C LU B P RO F I L E
PEACE AREA RIDING FOR THE DISABLED SOCIETY
A Rewarding Ride Through therapeutic riding and youth programming, this organization works to create a positive impact in the Peace country. BY PIPER WHELAN
When riders arrive at the Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS), they know they’re in their happy place, a special environment where they connect with their equine friends. Located in Grande Prairie, Alberta, PARDS was formed in 1984, “To provide high-quality equine-assisted therapeutic programming to Peace country residents,” says Jennifer Douglas, executive director of PARDS. As their website explains, therapeutic riding is an “...opportunity to increase social interaction, improve self-esteem and build confidence while experiencing physical benefits such as improved balance, posture, flexibility, sensory awareness and endurance.” PARDS serves more than 300 therapeutic riders each year, both children and adults, and has a membership of over 600, including public riders, volunteers and corporate partners, according to Douglas.
New riders first come in for an assessment, which may be done with the help of a physiotherapist. Then the rider is introduced to a horse to identify their comfort level and see how they interact. They also go through a questionnaire to identify the goals the rider has and discuss the various programs and ways the club can help that rider meet those goals. Riders come in once a week for either a 45-minute group lesson or a 30-minute one-on-one lesson. Some riders have a 15-minute session before their lesson to stretch or ride PARDS’ mechanical horse in order to prepare them for an effective ride. PARDS is partially funded by offering board and public lessons. “Our therapeutic riders pay a nominal fee, and we fundraise and accept donations and write grant (applications) for the remainder,” Douglas explains. Their many volunteers are of great help in PARDS’ fundraising efforts. PARDS operates yearround, holding three 10-week sessions between September and May, and summer camps. Some are specific to their therapeutic riders, while some are inclusive camps for both public riders and therapeutic riders. Another special aspect of PARDS is their youth
leadership program, designed to build self-esteem, relationship-building skills and communication skills in youth, ages 10-17. “We partner with the City of Grande Prairie Crime Prevention and their Youth Intervention and Diversion Program, which identifies youth at risk who could benefit from this program,” says Douglas. “We run a variety of programs to have a positive impact on the maximum number of residents of our community as we possibly can.” The new home of PARDS has been under construction since 2013. “We are $900,000 shy of our competition goal, but we will be able to reach occupancy with $150,000 raised to complete construction to the point of being able to run our therapeutic programs out of this facility,” Douglas explains. This new facility will triple the organization’s capacity, eliminating their wait list. “It will expand availability for the riders and allow us to add half-day and fullday workshops for the youth leadership program, so the schools in the Peace area can benefit from the programs as well.” For Douglas, the most rewarding part of working with PARDS is the sense of community their riders feel. “Many of our riders actually come out when it’s not their lesson time to volunteer in various ways,” she says. “It’s just a place that they want to be, where they feel comfortable, and that challenges them while still celebrating every success they have.” To learn more about PARDS visit www.pards.ca. AB LEFT: Not only does PARDS offer riding lessons, its therapeutic riders have the opportunity to connect with horses through ground work and driving. Photo by Robyn Boudreau
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