Therapeutic Riding & Grooming Programs

At PARDS, Therapeutic Riders experience improved balance, muscle strength and coordination. Developing their horsemanship skills increases riders' and groomers' self-esteem and confidence and creates an atmosphere of awareness, respect, trust and friendship between themselves, their horse, and the instructors and volunteers who work with them.

PARDS runs Three, 10-week Therapeutic Sessions (Fall, Winter & Spring) that mirror the traditional school year.  Please refer to our Calendar or contact our office for exact start and end dates.

PARDS offers:

• A unique alternative to the traditional clinical setting
• Personalized programs
• Qualified CanTRA instructors
• Riding or Grooming programs (or a combination of both)
• PARDS' mechanical Equicizer, "Pinocchio" 
• Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW) Programs
• An indoor, heated arena
• An outdoor arena (weather permitting)
• A comfortable lift for those requiring additional assistance with mounting and dismounting
• A safe, fun and effective therapeutic experience

Therapeutic Riding/Grooming Schedule:

• Lessons are offered Monday through Thursday
• Lessons are available from 9:00 a.m. to a final scheduled lesson time of 7:30 p.m.
• Each lesson runs from 30 - 45 minutes in length

Registration:

(Download the registration forms: click here.)

• PARDS accepts registrations throughout the year for all lesson sessions. Payment must be received a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the session start date in order to confirm your spot.

• If you pre-register with us, we will contact you approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the start of the session to schedule your riding time and confirm the session details with you. Payment must be received a minimum of 2 weeks prior to session start date in order to confirm your spot.

• Registration includes 10 weekly lessons
  • depending on availability, a rider/groomer may register for multiple lessons per week; an additional session fee will be required

• One Registration Package may be used for any or all of the three sessions in the program year (Fall to Spring).
  • New registration forms are required if personal details change.

• There is a required PARDS Medical form in each Therapeutic Registration Package. This form is required to identify any contraindications to participation in our riding/grooming program. The information is also used to assist in identifying and defining goals for the client.
  • This is to be completed by a doctor only, and will be valid for two (2) years from date of completion. Upon expiration, a new medical form is required.
  • If a prospective client has not been diagnosed with a disability, they are ineligible to participate in the Therapeutic Programs. Please click here to access our Public Riding Program Information page.

• Please note: If the registration package is incomplete, lessons will be limited to grooming and horse education until the required forms are received by the PARDS office.

• Please contact us if you are having difficulty completing the registration information, or if you have questions.

Riding/Grooming Safety Equipment & Dress Code:

• In order to take part in a lesson, each rider/groomer must wear:

• an ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet

• riding boots or closed-toe shoes with a small, 1-inch heal

• long pants

• a safety belt

• PARDS will supply the riding helmet, boots and safety belts, or, if preferred, riders may use their own. Our trained Instructors will ensure each rider has the proper safety equipment before each lesson begins.

• We recommend dressing warmly and in layers during the colder months. Although the arena is heated, the temperature is kept at 5C.

• For safety reasons, please do not wear loose or bulky clothing that may catch on equipment. Please ensure clothing is comfortable and well fitted.

Fees:

• Each 10-week Therapeutic Session: $200 per rider/groomer
• A $10 annual membership fee per rider/groomer (or $20 per family) is required for insurance.
• PARDS memberships are valid from January 1 through December 31.
• Fees are due 2 weeks prior to the first lesson.

Need Financial Support?

There are organizations which may be able to provide financial support, please contact us for information.

Cancelled Lessons / If you are not able to make it to your lesson:

• Please call us as soon as possible to let us know if you are not able to make it to your lesson. This is important so we may prepare appropriately for each class and we can contact our wonderful Volunteers (who so generously help us every day) to let them know they are not required.
• If a client is unable to attend their scheduled lesson for any reason, a make-up lesson or refund will not be provided.
• If a cliet cancels a lesson due to inclement weather, a make-up lesson or refund will not be provided.
• If PARDS cancels a lesson, we will inform you immediately and a make-up lesson or credit to your account will be provided.

Additional Advice to our Riders

We ask that all our riders and groomers arrive at PARDS at least 10 minutes prior to their lesson start time (or earlier as needed) in order to change into their riding and grooming clothes/equipment. It is important that riders and groomers are ready for their lesson by the start time because we are unable to extend riding times due to scheduling constraints. If a rider is more than 15 minutes late for their scheduled class, they will not be permitted to ride. In all cases of late arrival, the Instructor will decide if there is enough time remaining for a lesson and may limit it to grooming only.  A make-up lesson or credit will not be provided.

For more information, please call the PARDS office at 780-538-3211

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