Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association

💙 In Loving Memory of Karl 💙

Last week, we said goodbye to our beloved Karl, who passed peacefully surrounded by his best friend Sadie and the people who loved him most.

Since joining VTRA in 2022, Karl brought so much joy, comfort, and personality to our herd. With his gentle (and sometimes stubborn!) nature, he had a way of making everyone smile. Many will remember his striking Fjord look, often compared to the royal horse from Frozen, and his beautiful mane, always so carefully styled. More than anything, Karl will be remembered for his kind heart, his steady presence, and the special bond he shared with Sadie.

💛 From June 1–21, his stall will become a memory wall. We invite you to stop by during program hours (M-W 9:30am to 5:30pm, T 9:30am to 7pm) to leave a note, share a memory, or pin a photo or drawing in his honour.

Karl will be deeply missed, but the love and joy he gave will stay with us always.

🌟 A Huge Milestone for VTRA! 🌟

Last Wednesday marked an exciting step forward as VTRA hosted its very first Early Intervention/Hippotherapy session at Heart Lake Farm in Saanichton! 🐴💙

Expanding our Early Intervention Program to a new location is a dream made possible through the incredible support of Island Health and the generosity of Heart Lake Farm, who have provided their horses, expert training, and beautiful facility at no cost.

We’re also proud to recognize the amazing team in this photo who helped make this milestone possible: Linda H (VTRA volunteer), Liz G (VTRA Executive Director), Kim A (Physiotherapist, Queen Alexandra Center for Children's Health), Maddy C (HLF Herd Care Lead), and Heather M (VTRA volunteer).

We’re deeply grateful for the partnerships and people who help us grow and bring these life-changing programs to even more families in our community. 💫

💛 Help us continue this important work, consider making a donation today at vtra.ca.

📣SPECIAL SATURDAY OPENING!

The VTRA Used Tack Store will be open this Saturday, May 23rd from 10am to 2pm!

🎉SPECIAL SALE: Buy one set of POLO WRAPS and get one for free!

Most items are just $5 - a perfect chance to grab great deals while directly supporting our Equine-Assisted Services. Every purchase helps make a difference in the lives of our participants and horses.

🔎Want to have a sneak peak at what is in store? Check our Online Catalog at vtra.ca/tack-store