Who are we?
Will For Riding Foundation provides therapeutic horseback riding sessions to children with physical, mental and sensory disabilities ages 3-18 years old. WFRF provides therapy riding session with CanTRA certified instructors and has been designated as a provisional centre in Alberta.
WFRF is a registered charity and 100% volunteer run. Proceeds from all fundraisers go directly to programs for children and horses board.
Will for Riding Foundation (WFRF) offers Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) program in the Calgary area. CanTRA was founded in 1980 and promotes challenge, achievement and empowerment for individuals with disabilities through the use of the horse. By partnering with CanTRA WFRF ensures the highest standards of safety, knowledge and instructor competence among all therapeutic riding regulatory organizations internationally.
What's the story?
Chairman Shelley Hilderman’s son Will was the inspiration for the program. Will was born with a brain malformation, epilepsy and is developmentally delayed. Shelley witnessed the joy in Will while he watched his sister ride. Shelley believed other children with disabilities would also benefit from therapy through horses and the WFRF was born in 2013.
The program has grown from 12 children in a pilot project in early 2015, to offering therapy sessions to over 30 children today.
Benefits of Therapeutic Riding for Children
- Development of mobility, balance and coordination
- Improvement of muscle tone and strength
- Increased concentration and improved learning skills
- A challenging recreational activity
- Independence, integration and a sense of achievement
- Development of self-confidence and motivation
- Learning socially acceptable ways to express feelings and self-control
What do our parent's say?
"Lucia really loved the program. Thank you for the opportunity. She really loves Piper and seemed to enjoy interacting with the volunteers and classmates. The volunteers were all super helpful and nice. Seriously lovely volunteers." Robyn
How can you help?
All of our horses have been specifically selected for special needs riders. Each horse is matched with their rider by our CanTRA trained staff.
This Giving Tuesday help us raise $7,500 to pay for the care of one horse for the whole year and get more kids into the saddle.
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See all activity1Helping children with disabilities thru riding Community
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