Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association

What Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association does

Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association (CTRA) is a registered Canadian non-profit charity (registration number 891723843 RR0001) founded in 1986 and headquartered at 1843 Tzouhalem Road, Duncan, British Columbia, where it operates as a tenant on Providence Farm. CTRA delivers therapeutic riding, therapeutic horsemanship, and equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs to individuals with diverse abilities across the Cowichan Valley and southern and central Vancouver Island. The organization is certified under the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) as an Accredited Examination and Training Centre, with instructors holding credentials through Equine Canada, CanTRA, and BC Therapeutic Riding. Its core operational asset is a curated herd of 10 therapy horses, each with individually tailored workloads, supported by a facility featuring a large covered arena, stables for 15 horses, offices, viewing lounge, and a tack shop. A 12-24 month waitlist indicates sustained demand exceeding current capacity.

CTRA generates revenue through a diversified mix of program fees, individual donations, community foundation grants, horse sponsorships (~C$6,000/year per horse), annual fundraising events (Ride-a-thon, Mending Fences, online auctions), and a social enterprise resale store (Jane James Used Tack Shop, opened 2011). Program fees cover only a fraction of service costs, with the organization stating it receives very little government funding. The Beyond the Bridle corporate professional development program extends the EAL offering into paying corporate clients targeting leadership, teamwork, and communication outcomes. A Legacy Program through the Victoria Foundation provides structured planned giving channels. CTRA distributes a quarterly newsletter to over 1,000 contacts and maintains a Facebook following of over 4,000. Pricing is modest: $20 annual membership, ~$10 per EAL session, with membership valid January through December. The organization has 11-50 employees and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with no parent company or external ownership structure.

Name

Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association

Legal name

Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association

Website

https://ctra.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CTRA is a Canadian non-profit founded in 1986 that delivers therapeutic riding, horsemanship, and equine-assisted learning programs to individuals with diverse abilities across the Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island, certified as a CanTRA Accredited Examination and Training Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding & Equine-Assisted Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Working Ranch & Trail Operations (non-tourism) (AFAEAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equine Care & Stable Management (EDAOAOAE), Equestrian & Horse Trekking Centers (THAAAKAL)

Keywords

• Therapeutic riding programs
• Equine assisted learning
• Adaptive equestrian services
• Therapeutic horsemanship
• Disability wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Duncan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Lesson fees from therapeutic riding, therapeutic horsemanship, EAL programs, and summer camps. These fees only cover a fraction of the cost of specialized services provided.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations through e-transfers, cheques, credit cards, and CanadaHelps platform. Major fundraisers include Ride-a-thon, Mending Fences events, online auctions, and chocolate sales. The organization receives very little government funding.
3. Grants and Foundations: Funding from community foundations and granting organizations to support programming and operations.
4. Horse Sponsorship: Annual sponsorship programs where individuals or groups sponsor therapy horses to cover feed, farrier, and veterinary care costs (approximately $6000 per horse per year).
5. Tack Shop Revenue: Jane James Used Tack Shop sells donated horse equipment and rider clothing. In 2016, the shop was selected as a winner of the seCatalyst awards recognizing it as an exceptional social enterprise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CTRA delivers therapeutic riding and equine-based wellness programs for individuals with diverse abilities, using a stable of 10 specially trained therapy horses and CanTRA-certified instructors at Providence Farm in Duncan, BC. The four core service lines are mounted Therapeutic Riding, unmounted Therapeutic Horsemanship, ground-based Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL), and the Beyond the Bridle corporate professional development program, supplemented by seasonal summer camps for children. Participants access programs via physician referral and an application package, with placement on a 12-24 month waitlist.

Product overview

CTRA operates as a multi-program therapeutic riding and equine wellness organization offering four core mounted and unmounted programs: Therapeutic Riding (mounted sessions improving physical and emotional wellness), Therapeutic Horsemanship (unmounted stable management activities), Equine Assisted Learning (ground-based experiential learning for individuals and groups), and Beyond the Bridle (corporate professional development workshops). Supporting social enterprises include the Jane James Used Tack Shop (resale store opened 2011) and seasonal summer camps for children. The organization runs annual fundraisers including Ride-a-thon, Mending Fences music events, and Online Auctions, plus donor programs for horse sponsorship, legacy giving, and membership. CTRA is certified as a CanTRA Accredited Examination and Training Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Program: Experiential learning program that partners participants with horses in interactive activities to foster personal growth, skill development, and empowerment
• Therapeutic Riding
• Therapeutic Horsemanship
• Beyond the Bridle
• Jane James Tack Shop
• Legacy Program

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding Mounted therapeutic riding sessions utilizing the horse's movement and equestrian principles to improve balance, posture, coordination, and physiological functions while promoting confidence, self-esteem, and social skills. Targeted at individuals with diverse abilities; access via physician referral and application package with a 12-24 month waitlist.
• Therapeutic Horsemanship Unmounted therapeutic service utilizing equine interactions and stable management principles to meet individual therapeutic goals, frequently used as a progression step toward mounted Therapeutic Riding. For individuals with diverse abilities seeking ground-based horsemanship outcomes.
• Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Experiential learning program partnering participants with horses in interactive ground-based activities to foster personal growth, communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and empowerment for individuals and groups. Facilitators trained through the Cartier EAL program; sessions run weekly for 6-10 weeks per term at $10 per person per session.
• Beyond the Bridle (Corporate Professional Development) Corporate professional development sessions using equine-assisted learning to strengthen leadership skills, teamwork, and communication for corporate teams. Designed to help businesses develop leadership and team capability while raising funds for CTRA's EAL programs.
• Jane James Used Tack Shop Used tack store selling donated horse equipment and rider clothing as a social enterprise to raise funds for CTRA's therapeutic programs. Opened in 2011; won the 2016 seCatalyst social enterprise award. Open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm with weekend appointments available.
• Explore the Horse Summer Camps Week-long summer day camps for children ages 6 and up, offering horse-related activities, riding opportunities, games, crafts, and educational content about horses.
• Pony Pals Summer Camps Half-day summer camps for CTRA riders, offering weekly riding sessions alongside games, crafts, and horse-related fun activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved physical, emotional, and social wellness for participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PromacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse sponsor for Nova, one of CTRA's therapy horses. Nova is a 15-year-old Canadian horse and gentle giant who loves snuggles and attention.
• Dr. Danielle FritzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartial horse sponsor for Bliss, a sweet and spicy therapy horse known for her playful and excitable attitude who always knows when it's time to get down to business.
• Duncan Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse sponsor for Yilden, a Fjord breed therapy horse who carries advanced riders and has a special connection with young boys in the program.
• Makenzie Lein & Loren PerratonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse sponsors for Fabio, a handsome and cheeky therapy horse who uses his charm and good looks to get himself out of trouble.
• Malahat LionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse sponsor for Fabio, a therapy horse at CTRA.
• Ellen BrownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse sponsor for Dudley, a friendly and flirty therapy horse who is a social butterfly and loves attention (almost as much as he loves food).
• LHAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse sponsor for Josefa, the matriarch of the CTRA herd - an elder Norwegian Fjord mare who carries a wide variety of riders from those who use electric lifts for mounting to para dressage riders.
• Providence FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTRA has been a tenant on Providence Farm since 1987-88. The heritage facility provides the location for CTRA's stables, arena, offices, and programs, surrounded by scenic beauty.
• CanadaHelpscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation platform enabling charitable giving to CTRA. Also used for donating securities and mutual funds which is the most efficient way to give charitably.
• Cartier EAL ProgramcoreTechnology or IntegrationCTRA facilitators are trained through the Cartier EAL program for Equine-Assisted Learning sessions, ensuring standardized training and methodology.
• Cowichan Brain Injury SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization that has participated in CTRA's EAL program in the past year.
• Greenway Group (Providence Farm)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization based at Providence Farm that has benefited from CTRA's EAL programming.
• Cowichan Women Against ViolenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization that has participated in CTRA's EAL program, benefiting from equine-assisted learning for personal growth and empowerment.
• Nature SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational organization that has participated in CTRA's EAL program as a group of 6-10 participants.
• Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTRA is certified under CanTRA as an Accredited Examination and Training Center, holding high standards for safety, operations, and horse care.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Chimneys: Long-established New York non-profit combining therapeutic horseback riding and animal-assisted activities with special education and mental-health services for children. Comparable in multi-decade operation, herd-based programming, and diversified funding model.
• Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Redmond, WA offering therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning, and carriage driving for individuals with disabilities. Highly comparable in mission, program mix, and non-profit community-supported operating model.
• Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA): PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center in Nebraska serving riders with disabilities through mounted and unmounted programs, including corporate team-building via equine-assisted learning. Comparable in program breadth, accredited instructor base, and donor-supported non-profit model.
• HorsePlay Therapeutic Riding Center: Ontario CanTRA-accredited therapeutic riding center providing mounted and unmounted programs for children and adults with disabilities. Comparable as a regional Canadian peer with similar program mix (therapeutic riding, horsemanship, summer camps) and donation-supported economics.
• Pacific Riding for the Disabled: CTRA originated as a branch of Pacific Riding for the Disabled in 1986. It operates therapeutic riding programs in the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley of BC with similar CanTRA-aligned instructor standards and serves individuals with disabilities through equine-assisted therapy.
• Cheff Center for the Blind: Michigan-based PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic horseback riding center founded in 1970 serving individuals with visual impairments and other disabilities. Comparable in legacy status, instructor certification requirements, and specialized therapy-horse herd.
• Mane Intent: Ontario-based equine-assisted therapy provider offering therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning, and corporate team-building workshops. Directly comparable Canadian peer with both therapeutic and B2B EAL programming like CTRA's Beyond the Bridle.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA): National accrediting body of which CTRA is an Accredited Examination and Training Centre. Comparable as the sector-wide standards and certification umbrella covering all Canadian therapeutic riding centers, with curriculum and instructor credentialing authority.
• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International: US-based umbrella body and accreditor for therapeutic horsemanship, equivalent to CanTRA at continental scale. Comparable as the dominant sector standards body whose Premier Accreditation is the principal peer credential to CanTRA's accreditation.

Regional players

• Sunshine Horses Therapeutic Riding Program: BC Lower Mainland-based therapeutic riding program serving individuals with special needs through CanTRA-aligned instruction. Comparable in therapeutic mission and Canadian non-profit context, though operating in a different regional catchment than CTRA's Vancouver Island focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cowichantherapeuticriding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cowichan-therapeutic-riding-association

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association