Important Dates

Office closed Monday, October 9 - Thanksgiving Day

No Lessons - October 9 - 13

Dine & Dance - Saturday, November 4

PARDS Events

PURCHASE TICKETS

PARDS FUND Ride

We had a great time at the Fund Ride on Saturday! It was a beautiful day and everyone was in great spirits as they hit the trails, enjoyed a wagon ride, bounced in the Bouncy Castle, visited all the critters in the petting zoo and enjoyed the delicious pancake breakfast and hearty pulled pork dinner. Thank you SO MUCH to Bill Finch and Leanne Martin for hosting the ride out at their place and for all the gracious neighbours who allowed us to access trails on their properties. Thank you also to the Grande Prairie Gymkhana Club members who helped with the event in so many ways and raised funds for PARDS by collecting pledges and hosting the Gymkhana Obstacle Course at the event. In the Zone Party Rentals Grande Prairie was out with one of their fabulous Bouncy Castles, and provided tents to keep everyone comfortable on the beautiful sunny day. Red Rock Urban BBQ provided a mouthwatering pulled pork dinner complete with salads, and Aureus Energy Services Inc. was our generous Hearts, Hooves & Courage sponsor. Everyone had a great time and we had a great-uncle and great-niece (Jimmy & Blake) win the grand prize saddles for being the highest adult and youth fundraisers! Thank you to Keddie's Tack & Western Wear for donating the tooled prize saddles and Greenhawk Equestrian Sport - Grande Prairie for donating second prize store gift certificates. Thank you to all who attended, participated, volunteered or contributed in any other way.

Rider Spotlight

Rachelle Walter-Tomke

Rachelle has been riding for many years. Initially, Rachelle would come with a rider she lived with and wait by the front door of PARDS previous facility, not even wanting to go into the rider lounge or explore the facility. She began warming up to staff once they discovered Rachelle had an innate interest in calendars and extraordinary memory for birthdays. Rachelle would sit at the front desk putting dates in a book she had; and this would prove to be useful later. In the fall of 2017 we were happy to see Rachelle back riding.

Rachelle is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and was looking for recreational activities with personal goals of following directions and socialization. Her riding goals were to learn basic riding skills. She began with a leader and side-walker to ensure her safety (balance) and best lesson outcomes. Rachelle established her core strength and no longer requires a side-walker. A leader is kept in place as there are many distractions for Rachelle like other riders to talk to. She enjoys the company of the other riders and makes a special connection with her supports and instructor. Rochelle has ridden all our Fjords, Encana, Holly and now Fjona; but, Rochelle will tell you "her girl" is Holly. Rachelle quickly became a favourite of Holly's as Rachelle brought her a carrot each week.

I first started side-walking with Rachelle and she brought a fun, high energy attitude to the lesson, she would often be heard signing in her lesson and her infectious laugh brought a smile to everyone's face.

I was happy when I was asked to teach Rachelle's lesson group. Rachelle enjoys games incorporating riding skills and the lesson instructions are kept short to give her time to process what is being asked of her. Too many instructions can at time frustrate Rachelle. She is encouraged to use her reins and to focus on what is being asked of her. When she becomes overwhelmed, this is where she needs to be given time or if you ask her when someone's birthday is, it can be like hitting a switch, enabling her to refocus and continue.

Rachelle is able to balance herself well and is beginning to be lead with the lead line left looser allowing her to be in control of her horse.

We look forward to what fun Rachelle brings to the lessons on her riding journey.

Arris Trottier ~ Instructor

Community Support

An incredibly HUGE thank you goes out to Douglas Lake Equipment Grande Prairie, Grant Althen and Ken, Sherry & Craig Drysdale for the 50 beautiful round bales we received. The combined effort of all of these people have made a significant contribution to the care of our herd through our Need for Feed campaign. Your generosity is truly appreciated by the two and four-legged PARDS family!

You, too can help by making a cash donation to the Need for Feed campaign.

Donate Now

Our fabulous friends at RB Oilfield Hauling Inc. stepped in and stepped up to deliver a number of loads of much needed hay over the past few weeks. There have been so many times in so many different ways that the leadership and the staff at RB have shown up for us and our horses to help make sure the amazing children and adults in our community who live with unique needs and challenges have the option of choosing equine assisted therapy to support them in their goals. We are humbled by the support and so proud to be of service to our community.

You, too can help by making a cash donation to the Need for Feed campaign.

Donate Now

Hunter's Dream Raffle

Our lucky winning ticket holder for the Hunter's Dream Gun Safe and $1000 Gift Certificate is Trevor Denis with ticket number 0916. Thank you so much to everyone who purchased a ticket on the raffle. Every dollar raised through the raffle directly supports our programs through purchasing adaptive riding equipment, safety equipment and feed and care for our amazing herd. A HUGE shoutout to Brandt Tractor Ltd. for donating the 25 Gun Deluxe Safe and to Primetime Hunting, Fishing & Pawn for donating the $1,000 Gift Certificate.

PARDS Programs

We had the privilege of having clients from the Family Education Society attend our Therapeutic Skills Development Camp in August. They were a great bunch and we thoroughly enjoyed having them participate, get to know the horses and learn some riding skills. They were able to participate as a result of the generosity of the Grande Prairie Petroleum Association who covered their fees as well as the transportation costs to get them to and from camp each day. It is so inspiring when community comes together to help and be helped. Our hearts are full!!!

Participant and Family Education Society feedback about the Therapeutic Skills Development Camp

learned compassion and respect for animals and participants
included everyone in group activities and supported those needing help
improvement in patience, understanding, listening and taking direction
learned the importance and rewards of hard work
learned about safe boundaries, how to be firm and take charge
how to navigate being in the moment to work through emotions
learned how their behaviours affect others

Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS) is excited to share the Unbridled program in partnership with the Grande Prairie Stompede Association (GPSA) and Highland Psychological Services.

PARDS and and our program partners believe it is critically important to build resiliency within our youth population in an effort to build strong minds, bodies and souls as youth traverse through adolescence and enter into adulthood. Programs like Unbridled are pivotal in guiding and supporting youth as they grow and PARDS, GPSA and Highland Psychological Services are honoured to work together in the development and execution of this incredible program in our community.

Being subjected to something traumatic can have a profound effect on your life. It changes the way you think, feel and experience life on a daily basis. Experiencing abuse in any of its devastating forms, being involved in an accident such as a car wreck or house fire, suffering the violent or sudden loss of someone you love or being exposed to high stress situations or environments on a regular basis can all result in trauma.

Everyday at PARDS, we encounter firsthand the powerful bonds forged between horse and rider; strengthening the body, calming the mind, bringing a sense of accomplishment and forming a firm basis of self-confidence. We see this in the hundreds of therapeutic riders we serve each year. Further, we recognize that we have a responsibility to the community that has valued and supported us and our mission for going on 40 years to broaden our impact through the use of our skills, knowledge and resources in Animal Assisted Therapy. The result is the Unbridled program. Unbridled focuses on youth and is centred around their emotional and mental well-being.

Unbridled brings the expertise of a mental health professional together with a strong, confident horse to support youth in processing and navigating through lived trauma, becoming more confident, empowered and resilient.

PARDS looks forward to including Unbridled in our program offerings. We welcome the opportunity to impact our youth through the powerful and effective use of Equine Assisted Mental Health.

For more information on Unbridled, contact Jennifer Douglas at 780-538-3211 or executive@pards.ca.

PARDS Program Sponsors

Facility Sponsors

PARDS Bus Sponsors

These generous companies provide services or gift in kind donations to help keep our programs and facility running, our herd healthy and our equipment maintained.

Thank you!

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering your time and sharing your skills is a way to help others, and yourself. Many hands make light work; PARDS, a nonprofit organization relies on volunteers to accomplish, fundraising ventures, daily barn work and in lessons, to help our riders reach their goals.

Benefits of Volunteering at PARDS

Meet new people and develop relationships.

Volunteers have similar interests and values

Gain knowledge and understanding of others

Volunteering at PARDS can take you to a new part of the community and give you the opportunity to meet people you otherwise wouldn’t get to meet. This can expand your understanding of others within the community living with disabilities. Learning will increase your social flexibility, raise awareness of the issues that other people deal with and will increase important social skills and teamwork.

Increase your happiness and better your mental health.

Having a purposeful role in your community will make you feel happy! Volunteering can help fight all sorts of mental issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and anger.

Learn new skills and increase your brain function and self-esteem.

Volunteering will increase your sense of pride and your self-confidence! When you challenge yourself through volunteering and receive appreciation from others, it can make you feel better emotionally and mentally. And who has time to think negative thoughts when you are around horses!

Decrease your stress.

Spending time with others and being around animals can reduce stress, and you may sleep better after some physical work in the barn.

Make a difference in the lives of others.

Volunteer Registration

If you would like to become a volunteer or attend our Lesson/Barn Volunteer Orientation please fill out the volunteer registration form which can be reached by clicking the link below.