Our 2011 riding session began in mid-April after a successful training session for new volunteers. We were delighted with the new people who stepped forward to help and equally pleased to see the large number of returning volunteers. The spring summer program ran from April until the end of June. The six-week summer session runs through July and early August, and the fall program will begin in early October and run until late November. We do not offer riding sessions during the winter months.

We had a major piece of new equipment for the program this year, thanks to a generous grant from the TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board. Their donation allowed us the acquire an electronic lift to assist with mounting and dismounting riders. In combination with the portable mounting ramp donated by Nancy and Elwood Lawton, we have taken large steps forward in terms of safety and convenience for riders, instructors and volunteers.

At our Annual General Meeting in May, our long-time secretary Mel Gallant stepped down as a board member. We will miss him. Mary Morrison will be assuming the secretary’s duties. We also welcomed new board members David Park, Ellen McCloskey and Catherine Thomas.

In early June we were the hosts for the national conference of the Canadian Theraeutic Riding Association. This meeting is held every two years. The accommodation and ‘classroom’ sessions of the conference were held at the Stanhope Bay Beach Resort, and the arena sessions at nearby Gingerwood Farm owned by Danny and Martie Murphy. Both locations were superb and got rave reviews from delegates from across Canada. The Joyriders volunteers and instructors worked very hard to put together a seamless conference experience.

On September third this year we will return to Gingerwood for our fourth major fund raising concert and auction evening. We hold this event every other year. This year we are thrilled to have multi-award winning blues performer MATT ANDERSON as our feature entertainer. Tickets are available from any Joyriders Board member, but are going fast. Returning as MC for the evening is master storyteller Alan Buchanan, and Brian Craswell will be the auctioneer. We have a number of exceptional auction items to offer.

Our instructors-in-training, Helen Kristmanson, Stephanie Compton and Laren MacIssac are making good progress and will finish their certification program this fall. Our thanks to ParaSport and Recreation PEI for funding their studies.

Our generous donors, including the Rotary Club of Charlottetown, the Easter Seals Foundation, Island Lions Clubs, Metro Credit Union, Danny and Martie Murphy, as well as Dr. Rosemary Henderson and other individual donors make the program possible. We continually grateful for their support.

Finally, the Winsloe Equestrian Centre, where we base our program, has a new proprietor. Harma Germs-Fraser, a well known Island coach and rider, will be taking over the reins this summer and embarking on a major renovation and upgrading of the facility. We’re looking forward to working with her.

Updated July 2011

All photos courtesy of Ann MacNeill of Sees the Moment Photography,

PO Box 20149,

Charlottetown, PE.

Canada

C1A 9E3

(902) 368-4540

(ParaSport and Recreation PEI–ask for Joyriders information)