Not every horse has what it takes to be a PARDS therapeutic riding horse. It takes a specific skill set combined with strong training and unique character traits for a horse to be accepted as a therapy horse partner.
It is sometimes necessary for us to seek out horses who have very specific skills and attributes in order to maintain a well-rounded herd for the benefit of all of our riders and often, these horses are not available as a donation.
With this in mind, PARDS created the Horse Sponsorship Program. To ensure a safe and beneficial riding experience, we seek community members and companies to sponsor the purchase price including associated costs (vet check, vaccinations, etc.) of a suitable therapeutic program horse. Sponsors are encouraged to name “their” horse, and signage is provided on the stall door with the horse’s name along with the name of the sponsor.
All horses, whether donated or purchased, undergo a lengthy assessment and vet check before they come into the program as a PARDS ‘Trial Horse’. During a trial period of approximately 7 weeks, PARDS instructors will further assess the horse before accepting them into the program.