It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a horse show — the impeccably groomed horses, the polished riders, the vibrant atmosphere, the thrill of victory. A ribbon passed from one hand to another becomes a shining testament to hours of dedication, passion, and commitment. Amidst the buzz, it might also be easy to overlook the lady holding the basket of ribbons, who is smiling ear to ear as she celebrates your victory. You might not realize that it is her victory, too.

A Lifetime of Helping Horses - In emergency situations my mom always said to look for the helpers, help the helpers, and if you can’t find a helper - be one. Dr. Susan Raymond, Communications and Programs Officer at Equine Guelph, at the University of Guelph in Ontario, has been helping the helpers since 2014.

If you’ve dreamed of combining your love for horses with a meaningful career, Horse Therapy of Centre Canada (HTCC) offers the perfect opportunity to make that dream a reality. With over 15 years of experience, HTCC leads the field of equine assisted psychotherapy and education in Canada, offering certification programs that blend hands-on experience with theoretical knowledge to set participants up for success in this unique and rewarding profession.

Canada is a massive country, with large distances between equine competitions and a relatively small number of upper-level equestrians. Hence, Canadian riders who want to be competitive at upper levels struggle to find enough higher-level competitions to advance their riding careers. Canada also has winter weather that precludes many riders from training outside for half the year. This can limit advancement and horse fitness. For example, three-day event riders can’t school cross-country jumps or get their gallop training in when fields are drifted with snow, nor can endurance riders do long rides on varied terrain.