qualified instructors are EC, EAGALA or CanTRA certified with Current First Aid and CPR Certificates. Our focus is on continual education to stay current with industry standards.  Our coaches specialize in ECE, Art & Play therapies, ASL (American Sign Language), & Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  We are a member of the BC Therapeutic Riding Association, CanTRA & EAGALA.

The Pony Pals Therapeutic Riding Association specializes in riders with:

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders
• Developmental Delays
• Learning Disabilities
• Emotional/Psychological Problems
• Visual/Auditory Impairments
• Down Syndrome /Chromosomal Disorders
• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy/ Multiple Sclerosis
• Head injury/ CVA
• ADD/ADHD/ RAD Behavioral issues
• Amputations
• Hemipalegia /Paraplegia and more

Our Horses and Ponies

We currently have 7 equine therapists in our program, ranging from small ponies to adult sized horses. All of our horses and ponies are carefully selected for temperament, quality of movement and gait, and soundness.  They are then trained by our coaches with help of volunteers to accept and excel in the special demands of a therapy program.

Our ponies are desensitized to loud noises, sudden movements, various types of equipment, and the unexpected (such as a hitting, yelling and sudden movements). Aside from the children, the ponies and horses are the true stars of the program!

There are countless benefits to Equine Assisted and Riding Therapies

• Improvement in Gross and fine Motor Skills & Co-ordination
• Builds self esteem & Confidence
• Improved Concentration & Comprehension
• Development of core muscles, body strength and overall fitness
• Social interaction, communication, social skills & empathy
• Lowers stress levels & provides a chance to have success!