Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological condition caused by damage to the developing brain, often before or during birth. It primarily affects movement, muscle tone, and posture, but the way it shows up can vary significantly from one person to another. Key Types of CP You Might See at VTRA:  Spastic CP (most common): Muscles are stiff or tight, making movements jerky or difficult. May affect one side of the body or all four limbs.  Ataxic CP: Affects balance and coordination.

It’s that time of year when our horses are  shedding their winter coats , and we all end up wearing a little extra horse hair on our clothes! When grooming, you’ll notice quite a bit of loose hair left behind on the  stall mats . For the horses’ wellbeing, please take a moment to  pick up all loose hair  and dispose of it in the  bin by the tack rooms . Removing hair from the ground is important because it: Prevents horses from  eating or inhaling  it Helps keep stalls  clean

Trot Into Spring: Community Event We’re thrilled to invite you to the first-ever Trot Into Spring Event , a Spring-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 activities and raise awareness for the transformative work we do at VTRA—supporting individuals of all abilities through Equin

Step by Step: A Participant’s Journey at VTRA   This term, we had the joy of watching Saffy , a bright and expressive 4‑year‑old living with Down Syndrome, continue her Early Participant journey with her equine partner Trigger . Although illness prevented her from joining us for a couple of lessons, her growth over the term has been remarkable and we are thrilled that she is already registered to return for Term 4 in April .   Saffy originally joined VTRA through our Early In

We’re starting our yearly process of  acclimating the horses to grass  so they’ll be ready for daily access to the back field once it opens. This slow introduction is  essential  to keep their tummies happy, healthy, and safe as spring grazing begins. This week, each horse will enjoy  5 to 10 minutes  of grass time. We’ll gradually increase the duration every week until the back field is ready to welcome the herd,  fingers crossed for the end of Spring Break Camps! A huge tha

A gentle reminder for everyone tacking up horses: a correctly tightened girth is essential for our horses’ comfort and wellbeing. 1. Don’t Over‑Tighten: A girth that’s too tight can cause pinching, pressure points, and overall discomfort. Tighten gradually and always check how the horse is responding. 2. Keep Both Sides Balanced (picture 1&2): Make sure both billets (straps) are on similar holes . If one side is at the top and the other is on hole one, the pressure is uneven