Important Dates

July 14-15-16 - PARDS Hosting Teepee Creek Stampede Pancake Breakfast

August 5 - PARDS Petting Zoo at Grande Prairie Museum & Heritage Village

August 19 - PARDS Petting Zoo Grovedale Fair

PARDS Events

PARDS held our annual Community Carnival and Kick Off to Summer Cook Off June 10th. The community came out for fun games, pony rides and enjoyed the tasty foods at the Cook Off. We would like to thank Keddie's Tack & Western Wear & Harold's Towing, all event donors, supporters, volunteers and attendees.

Community Carnival Sponsor

Cook Off Sponsor

Rentco Equipment Ltd. - Tents & Tables

Sinopec Canada - Prize Sponsor

Arc Resources Ltd.- Pony & Cart Rides

New Horizon Co-op - Petting Zoo

Purnell Energy Services -

C. Moore Realty - EXP Realty - Silly String Corral

Paragon Oilfield Supply L.P. - Face Painting

Fletcher Mudryk LLP - Glitter Tattoos

Tire Pro Inc. - Popcorn Sponsor

DR Sales Woodworking - Handcrafted Portable Bar

Elite Vac & Steam -Porta-Potties & Wash Station

Safeway South Side - Volunteer Lunch & Concession

ATCO - Tents & Gift Basket

Street Performers - Tents

Harold's Towing & Recovery - Game Sponsor

Barda Equipment - Game Sponsor

RB Oilfield Hauling Inc. - Game Sponsor

Celtic Construction - Game Sponsor

Barry & Patsy Smith - Game Sponsor

Aquatera - Game Sponsor

Hi-Tech Business Solutions - Horse Shoe Sponsor

MNP LLP - Horse Shoe Sponsor

Purnell Energy Services Ltd. - Cook-Off Prize BBQ Basket

Jennifer Wolf - Carnival Supplies

Blackman's Butcher Shop - Cook-Off Prize Gift Certificate

Community Support

The generous and community minded folks at ChampionX selected PARDS to benefit from their upcoming Golf Tournament 50/50 raffle! We want to help spread the word and share the opportunity for you to win some cold, hard cash. Who doesn’t love CASH??? Click the link to get your tickets now!!!

Purchase Tickets Here

PARDS Summer Programs

Inclusive Youth Day Camp

Youth Day Camp is open to children between the ages of 6 (as of January 1 of camp year) and 14, of all abilities. Campers spend each day practicing and learning the basics of horse care and horsemanship through activities, lessons and hands-on learning. Youth Leadership activities are also incorporated into the daily camp schedule along with games, group activities and crafts.

Camps run Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Camp Dates:

Week 1 July 3 - July 7 Full

Week 2 July 10 - July 14

Week 3 July 24 - July 28 One Space Left

Week 4 July 31 - August 4

Week 5 August 21 - August 25

For more information and to register

Little Pony Motricity Half Day Camp

Camp is set up with fun activities that incorporate fundamental skills in early stages of development while working with our miniature ponies. Riding, groundwork and horse care skills are all part of the fun and games.

Little Pony Motricity Summer Camp is open to all abilities and offered to children 3 (as of January 1 of camp year) to 7 years of age to a maximum height of 48 inches and 65 lbs. Riders must be able to toilet themselves and be independent from parents/guardian for camp time of 2.5 hours (unless a support aide is in attendance).

Camp Dates & Times:

Week 1 July 17 – 21 AM 9:30 – 12:00 OR PM 1:30 – 4:00

Week 2 August 14 – 18 AM 9:30 – 12:00 OR PM 1:30 – 4:00

For more information and to register

Equestrian Skills Development Camp

for Adult Therapeutic Riders

EQUESTRIAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CAMP FOR ADULT THERAPEUTIC RIDERS is 4 days filled with fun and learning for campers aged 15+ with a clinical diagnosis. Campers experience the social, recreational and physical benefits that come with a five-day immersion in PARDS’ therapeutic programs. PARDS provides an instructor, a horse and all the necessary tack and riding/driving equipment.

During their day at camp, participants will enjoy activities including riding lessons, cart driving lessons and stable management.

We accept a maximum of 9 campers per week to ensure excellent support for each camper from our staff and volunteer team.

If camper requires a support aide, one must be provide by rider/parent/guardian

Campers do not have to be current PARDS therapeutic riders – the camp is open to community members from ages 15 to adult who have been diagnosed with a physical, behavioural, cognitive and/or social disability. Please contact the office for more information on required medical forms.

Camp Dates & Times:

August 8 – 11 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

For more information and to register

Inclusive Independent Lessons

Independent Inclusive Mounted Riding

Independent Inclusive Mounted Riding Lessons are for anyone aged 7 and older. The lessons are geared toward many skill levels, from therapeutic riders, to riders with basic formal lessons to more advanced novice riders. Lessons are facilitated by qualified instructors, and are designed to help riders become comfortable with riding basics enabling progress. Throughout your session, our goal is to help you progress, perfect your techniques and most importantly, have fun!

Please note:

Riders must be able to ride independently. If there is a clinical diagnosis a Physician’s Medical form must be completed (if not already on file).

Independent Inclusive Cart Driving

Cart driving is an excellent way to access the benefits of equine therapy. Learning to work with and control a horse as the driver of a cart brings many therapeutic benefits, similar to the ones for therapeutic riding. Cart driving is where a horse or pony is hitched to a wheeled cart and is driven around an arena, an obstacle course, or out on a trail.

Please note:

Drivers must be able to drive independently. If there is a clinical diagnosis a Physician’s Medical form must be completed. (If not already on file)

Lesson Dates & Times:

Lessons are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings,

Choose between July or August (or both)

Lessons are 45 minutes - once a week

Once registered you will be contacted for available times

Tuesdays July 4 - 25 5:00 6:00 7:00

Wednesdays July 5 - 26 5:00 6:00 7:00

Thursdays July 6 - 27 5:00 6:00 7:00

Tuesdays August 1 - 29 5:00 6:00 7:00

Wednesdays August 2 - 30 5:00 6:00 7:00

Thursdays August 3 - 31 5:00 6:00 7:00

For more information and to register

Hunter's Dream Raffle

Get Your Tickets Here

Program Spotlight

Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS) is excited to announce the launching of the Unbridled program this September in partnership with the Grande Prairie Stompede Association (GPSA).

PARDS and GPSA believe it is critically important to build resiliency within our youth population in an effort to build strong minds, bodies and souls as youth traverse through adolescence and enter into adulthood. Programs like Unbridled are pivotal in guiding and supporting youth as they grow and PARDS and GPSA are honoured to work together in the development and execution of this incredible program in our community.

Being subjected to something traumatic can have a profound effect on your life. It changes the way you think, feel and experience life on a daily basis. Experiencing abuse in any of its devastating forms, being involved in an accident such as a car wreck or house fire, suffering the violent or sudden loss of someone you love or being exposed to high stress situations or environments on a regular basis can all result in trauma.

Everyday at PARDS, we encounter firsthand the powerful bonds forged between horse and rider; strengthening the body, calming the mind, bringing a sense of accomplishment and forming a firm basis of self-confidence. We see this in the hundreds of therapeutic riders we serve each year. Further, we recognize that we have a responsibility to the community that has valued and supported us and our mission for going on 40 years to broaden our impact through the use of our skills, knowledge and resources in Animal Assisted Therapy. The result is the Unbridled program. Unbridled focuses on youth and is centred around their emotional and mental well-being.

Unbridled brings the expertise of a mental health professional together with a strong, confident horse to support youth in processing and navigating through lived trauma, becoming more confident, empowered and resilient.

The financial support of the GPSA in the amount of $25,000 per year for 3 years, has been instrumental in PARDS’ ability to launch this much needed and eagerly anticipated program within our community and we offer our sincere thanks. It is an honour and a privilege to work in partnership with this group of passionate and dedicated individuals who truly believe in this program and the need for it in our community.

PARDS looks forward to including Unbridled in our program offerings. We welcome the opportunity to impact our youth through the powerful and effective use of Equine Assisted Mental Health.

For more information on Unbridled, contact Jennifer Douglas at 780-538-3211 or executive@pards.ca.

Thank you to our Funding Partner

Grande Prairie Stompede Association (GPSA)

Supporting Partner

We are pleased to be a proud partner group for the 2023 Cash and Camping Lottery; helping to raise funds for PARDS and other Peace Area charities. To check out the fabulous prizes for this year's lottery please go to www.cashandcamping.com.

Good Luck!

Purchase Your Tickets Here

PARDS Program Sponsors

Facility Sponsors

PARDS Bus Sponsors

These generous companies provide services or gift in kind donations to help keep our programs and facility running, our herd healthy and our equipment maintained.

Thank you!

Become a Volunteer

Volunteer Registration

If you would like to become a volunteer or attend our Lesson/Barn Volunteer Orientation please fill out the volunteer registration form which can be reached by clicking the link below.