help us help others
STaRS depends on donations, grants and volunteer time. We exist both for the community, and because of the community. Our donors and volunteers are crucial to our success.
Therapeutic Riding
Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society (STaRS) began as a dream in the early 2000’s, and through the dedicated efforts of a core group of volunteers, became a reality. We are a Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) certified facility that offers a therapeutic horseback riding program to children and adults with special needs who require alternative forms of therapy to aid in their physical, cognitive, emotional and social development.
Our aim is to inspire confidence and purpose within our riders, while helping them reach their behavioural, emotional, or physical goals. For our students, riding is so much more than a recreational activity. Horses have 110 natural movements that are difficult to replicate by machine or the human body. Additionally, the bond created between horse and rider creates a trusting relationship that the rider may not experience elsewhere in his or her life. This allows for increased self esteem and confidence, which the rider can then take with them into their daily life.
Riding also allows individuals to practice planning, safety, and awareness, among so many other things. Our riders and their families have noticed significant improvements in their skills, confidence and sense of self worth since starting the program.
Therapeutic Riding Costs:
Intake session: $105
30 minute lesson: $75
45 minute lesson: $8045-minute group lesson: $100 (pre-paid as a package for the session)
We require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice to cancel lessons. Lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged the full lesson fee.
Notice must be received via email to stars@ponies.ca and to your instructor via email or phone.
“The power of the horse… Absolutely amazing!”
Benefits of Therapeutic Riding
Inner Fuel
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a person. Simple exposure to horses can reap this benefit. Just being around the barn is already therapy!
Freedom
Therapeutic riding allows our riders to leave their wheelchairs or any other walking aids behind and join the horse in its natural movement.
Bonding
Is there anything better than to enjoy a moment of complete understanding without speaking a word?
No Judging
Horses are 100% non-judgmental. Does the rider need to hang on to a comfort buddy? No problem!
Practicing Skills
Practicing a variety of skills. Our STaRS riders have the opportunity to get involved in a number of other horse and farm-related activities such as grooming, stall cleaning, farm chores, natural horsemanship clinics…
Team Work
Our STaRS riders can be matched to other riders to enjoy some team work and the experience of riding with someone else. If friendships are forged, even better!
A Sense of Belonging
It is not uncommon for our STaRS riders to forge friendships and to become an integral part of barn life.
Setting and Accomplishing Goals
Anyone who has tried to put a saddle on a horse for the first time will know it can be challenging!
Fulfilling Dreams
REACHING FOR THE STARS! We encourage our riders to set goals for themselves so we can help them achieve them.
Feeling Proud
Who would not feel proud about accomplishing a task that requires special skill, training and determination?
More Bonding
Once you see it, you will realize how special this is and how beneficial it can be to a rider.
Friendship
Because horses can also engage in the universal language of play…
Feeling Victorious
Who does not like to feel like they have accomplished a goal? Riding is all about setting and conquering new goals.
Having FUN!!!
Sometimes we just need a break from life and a little fun. Don’t they say laughter is the best medicine???
Some of the benefits include:
- Improvement of balance
- Increased confidence and self-esteem
- Development of coordination
- Improvement of attention span
- Mobilization of trunk and pelvis
- Promotion of independence
- Strengthening of muscles
- Improvement of social integration
- Normalization of muscle tone
- Access to recreation, sport and/or competition
- Prevention of contractures
- Increased concentration, motivation and patience
Riders experience a sense of control they might not otherwise feel in their everyday life. Riding therapy makes use of functional riding skills to assist the rider in achieving specific therapeutic goals; these goals take precedence over the basic goal of learning to ride. Click here to view contraindictions and precautions for therapeutic riding.
Therapeutic Riding is an alternative form of therapy working with horses to help persons with various disabilities. Activities involving the horse can be used to assist people with disabilities in achieving physical and mental health, and cognitive, behavioural, social and communication goals. In this context, a team approach involving therapeutic riding Instructors, health professionals, volunteers and riders with disabilities, is used in designing and implementing the riding and horsemanship sessions. The special relationship that often develops between humans and horses helps students to exert the extra effort required to accept the challenge to perform therapies on horseback.