Para-Equestrian Canada, in partnership with Sport Canada, encourages the participation of riders with a disability to participate in competition through a grant program.

As part of this project, therapeutic riding centres offering new competitive opportunities or increase their existing competition program to riders with a disability are eligible to receive a grant of up to $500.

After the first series of the 2013 season came to a close, a total of three grants of $500 each were awarded to the following centres:

1. TEAD (The Equestrian Association for the Disabled), Mount Hope, ON
2. Mission Therapeutic Riding, Mission, BC, and
3. Ambleside Farm, Victoria, BC.

The grant program, introduced in 2008, has awarded more than 54 grants over the past five years to Canada’s therapeutic riding centres. Some examples of how the grants have assisted with the introduction of riders to para-equestrian sport include: support for visually and hearing-impaired riders, funding for a fun school show, subsidies for riders to participate in competition, and a new computer to assist with the video competition submission process.

The deadline to submit an application for the second series in 2013 is July 15, 2013. Centres interested in applying may do so by visiting the Para-Equestrian website at www.equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian.

If you have any questions related to this project or any other Para-Equestrian Canada initiatives, please contact Para-Equestrian Canada at [email protected] or 613-248-3433 ext. 143.