Lynne Smith is a certified riding instructor with the following qualifications:

CanTRA Assistant Instructor certification (CTRAI) Fall 2001
Equine Canada English Instructor certification Spring 2005
Currently awaiting technical & exam for CTRI level Fall 2006/Spring 2007Her professional experience in the field includes:

Intermediate level rider in western pleasure, trail, dressage and jumping
Horse trainer with special interest in rehabilitation
30 years all around equine experience
Became involved with therapeutic riding as a volunteer in 1996
Was part of a study group in the prototype of CanTRA’s new Homestudy programme in 2000
Works closely with therapeutic stable’s (CanTRA affiliated) occupational therapist and takes on the clients that have progressed from hippotherapy.
As well as being part of the staff at a therapeutic riding centre, Lynne has private clients outside the centre as well.
Depending on the client, lessons involve adapted voltige/hippotherapy/sensory processing and riding lessons.She is a member in good standing of:

The Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association
The Ontario Equestrian Federation
Equine Canada (formerly Canadian Equestrian Federation)

Welcome to the expert corner! We have a wonderful therapeutic program here called STAR Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding. My wonderful Arabian gelding has helped many special olympic riders in his day :) I have owned and shown horses my entire life and am so excited to see this segment offered--horses are a WONDERFUL avenue for any human with any type of sensory integration, physical, emotional, or even just mental difficulties--aren't they amazing creatures!?

Anyway--enough of my rambling--just wanted to say glad you're here!

Thank you Leigh

Sara, what a wonderful thing you did in sharing your horse with a therapeutic program. A good therapeutic horse is so hard to find.

A program cannot survive without these wonderful horses AND all the dedicated people. (Well financial support helps too of course!)

BTW I had a look at "STAR's" website: it' wonderful!

Wellcome Lynne, I am so glad you have joind IRD. If I lived in Canada I would be begging you to let me help you out.

I had to trade in my horse for a baby, just cant make it work at this point. I cant wait to get back into horses and hopefuly my own therapeutic riding center some day!

Hey a girl can dream cant she, anyway wellcome again!!

Hi Lynne!
where in Ontario are you located? I am a riding instructor (well, I used to be before having kids!) I ran the disabled riding program at our barn for awhile. I dont' have any certifications, but they needed someone. Certification was something I was going to get to at some point. It's still near the top of my list to do once the kids are older. Of all the years I spent teaching, and of all the different levels and ages, my most favorite moments came on Thursdays after lunch when the kids would arrive for the disabled program (not sure if they call it that anymore, I think it's probably more PC to say Therapeutic, at least I think so.)

Hi Jenn,
Welcome to the board!
Well judging by your location (Ottawa); I'm pretty close.

I work at the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton (TROtt) in Greely, Ontario which is such south of Ottawa on Bank street. Truly a wonderful program and the people there are super! (Yes I am tooting my own horn! Hehe). We are always looking for volunteers (hint hint) and actually we are having a volunteer orientation this coming Saturday (Feb 24).

How wonderful for you to have been an integral part in therapeutic riding! It is such a rewarding experience. Are you still thinking of getting yourself certified through CanTRA in the future?

Oh Katey... I'm so sorry I didn't reply. How rude of me!
Yes, you can dream. I have a shirt that reads: "When you dream... dream BIG!"

I too put many things aside when I had my two boys, and when the time came; I jumped back into the game & picked up where I left off. So if I can do it: anyone can!

Take care,
Lynne

Haaa haa Small world. I think I spoke with you once or twice on the phone about TROtt! I worked at the National Capital Equestrian Park, which I think has now changed it's name. Barb Moffatt trained me up to take over the program, which I did for about a year. It truely was the highlight of my week, as I said. I'll have to go downstairs and look at all my material, I know I have stuff from TROtt and CanTRA. I am definatley going to do my certification in the future, although at the moment, I have my hands full. I live out in Stittsville. I used to live and teach in Montreal before we moved here in 1998. I also worked for awhile at RobinGreen out in Dunrobin.
Good luck with the volunteer orientation,wish I could be there!

My goodness yes; a small world indeed! So you are familiar with our program, that's great! But it wasn't me you spoke with, that would've been Lynne our volunteer coordinator.

I remember a few years back we were three Lynnes as a team. We had so much fun with our rider, I was the leader, Lynne (volunteer coordinator) & the other Lynne (regular volunteer) were sidewalkers. As you can see, even the staff often fills in as volunteers but we have so much fun.

The certification process has changed slightly over the past 7 yrs, so whenever you are ready to have a go, don't hesitate if you have questions. A few of us have put together a homestudy group online in order to help others out.

We also have a volunteer training session on March 3rd. If anyone is interestedhttp://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif

Take care,
Lynne