Program profile
Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Program for Persons with Disabilities (LBTRA) provides recreational riding programs for persons with disabilities with emphasis on development of independence, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, ability, confidence, and riding techniques. We are an inclusive, not-for-profit, charitable organization, established in 1975.
The program is held at the Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association (WELCA) (12510 - Fox Drive) in the scenic North Saskatchewan River valley of Edmonton. WELCA is serviced by the Disabled Adult Transportation System (DATS) system and is on an Edmonton Transit System (ETS) route. Little Bits is an independent user group of the WELCA facility and pays significant funds for the use of the arena and lesson horses.
Class schedules consist of a 10-week winter session, a 10-week spring session and a 10-week fall session. Classes are run on Monday and Tuesday mornings for adults.
LBTRA could not operate without the many dedicated volunteers who serve as leaders, side-walkers, and helping in the barn grooming and tacking up the horses. Volunteers are fully trained, and no prior experience is necessary. LBTRA holds a Volunteer Training Session every winter and fall.
Riders must purchase a yearly LBTRA membership, which at the present time is $15.00. Riding fees are currently $350.00 for each of the 10-week winter, spring and fall sessions. A participation service commitment of 5 hours per session.
LBTRA currently registers riders onto their Waiting List via an application from our website where riders are taken from the waiting list when the most appropriate spot becomes available for them. Riders are placed according to age and ability.
All safety equipment is provided although many of our riders prefer to bring their own helmets. All helmets must be SEI Certified. All instructors are qualified - understanding the principles of therapeutic riding recognized by CanTRA, the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, and Cheff Center in Augusta, Michigan.
Riders must purchase a yearly LBTRA membership for $15.00. Riding fees are currently $350.00 for the 10-week Winter, Spring and Fall session making the payment $365.00 for these sessions.
Each participant must submit a post-dated cheque for their participation service commitment hours. Once the participant commitment hours are completed, the post-dated cheque is returned.
Winter PSF cheque will be $160.00 for 5 hours.
Spring and Fall PSF cheque will be $320.00 for 10 hours.
Summer PSF cheque. Please ask Linda on approval to ride.
LBTRA hosts a number of fund-raising events throughout the year at which these service hours can be satisfied.
We wish to thank all of our generous donors and sponsors for enabling us to make this program possible!