Attention AIs, Horse Handlers, and Grooms: If a rider uses a special pair of stirrups (anything other than the regular ones attached to the saddle), please remember: Put the regular stirrups back on the correct saddle before putting the saddle away. Return the specialized stirrups to Tack Room 2 where they belong. These small steps save the next volunteers a lot of time, keep our tack organized, and help the barn run smoothly and efficiently. Thank you for your attention

You may have seen an Assistant Instructor zooming around the barn, helping riders, volunteers, setting up the arena, and solving 12 problems at once, and thought:  “Surely no actual human can do all that.”  But fear not, they are, in fact, real people (we checked)! This week, we’re spotlighting the Assistant Instructor (AI) role so everyone understands just how central they are to keeping lessons smooth, safe, and fun.  What AIs Do Before Class:  Review the barn board for hor

Valen-Trot Day: Community Event We’re thrilled to invite you to the first-ever Valen-Trot Day , a Valentines-themed community event hosted by Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA) in collaboration with Ponies & Paint Nights ! This festive morning is all about bringing our community together , enjoy some fun activities in the barn, craft valentines' cards and raise awareness for the transformative work we do at VTRA—supporting individuals of all abilities through Equi

Sometimes participants may start sharing lots of thoughts or stories that aren’t related to the task at hand. This is common—and totally okay!—but it’s important to help bring their attention back to riding in a gentle and supportive way. Here are a few helpful strategies: Use redirecting language like: “Let’s talk about riding.”, “Let’s talk about trotting/turning/getting the ball.”, “Thanks for telling me—let’s talk about that later.”, “We are riding now.” Offer a quick ph

When leading a horse, always look ahead to where you want to go. Turning around to check on the horse can confuse them, as they’re masters at reading body language. If you face them while trying to move forward, you’re sending mixed signals. Horses, as four-legged animals, naturally move in a horizontal alignment, while humans, being two-legged, move vertically. Imagine an invisible line extending from your belly button and, similarly, from a horse’s chest. This line represen

Curious about volunteering with us? Join our Volunteer Orientation event on December 18th at 5:30pm! This session includes a 1-hour informative discussion on volunteer position opportunities, followed by an exciting barn tour. Don't miss this chance to learn about our volunteer roles and explore our facility firsthand! The Volunteer Orientation event is NOT mandatory to apply as a volunteer and attend one of our training session in the future. Free session - Save your spot on