For some Vancouver Island children, summer camp is about much more than keeping busy while school is out. At the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association in Central Saanich, time in the saddle is helping children with a range of abilities build confidence, develop independence and simply enjoy being kids. The non-profit offers 50 summer camp spots each year for children with physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as social-emotional challenges. Executive director Liz Gagel says the organization has seen a shift in the needs of some of the children coming through its programs. “Anxiety and depression we’re seeing a lot more of, especially since post-COVID,” Gagel said. For 12-year-old Zoe Wilkerson, riding has become a way to work through anxiety and find her voice. “This is my third year riding here,” she said. Wilkerson says she once had a difficult time speaking up about what she wanted. Then she met Cherry, a horse with a stubborn streak and a lesson to teach. “She taught me that I had to say my opinion so that other people know what I wanted,” Wilkerson said. That confidence is one of the reasons Gagel says the program can have such a meaningful impact. And keeping it running takes a community. More than 100 volunteers donate their time each week, helping the organization deliver its programs. “We are mainly volunteer-driven. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers,” Gagel said. The program is also expensive to operate, with specialized staff, equipment, horses and programming all adding to the cost. That’s where community donors, including CFAX Santas Anonymous, come in. The charity has supported the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association since 2010 and donated $20,000 to the organization last year. “The reason for this is that this is a specialized summer camp,” said Christine Hewitt-Goodsir, executive director of CFAX Santas Anonymous. The charity has now launched its Kids Count Mega Summer 50/50 draw, which runs until 7 p.m. Aug. 27. Half of the jackpot will go to the winning ticket holder. Of CFAX Santas Anonymous’ share, 25 per cent will be donated to the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association, while the remaining funds will support three local food banks and their summer breakfast programs. “What we wanted to do is to make sure that we covered food and fun because that is what is important to kids in the summertime,” Hewitt-Goodsir said. For 12-year-old Angelica Knott, the benefit of being around the horses is hard to put a price on. “Being with horses just takes everything away,” she said. “All the problems in your life just go away and you’re just with the horse.” For children who may not always have access to traditional summer activities, the riding association offers something different: a place where they can challenge themselves, connect with an animal and discover what they are capable of. And for the volunteers and donors who help make it possible, that may be the most important ride of all.
