Jayne Imeson can’t say enough good stuff about the place, the people and the compassion that radiates from the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association in Central Saanich.
It’s hard for the mom to even envision where her son Casey would be without their support.
A welcoming place filled with caring, compassionate and informed people, Imeson found it through word of mouth. She’d heard anecdotally of a person who saw incredible, tangible improvements, regaining their balance and ability to be independently mobile within one session.
Now six, Casey had a lot of trouble with balance and reflexes when he first walked into the Central Saanich centre. He would require help, even while using his walker.
“He went from that to being able to run around, with his walker on his own, upland, down hills, around corners, you name it,” Imeson said.
Sessions at the VTRA have made him stronger and built independence, providing him a sense of accomplishment. The training work is a huge part of it, but just as important is the incredible support system the compassionate and thoughtful team provide – tailored to what Casey needs.
The VTRA has four terms throughout the school year, with children, teen and adult workshops over the summer.
While the added physical independence is huge for Casey, the benefits go well beyond that. “There’s this sense of accomplishment he has,” Imersen said.
Having a hobby like horseback riding also puts him on more even footing with his peers. Casey takes stories, memories and photos to share with friends at school, where they’re well received.
“Any child with mobility challenges, they exist in a world that isn’t built for them. All of their friends are able to do all the things. When there’s something that’s as special as this … to bond with an animal, it’s incredible,” Imeson said.
“It’s a real comforting experience when he’s here, but it’s also something he can do that other kids can do. It almost levels the playing field for him. It fills his cup, because the world can be discouraging for people who can’t get around the way the rest of us can.”
VTRA has 200 participants and 14 on the waiting list for assessment. They provide services for people with myriad disorders, with 36 per cent of their participants on the autism spectrum, 27 per cent with ADHD, 14 per cent with Down syndrome and 23 per cent who face other challenges.
The genuine passion of the staff and volunteers is inspiring. Even the physical infrastructure – one level arena, ramps where needed – doesn’t feel forced, but rather natural. It’s intentionally designed for anyone to access, in a world that’s not built for everyone, said Nada Saad, fundraising and community engagement coordinator for the facility.
“We wanted to create a space that is built for them, where we create spaces for them specifically,” she said. “They feel that sense of independence and accomplishment, not having to work around to get somewhere.”
In a world where foundations have less and less money to give away, the riding association has two critical fundraisers underway – an online auction and a major gift campaign.
“We provide subsidized lessons. We went to make sure that it’s accessible to everyone,” Saad said. “As a non-profit, we are finding that obtaining grants … is getting harder and harder, so we’re trying to pivot our fundraising to create more sustainable funding.”
Without those subsidized lessons, people would absolutely be left without. Growth at the Central Saanich association has remained stagnant, with a slight decline due to capacity limitations. Factors include inflation, staff wages and the loss of two instructors. "But the need is still growing," Saad said.
“Without subsidized lessons, we wouldn’t have been able to do it. We wouldn’t have been able to afford it,” Imesen said. “What it has done for my son is beyond what I could have hoped … it’s hard to imagine what life would be like without it.”
Even the next closest provider in Cowichan has a waitlist of 12 to 18 months, invaluable time, particularly for a child, Imesen said.
“If I tried to register (Casey) at four and had to wait 18 months, it’s impossible to imagine what kindergarten would have looked like.”
The online auction closes June 12 at 9 p.m. Find the link at vtra.ca.
