Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association (VTEA) president Lynn Moseley took some time on Thursday afternoon to visit the horses and give them all a treat 鈥� fresh carrots, lovingly donated by a client.
The 11 horses on site have been working hard throughout the summer 鈥� contending with hot weather, flies, and the ever-changing schedules because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
With continued COVID-19 protocols in place, volunteers, side-walkers, and most importantly, clients are being welcomed back more and more as the provincial reopening gets underway.
Moseley told The Star that despite the difficult past year-and-a-half, VTEA has been able to offer a lot of positivity and resources for people seeking help, healing and a break from the pandemic and the isolation is represents to some.
鈥淲e had a visit from Mayfair Terrance retirement residents,鈥� she explained. 鈥淲e were able to provide the seniors with a very unique outing where they enjoyed a safe but up close and personal experience with our horses. This experience was very new to them, and they were all thrilled with their time on the farm.鈥�
The guests learned about equine assisted therapies, horse massage therapy, basic biomechanics, and got to play an interactive game focused on fun horse facts.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e already planning their next visit and I鈥檝e reached out to the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre to see if we can arrange something for seniors in the 91原创 community,鈥� Moseley said.
New private counselling sessions are also now being offered at the non-profit too; a local father who recently lost his wife to cancer shared some positive words on what the VTEA has done for him.
鈥淭he group of amazing people at Valley Therapeutic have shown me that not only will I survive this very dark time in my life but that I can come out of it stronger,鈥� he said.
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His two children spend time with a counsellor while grooming and working with horses while he works with another counsellor to work through his own grief and loss and learning how to support his children as they work through their own grief and loss.
鈥淭he pure genuine joy that clearly appears on their faces when I tell them that we get to visit Valley is truly amazing. That in itself is therapy for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t gives my kids something to look forward to when sometimes there is little else.鈥�
Moseley explained that VTEA鈥檚 approach to counselling/therapy is merely another method to offer people looking for help.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not saying this modality is better than the more traditional clinical setting with a counsellor 鈥� not at all. It鈥檚 just a different way of delivering therapy,鈥� she said, noting programs can include different aspects of working with horses, which often takes people鈥檚 minds to a more calmed and open state. 鈥淪ome ways work better than others for some individuals.鈥�
From programs that aid with stress and anxiety to opportunities for riders that need help with mobility and balance, Moseley explained the organization鈥檚 goal is to always progress and move forward.
鈥淲e have a new program we鈥檙e aiming to launch this fall for groups and families. Families can come and work together with a horse, which helps them connect and communicate better through collaborative exercises,鈥� she said.
With progress comes the eternal need for volunteers to help provide these therapies to their clients. Volunteers are needed for leading and side-walking in the arena, as well as for caring for the horses or the stables.
Recently, several volunteers took part in a 鈥淰alley Makeover鈥� out of pride and care for the non-profit.
Help is always welcome and if anyone wishes to contribute or learn more, they can visit .
鈥淲e can鈥檛 do it without volunteers,鈥� Moseley assured, 鈥渁nd here at Valley, we are a family of volunteers.鈥�
Located at 256th Street in Aldergrove 鈥� just south of the Fraser Highway 鈥� VTEA has been providing therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy treatments since 1983.
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