I started volunteering with the Exhibition Therapeutic Riding Academy almost a year ago and I love it! However, I guess you could say I started volunteering for reasons that differ from most other volunteers – you see my father is a rider in the academy.

My father had a severe stroke in 2000, which left him with decreased mobility in his right side and affected his speech. Although it’s been a long and hard journey for the whole family since then, I saw how happy he was when he talked about ExTRA and riding his horse, King, every Sunday. His face lights up every time he talks about riding. He has been riding with ExTRA for about a year now and I see the huge difference it has made in his life. A few months ago I decided to tag along with my father to the Horse Palace as he attended his Sunday afternoon riding session.  I wanted to see what ExTRA was all about with my own eyes.

Instantly I was struck by how different the riders were, but each seemed to really enjoy their time spent with the volunteers, the horses and Sonia Koczekan, Director of Therapeutic Riding and Head Instructor of ExTRA. While I sat on the bench watching the class, I chatted with family members of some of the riders and saw how much they enjoyed their time spent at the Horse Palace. When I left that afternoon, I decided I wanted to help in any way I could.

Now I have absolutely no experience with horses but luckily that didn’t matter. Sonia and all of the volunteers have been wonderful about showing me the ropes and teaching me things – a little bit at a time. I just tacked up a horse for the first time last week with minimal help. For the most part, I act as a sidewalker, assisting riders by walking alongside him/her while mounted on the horse. Sometimes I help set up an obstacle course. I’m working on my horse-leading skills, and one of my personal goals is to lead sometime soon.

I really look forward to my Sunday afternoons spent at ExTRA. I think it’s wonderful that I can help out with something that means so much to my father. I also enjoy working with other riders and helping them work on their skills.  But besides that, I enjoy volunteering because I work alongside such a great team of volunteers who have really made me feel at home so quickly.

I’m also excited to be learning so much about horses at the same time. Having zero experience with horses, save for a horseback ride I went on years ago, volunteering at ExTRA allows me to learn new skills.

I see that through the program my father has become more confident and that his mobility has been increased.  I also see how enthusiastic he is about it.  Although the reasons he’s there are unfortunate, horse riding is something he probably wouldn’t have tried if he didn’t have a stroke.

I’m happy ExTRA has given my father the chance to do something that means so much to him.  And I’m happy I have a chance to volunteer my time with such a great program.