An edifying day marked with equine interaction unfurled at the esteemed SARI Therapeutic Riding center, nestled in the peaceful region of Arva, Ontario. The center had the pleasure of hosting members of the Crown Jewels of Canada Society, with one of them, Patty Ham, expressing her sheer love for the facility and the animals.
The day saw a band of jubilant senior society members, all ladies aged 50 and above, revel in an enriching equine encounter. This diverse and vibrant group routinely embarks on various escapades once a month purely for enjoyment, a sentiment echoed by Joyce Cuttell, the Society Queen herself.
As they sauntered around the facility, the visitors delighted themselves in engaging with both the horses and the volunteers. Armed with brushes, they embarked on an invigorating session of gentle grooming.
The day’s activities were enabled by an auspicious $12,500 seniors’ community grant from the provincial government. This initiative will facilitate SARI in hosting members from various sectors of community life, including retirement and long-term care homes, as well as independent residents, allowing them to revel in the myriad benefits of being around horses.
Delving into this a bit more, Terry Power, the volunteer coordinator at SARI broke it down: “It gives you that feel good experience, so for these people coming out, they get to interact with the horses, touch them, groom them, just have that joy of being around the horses.”
For many seniors, the day proved to be a nostalgic journey. Bertha Rose Park, a sprightly 90-year-old, fondly remembered growing up on a farm where horses exerted indispensable influence in her formative years.
The reminiscing continued with Al Ham, who accompanied his wife Patti, sharing his remarkable memory of riding a horse in Holland at the tender age of three.
SARI Therapeutic Riding organization, a beacon of service for the past 45 years, is renowned for creating opportunities for people with special needs through horse-related activities. The launch of its new senior’s program aims at broadening recreational prospects while working to tackle social isolation.
