Interested in sponsoring one of our Heroes?
"Kate" |
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Breed: Canadian Horse X Born: 2000 Sex: Mare Donated by: Marion Bell in June 2010 Kate is approximately 14.2hh, with a stocky solid build. Her previous owner had her for 9 years and used her mainly for pleasure riding. Kate learned lots about arena work when she came to KTRA and was able to assist many riders to teach them strong horsemanship skills. Today she is more suited to independent riders and youth at risk as her strongest asset is being able to teach respect and patience. |
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"Cassie"
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Breed: Paint Born: 1997 Sex: Mare Donated by: Shirley Kimery in 2017 Cassie is a flea bitten grey mare with lots of sass. Before coming to KTRA Cassie was a competitive hunter/jumper. Cassie is extremely popular at KTRA as she is the only horse of her color here and she has an extremely kind nature. |
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"Autumn"
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Breed: Miniature
Born: Approximately 12 Sex: Mare Funded by: The community of Kamloops in June 2014 Autumn was abandoned by her previous owner and rescued by MY Little Pony Horse Rescue in October 2013. She has come a long way as she was very fearful and had no trust in humans, but after lots of love and consistency she has learned to trust and loves to be groomed. KTRA uses Autumn in our stable management lessons, for those who are more fearful of the larger horses. Her small stature is un-intimidating to most people and she is able to teach them to be safe around horses and how to properly care for horses. |
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"Gracie"
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"Sunny"
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Breed: Paint
Born: 1998 (estimate) Sex: Gelding Donated by: Shelley Mills of Los Vientos Equestrian Sunny is a 15.2hh dressage school horse. He is used for all levels of riders as he is very quiet and a great guy! Sunny often reminds us of a puppy as he will loyally follow you everywhere. |
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"Sandy"
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Breed: Quarter Horse Appendix X
Born: 2008 Sex: Mare Donated by Christi Schmidt in 2017 Sandy's past owner's daughter rode her and she was only 5 years old! Needless to say Sandy has been a great addition to our program and great with the kids. She is the youngest member of our herd at the moment but wise beyond her years. |
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"Smokey"
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Breed: Hanoverian
Born: 2006 Sex: Gelding Leased by Hope Thomas in April 2019 Smokey is a kind hearted boy that has been a great addition to our team. He is extremely sweet and has quickly become a favorite. He has been working with one rider who participates in the Equestrian Canada Para-Dressage Video Competition. Para-Dressage Video Competition |
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"Annie"
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Breed: Unknown...pony
Born: 2000? Sex: Mare Leased by Jennifer Jackson in April 2019 Annie is owned by KTRA's vet Jennifer Jackson. Her boys used to compete in 3-Day Eventing with her. Now they have outgrown her and she has moved into her semi-retirement career as a therapy horse. Annie likes to make the kids laugh by smiling with her teeth after receiving a treat, she does it every time. |
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"Zarha"
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Breed: Canadian Warmblood
Born: 2004 Sex: Mare Leased by Donna Peeters in April 2019 Zarha is a lovely very well trained mare. She has a Hunter Jumper background. She has worked really well in our Youth At-Risk program as she is fairly sensitive and the kids really learn how important proper communication is by working with her in the round-pen. |
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"Chevy"
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Breed: Canadian/Morgan
Born: 2006 Sex: Gelding Donated by Katie Leitch in 2019 Chevy has been a fun addition to our horse heroes team! He has a quirky personality and likes to be the boss of his paddock mates. |
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"Usti"
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Breed: Canadian Warmblood
Born: 2001? Sex: Gelding Donated by the Savard Family July 2019 Usti's past career was a competitive hunter jumper. His previous owner has moved on to University and gifted us with precious Usti to semi-retire as a therapy horse. While he is our tallest horse in the program, at least 17hh, he has a lovely slow canter and we have many students who are ready to start cantering and we are excited for them to experience this on Usti this Fall! |
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Horses On Trial
"Red"
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"Talus"
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"Tandy"
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"Montana"
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If you feel that your horse may be a good fit for us please contact Ashley at asudds@ktra.ca - thank you!
What is included if you free lease your horse to KTRA?
Full-board - includes hay & grain (if required)
Regular Vet Maintenance - teeth and vaccines
Regular Farrier Matinenance
De-Worming
Professional Saddle Fitting
Equine Massage (if required)
Regular Exercise Schedule
What is included if you free lease your horse to KTRA?
Full-board - includes hay & grain (if required)
Regular Vet Maintenance - teeth and vaccines
Regular Farrier Matinenance
De-Worming
Professional Saddle Fitting
Equine Massage (if required)
Regular Exercise Schedule
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The Ideal Therapy Horse
Although therapeutic horses come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and breeds, they tend to share some common characteristics. Most therapeutic riding (TR) horses fall between 14 hands (the size of a large pony) and 16 hands (the size of the average race horse). A suitable TR horse will typically fall on the “stocky” side, with a short-coupled confirmation. Because some riders can have low muscle tone or difficulty balancing, even gentle work can be taxing on the muscular-skeletal system of these animals. For this reason, a sturdy bearing is important for the long-term comfort and usability. TR horses do not need to be top performers, but must be sound and possess good, clean gaits in order to produce the type of “three-dimensional” movement (up/down, back/front, side/side) that is associated with therapeutic benefit.
Offer a Retirement Home
Although their work with KTRA is not physically demanding, our horses are subject to quite the difficult job! For most of their lessons, our horses are led by a horse leader but also receiving input from the student and the two side helpers. Think about how you can become overwhelmed when receiving 4 different signals of how to do the same thing! The average therapeutic riding horse can spend about 5 years in a program before reaching burnout. KTRA allows our horses tell us they are ready for retirement in a variety of ways – some physical and some behavioral – it depends on the individual horse.
When a horse is ready for retirement, we begin the task of finding them a qualified home, one where they can spend their days just being a horse. |
If you are interested in providing a forever home for our special friends, please contact asudds@ktra.ca
Retired Heroes
"Troy"
Retired July 1, 2016 - thank you to Sherry Kahanyshyn for giving our gentle giant a loving 1/4 retirement home. Troy will still be a therapy horse for 2 weeks out of the year at a summer camp for kids with disabilities in Williams Lake! We love and miss you Troy but are so happy for you!
Breed: Quarter Horse X Percheron
Born: 1993
Sex: Gelding
Donated by: Wendy Sanford in July 2011
Troy is an approximately 16+hh, gentle giant. With his previous owner he was a trail horse and learned to do tricks. The trail rides became too much for Troy, so his owner kindly donated him to KTRA. Troy is our most versatile horse with his large build he is able to carry some of our bigger riders but he always rises to the occasion when asked to carry a little one as well. He can be used in our camps for kids to experience the thrill of vaulting and he also just loves to hang out with his human friends.
"Fantasy"
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Retired July 25, 2017 - thank you to Erin Mackenzie for giving our special angel a loving retirement home. Enjoy your trail rides together! Fantasy aka Lucy LOVES having one special person to dote on her.
Breed: Dutch Warmblood Thoroughbred X Gender: Mare Color: Chestnut Birthday: April 29, 1999 – 17yrs old as of 2016 Owned by KTRA Fantasy used to compete in 3 day eventing but was leased to us by her owner in 2013 after she went back to school and did not have the time to ride her consistently. She has quickly become one of the staff and riders favorites, because of her quiet calm nature and willingness to try anything. Fantasy is now wheel chair lift trained and can carry our more supported riders with ease. She absolutely loves to switch it up on occasion and go on a trail ride |
"TJ"
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Retired December 4, 2017 - thank you to Gabriela Sladkova for lending your gentle giant to us. He is very special and we are happy that he will now get to enjoy his full retirement out on the pasture on your ranch.
Breed: QH Percheron X Age: 24 in 2017 Color: Grey Gender: Gelding |
"Hudson"
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Retired March 2019 - thank you to the Smith family for giving our Grumpy Grandpa his last forever home! Enjoy the trails Hudson!
Breed: Quarter Horse X Percheron Born: July 1997 Sex: Gelding Leased from Sara Sellmer in October 2014 Hudson is approximately 15.3hh and a very new member on the KTRA therapy team. Hudson has had much success with his owner in 3 day eventing in the past. Today at 18 years young he is looking to slow it down just a little by becoming a therapy horse. He has passed his 45 day trial with us and we are very excited to see Hudson in action with some of our youth at risk riders this spring. |
"Max"
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Retired June 16, 2019 - thank you to Erica Gray Gowan and her family for adopting him! Her son, Colton, will be using Max to practice archery on horseback and moving cows with his Grandpa!
Breed: Quarter Horse Born: 2003 Sex: Gelding Donated by: Don Preston c/o Ken Waterston Max is a retired western pleasure horse. He is super sweet and extremely calm. Our Youth At-Risk participants love to work with him due to his kind nature. Max is well trained and can stop on a dime! |
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