Prairie Sky Equine Assisted Therapy is a remarkable Calgary-based charity dedicated to changing lives through the healing power of equine therapy. By offering tailored programs, they support individuals navigating physical, emotional, and social challenges. At Prairie Sky, participants are welcomed into a compassionate community where they can connect with horses in a safe and supportive environment, fostering growth, confidence, and transformation. We reached out to Christine Horgan, Prairie Sky’s Secretary, to find out more about what they do.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences
Prairie Sky Equine Assisted Therapy (PSEAT) provides a safe, accepting, supportive environment for children, youth, and adults dealing with cognitive, physical, social, or mental health challenges. Working with our horses, on the ground and under saddle, allows participants to promote motor and cognitive function, foster emotional awareness, and increase physical strength. Our accepting environment allows participants to build relationships with fellow riders and volunteers. Parents and caregivers are provided with temporary respite among people who understand the needs of their child/adult. In addition to regular programming, we also offer programming that supports the needs of youth at risk, EMS personnel who need grief support, PTSD support, and day camps for hospitalized children.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Being disabled shouldn’t be viewed as a problem.
However, there are unique challenges that require unique solutions depending on the nature of an individual’s disability. PSEAT aims to provide an environment where participants can thrive, address the needs of their specific health challenges, and address their social needs.
When did you join the charity?
Five years ago.
What made you want to get involved?
I’ve been a horse woman all my life and I’ve been involved in other equine therapy groups over the last 50 years. Retirement offered me a chance to get more involved in a service I fully support.
What was the situation like when you started?
PSEAT was a thriving, well-established, well-respected organization when I started volunteering.
How has it changed since?
In the past five years, PSEAT has expanded its programming and resurrected some programming. We are working on various documents that will show potential partners that we are a charity worth investing in, and we are working on a five-year plan which involves creating partnerships with organizations, corporations, and strategic partners interested in working with PSEAT in the creation of a suitable facility. With our own facility, we can expand our herd of therapy horses and expand our programming. In addition, as Cochrane, Alberta, is in the early stages of becoming a North American hub for disabled sports, we anticipate reaching out to a broader group of clients with therapeutic needs.
What more needs to be done?
Requirements include:
· Creating partnerships with organizations, corporations, and/or strategic partners who are willing to help us create a suitable
· Promoting PSEAT’s services to a larger community
· Further developing our programming to include the needs of diverse groups of participants
· Creating a non-operational Board (reporting to the Board) that can take on the role of providing business support and finding partners
How can our readers help?
What we need:
· A long-term location out of which we can operate – one where the management and boarders understand and support the needs of our participants
· Readers local to the Calgary area who are interested in volunteering with PSEAT can contact us through our website
· Potential partners can contact us through ParaSport International (Ozzie Sawicki) in Cochrane, Alberta
· People looking to make smaller (tax receipt) donations to contact us
Where can we follow you?
Website | Facebook | Instagram
