Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities

Current Page - Programs

CONTACT INFORMATION

Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities

1088 - 208th Street, Langley, BC, V2Z 1T4, Canada

Phone - 604.530.8717
Fax - 604.530.8617

Riding Programs
Our Horses
Summer Camps
Day Camps

Our Programs

Currently there are approximately 160 riders in the program, and we have had riders from 2 to 78 years young! Riders participate in different riding programs ranging from sports riding (aimed at those who want to compete), through strictly therapeutic to recreational riding. You can help by sponsoring a rider for one, two or three sessions.

There are four sessions annually at PRDA

Fall Session - October through December
Winter Session - January through March
Spring Session - April through June

Summer Session - July and August

The sessions vary from 8 to 12 weeks, depending on how many holidays fall into the session. Classes run Monday through Saturday, and last 30 to 45 minutes.

Unfortunately, we do have a wait list at PRDA. Our programs are effective and popular, and this means that we do have a list of people who are waiting for entrance into one of our programs. If you'd like to be placed on our wait list, please contact Michelle, our Program Manager at 604 530 8717, or via e-mail at headridinginstructor {at} prda.ca

The Programs offered at PRDA are:

The Spirit Program (SFCDC) offers therapy to our youngest riders and is provided in collaboration with the therapists from Child Development Centre and the Centre for Ability.

The Strides Program offers school aged children their first introduction to the possibilities of equestrian sport. Skill building and competition are introduced as well as the therapeutic benefits of recreational riding.

The Sport Rider Program offers our seasoned youth and adults a more sophisticated level of instruction to match their ever-increasing confidence, competence, and level of competition.

The Pegasus Program offers equestrian facilitated therapy to young children recovering from significant abuse. Our gentle equine 'therapists' help the children learn to feel in control again, to trust again, and to laugh again.

The Phoenix Program offers adults with mental disabilities who wish to enjoy the recreational and therapeutic aspects of riding the opportunity to participate in a safe and welcoming environment.

Our Horses

Our horses are the heart of the program and are considered to be the true "therapists". The horses used in the program at the Langley centre have all been generously donated or are on long-term free leases. They are intensively screened by our riding instructors before coming to PRDA and only a few are invited to come to our centre for a trial period before being fully accepted into our program. Being a therapy horse is such a specialized job that only a few of the horses that are offered to us are able to meet the high standards required to be a therapy horse. You can help by sponsoring a horse for a year.

	Alex Alex is 15.2 HH appendix gelding. Before coming to PRDA, Alex had a career in 3-day eventing. He is now a favourite with our independent riders doing dressage and learning to jump. He'll do anything for a treat or a cuddle, and he's very popular with our riders and volunteers. At PRDA Since: April 21st, 1999 Donated By: Elsa Gailitis Sponsored by:
	Daniel Daniel is a tall Morgan / Thoroughbred gelding. He is extremely well-schooled in dressage and competed at Prix St. Georges. One of our independent riders purchased him before his retirement from PRDA and he is now used by a few of our independent riders as well as his owner. He is a very sweet horse, but he can be a little shy. He likes to be turned out with his buddies to play and groom. At PRDA Since:July 23, 2004 Donated by:Joy Rosengarten Owned by: S. Keyes
	At PRDA Since: Donated by: Sponsored by:
	Gimli Gimli is a Norwegian Fjord gelding who is 13 HH high. Gimli is very smart. He is extremely good at his job and loves all of his riders. He also loves to escape and visit the other horses and the miniature horses, and then check out the grass. He has never found any that he didn't like! At PRDA Since: 2007 Owned by: PRDA Sponsored by: Patti Szafranski
	At PRDA since: Donated by: Sponsored by:
	Thunder Thunder is a 16 HH dark bay thoroughbred gelding. He came to PRDA after his dressage career, and is used for people who use the lift to mount their horse. He is good with independent riders and loves to play games. At PRDA since: 2008 Donated by: Fran Crompton Sponsored by: Needs you!
	Gregory Greg is a 16.2 HH Hanovarian / thoroughbred gelding. He is well schooled and so participates in most of our programs. He's a very honest horse who always tries his best. He loves going to the park for a trail ride and is always a gentleman. At PRDA Since:June 26, 2002 Donated by:Cari-Ann Brears Sponsored by: Pythian Cerebral Palsy Committee and C. LaBorde & A. Larsen
	Midnight Midnight is a dark bay Morgan mare. She competed in 3 day eventing until her previous owner outgrew her. She loves the attention that she gets from her riders and volunteers at PRDA, and she especially loves treats. She doesn't like big trucks or dressage whips. And she loves her sponsors! At PRDA Since: 2007 Donated by: Do Ann Russell Sponsored by: RCMP Veterans Association
	Cherry Cherry is a 15.1 HH grey quarter horse / appaloosa mare. Cherry was a lesson horse before coming to PRDA, and so knows her job well and is very good at it. She is a favourite of many riders and is especially good for lunge line lessons. Her least favourite thing is plastic bags in the wind. At PRDA Since: 2008 Donated by: Trish Fairbairn Sponsored by: Blanche MacDonald Centre
	LadyBug LadyBug is our smallest horse with the biggest personality. She is 11.1 HH Welsh mare and enjoys the title of the 'Cutest Pony Ever'. She is trained English and enjoys teaching the littlest riders. She was a family pet before coming to PRDA, and participated in birthday parties. She is still the pet of the barn. At PRDA Since: 2008 Donated by: Arne Kellner Sponsored by: Audrey Mason
	At PRDA Since: Donated by: Sponsored by:
	Raz Raz is a 14 HH quarter horse gelding. He has a lot of backcountry trail experience, and so is quite unflappable. He loves to play games and is very good with the smaller independent riders. He is so sweet and kind that he has captured the hearts of many riders and volunteers. At PRDA Since: Nov 3, 2004 Donated by: Ardele Krogh Sponsored by: Soroptomist Intl of Langleys
	Talayla Talayla is a chestnut Morgan mare. She has been highly schooled in dressage, and has an incredible amount of patience. This combination makes her the perfect mount for riders who are ready to move towards more independence in the world of dressage. At PRDA Since: 2004 Donated by:Lisa Gauthier Sponsored by: FOE - Ladies Auxilliary #2075
	Joey Joey is a very kind and versatile Appaloosa. He especially loves to play games and help riders who are learning to ride independently. He only likes to go to the park with a friend. At PRDA Since: 2008 Donated by: Annette Adler Sponsored by: Fisher Foundation
	Zena Zena is a part Clydesdale mare with a heart of gold. She has a very gentle disposition and is happy to take care of all her riders. Zena likes to go for walks in the park. She tolerates some time in her stall on rainy days, but prefers to sleep outside under the stars. At PRDA Since: 2008 Donated by: Leah Scarlett Sponsored by: Pythian Cereral Palsy Committee
	Freelance At 17.3 HH, Lance is the tallest horse at PRDA, and is a Westfalen / Anglo-Trakehner. Lance tried 3-day eventing, but found that dressage really was his favourite. He decided to turn his talents to working with our more advanced independent riders. He is very well schooled in dressage, and demands precision in the aids. Lance is our only horse with his own page on Facebook. At PRDA Since: 2005 Owned by: K. Ridding
	Grover Grover is an international level 3-day eventer owned by our head riding instructor. She generously allows him to fill in occasionally as a therapy horse for our advanced independent riders. He enjoys the variety in his work, and is always a gentleman. At PRDA Since: 2005 Owned by: M. Meacher

Summer Camps

Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities offers summer horseback riding camps.

Our camps are geared towards elementary-school aged children who are new or beginning riders. Check our Summer Camps page for details for this summer.

Day Camps

In conjunction with Ishtar Transition Housing Society and Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, PRDA will host day camps during the summer. These camps are for members of the above organizations and are not offered to the general public.