Will you be joining us for our AGM?

You Are Invited!

BCTRA AGM

Monday November 25th, 2024 @ 7:30pm online via zoom.
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Members, Vote Here

The deadline for entry to The BCTRA Para-Equestrian video competition is September 30th, so pull out those cell phones and video cameras the next time you ride.

$20 to enter with one video + Add $15 for each additional video

Submit your videos by September 30, 2024.

The BCTRA Para-Equestrian video competition is an opportunity for riders of all levels and abilities to compete in the comfort of their own home/centre arena on a horse they feel most comfortable with. These videos will be judged, and riders will compete against other like riders in BC and are eligible to place and win a ribbon.

Learn more >

Coaches Corner – Storytime is sharing inspiring stories from our industry.

Join us on Monday, September 16th at 7 pm PST to listen to and share inspirational stories about the powerful impact of horses, people, and opportunities. Do you have a favourite moment in time? A horse who connected deeply with your rider or client? Our special guests include Ashley Sudds from KTRA, Michelle Ingall from PRDA, Stella French from Manestream Equestrian and Karen Tanchak, from Equisdom Therapeutic Horsemanship Association.

We encourage those interested to share their stories for our presenters via the registration form so they can streamline their presentations. Questions, as always are welcome.

Register

BCTRA Members, you can listen to the recording 48 hours after the event HERE.

 

Attention Equine Coaches! Want to add to your certification?

Have you worked with therapeutic riders and want to become a certified instructor?

Valley Therapeutic Riding Association offers an instructor training course that will enhance your skills and open up new opportunities in the field.

Instructor Training/Mentoring Courses 2024-25

The course includes six-monthly, 1-day workshops for Instructors-in-training for CTRBI and CTRBI2, and each session costs $ 75.00.

NOTE:  times may vary depending upon the number of participants. A minimum of 2 participants per session is needed.

Each session will blend classroom sessions and in-arena coaching work, ensuring you gain practical experience that you can immediately apply in your coaching.
VTEA provides horses and students for instructors to work with.

Cost for CTRBI/CTRBI2 – $75. 00  per session

2025 VTEA will offer a two-day workshop/clinic with coach Cynthia Andrews, who will present a workshop on Autism and Neurodivergent Disorders and TR.

For more information and registration, contact Janette Carr at jcarr@vtea.ca or call 604-616-3849.

To learn more about CanTRA and its instructor certification program, visit CanTRA’s website.

Hurray! The results from the 2024 BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge are in.  Our slogan for this year was Riding Beyond Limits, and all our riders surely didn’t disappoint!

DAY 1 – Para-Dressage – July 18, 2024

GOLD – Maura Weston-Lee riding Bellissima (Kissy) (67.50) – Zone 6
SILVER – Avery Wilkinson riding Beni Sango (Brian) (62.73) – Zone 2 
BRONZE – Aidan Baker riding Arrow (62.50) – Zone 3 
4TH PLACE – Leila Corntassel riding Princess Leena  (62.19) – Zone 6
5TH PLACE – Madison Wilson riding London (61.07) – Zone 3

DAY 2 – Para-Dressage – July 19, 2024

GOLD – Maura Weston-Lee riding Bellissima (Kissy) (64.32) – Zone 6
SILVER – Avery Wilkinson riding Beni Sango (Brian) (61.84) – Zone 2
BRONZE – Leila Corntassel riding Princess Leena  (60.75) – Zone 6
4TH PLACE – Aidan Baker riding Arrow (57.27) – Zone 3
5TH PLACE – Madison Wilson riding London (55.45) – Zone 3

Day 3 – Para-Dressage Freestyles – July 20, 2024

GOLD – Maura Weston-Lee (71.55) riding Bellissima (Kissy) – Zone 6
SILVER – Leila Corntassel riding Princess Leena (67.45)  – Zone 6
BRONZE – Avery Wilkinson riding Beni Sango (Brian) (65.70) – Zone 2
4TH PLACE – Aidan Baker riding Arrow (62.00) – Zone 3

Day 4 – Overall Para-Dressage

GOLD – Maura Weston-Lee riding Bellissima (Kissy) (15) – Zone 6
SILVER – Avery Wilkinson riding Beni Sango (Brian) (11) – Zone 2
BRONZE – Leila Corntassel riding Princess Leena (10) – Zone 6
4TH PLACE – Aidan Baker riding Arrow (7) – Zone 3
5TH PLACE – Madison Wilson riding London (3) – Zone 3

“It’s truly remarkable and so special to see these athletes and their horse partners shine. It is also incredible to see the friendships that form so quickly between the riders and how they support each other; it’s amazing sportsmanship,” said Ashley Sudds, Head Coach of Para-Equestrian.

“I can’t even start to describe how proud I am of ALL the riders, grooms, coaches, and other support staff! Medals may have been won, but more importantly, fun was had, and the riders made memories that will last a lifetime!” says Kim Scott, Assistant Coach.

Thank You to the BC Summer Games 2024 Sports Leadership Team and all those who helped make the Games great!

Discipline Chair: Stella French
Head Coach: Ashley Sudds
Assistant Coach: Mireya Hooper
Assistant Coach: Heather Vilvang
Assistant Coach: Alyssa Bigiolli
Assistant Coach: Kim Scott
Groom: Susan Ottewell
Groom: Maggie Vilvang
Staff: Kelly Parry
Staff: Sharolyn Wandzura
Scribe: Monica Copeland
Volunteer: Nader Atoofi

Photo credits:
Ashley Sudds
Kelly Parry
BC Summer Games flicker account

Riding Beyond Limits is our Para-Equestrian Team’s slogan for the 2024 BC Summer Games, held at the Maple Ridge Equi Sport Centre from July 18 to 21, 2024. This post will introduce our riders and provide the para-equestrian schedule for events. We will also list all the official links to the Games so you can find out the results and follow them on social media channels.

This year, we are pleased to announce the line-up of para-dressage riders competing over the next few days!

BCTRA congratulates our riders, their coaches, parents, horses, and team for helping them get to the Games. We hope you have the time of your life! Also, a great shout-out to all our coaches, officials, and volunteers helping support the Games.

All Para-Equestrian events are held at Maple Ridge Equi-Sports Centre
21973 132 Ave, Maple Ridge, BC V4R 0A7

To find ALL Equestrian events, please visit the Sport-Schedule page.

RESULTS for all events can be found on the Participant Lists and Results (choose the Equestrian-Para option in the drop-down menu).

For more information, visit the websites below. Consider following them on their social media to stay up-to-date on the excitement.

Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games Website

BC Summer Games Facebook Page

Horse Council of BC

Our Educational Round Table Recordings are only available to BCTRA members.

Login below, or view the membership page to join choose your level.

 

Join us on Monday, June 24th, at 7 pm PST to learn about North America’s three most established therapeutic riding certification programs. Each organization will present a short (15-minute) presentation about getting certified through their organization.

Fionna Christensen, CanTRA Volunteer Certification Coordinator
Allison Gleaton, PATH Credentialing Support Specialist
Tammi Gainer – CHA Executive Director

We encourage those interested to post their questions for our presenters via the registration form so they can streamline their presentations.

Register

BCTRA Members, you can listen to the recording 48 hours after the event HERE.

 

Our Educational Round Table Recordings are only available to BCTRA members.

Login below, or view the membership page to join choose your level.

 

The BC Therapeutic Riding Association (BCTRA) has awarded $50,000 in funding to 17 Equine Assisted Service (EAS) Providers in BC. These organizations across BC include programs in therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning and therapies, and para-equestrian sports. 

The successful recipients are:

Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley
Empowered by Horses
Pony Pals Therapeutic Riding Association
Richmond Therapeutic Riding Association
Southlands Therapeutic Riding Association
Urban Horse Project Society
Valley Therapeutic Riding Association
Westcoast Nature Therapies and Learning Society

Vancouver Islands and Sunshine Coast
Comox Therapeutic Riding Association
Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association
Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding Association
TROTSC – Therapeutic Riding on the Sunshine Coast
Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association
Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association

BC Interior
Creston Valley Society for Therapeutic Horsemanship
Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association
Little Oasis Equine Matters
EQuisdom Therapeutic Horsemanship Association

Funds were made available to BCTRA Group Members in good standing through three grants: Growth, Operational and Developing Equine Assisted Service Professionals.

BCTRA has awarded over $285,000 to our members since 2017 through the BCTRA Maggie Carpenter Trust. Our next granting cycle will be announced in September 2024.