Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association

Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Program for Persons with Disabilities (LBTRA) provides recreational riding programs for persons with disabilities with emphasis on development of independence, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, ability, confidence, and riding techniques. We are an inclusive, not-for-profit, charitable organization, established in 1975.

The program is held at the Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association (WELCA) (12510 - Fox Drive) in the scenic North Saskatchewan River valley of Edmonton. WELCA is serviced by the Disabled Adult Transportation System (DATS) system and is on an Edmonton Transit System (ETS) route. Little Bits is an independent user group of the WELCA facility and pays significant funds for the use of the arena and lesson horses.

Class schedules consist of a 10-week winter session, a 10-week spring session and a 10-week fall session. Classes are run on Monday and Tuesday mornings for adults, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon/evenings for children, teens and adults and all-day Sunday for children and teens. Classes are one hour in length and run back-to-back on the hour. We also ride for five days (one week) in July/August for currently enrolled winter session riders only. All safety equipment is provided, and specially selected and trained horses are selected for our program.

All instructors are certified, understanding the principles of therapeutic riding recognized by the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) and the Cheff Centre in Augusta, Michigan.

LBTRA could not operate without the many dedicated volunteers who serve as leaders, side-walkers, and helping in the barn grooming and tacking up the horses. Volunteers are fully trained, and no prior experience is necessary. LBTRA holds a Volunteer Training Session every winter and fall before the start of those riding sessions. One must be at least 16 years old to apply through our website at: www.littlebits.ca or by contacting volunteers@littlebits.ca for information. There are also other volunteer opportunities in public relations, fundraising and on committees of the Board of Directors.

LBTRA is run by a volunteer board of directors. These dedicated individuals meet on the third Wednesday of each month at WELCA.

Donations may be made to Little Bits via the Canada Helps website, the Shaw Charity Classic – Birdies for Kids Event, Benevity, (links may be found on our website at www.liitlebits.ca), by e-transfer to payments@littlebits.ca or via mail.

LBTRA is a registered charitable organization and to keep our program affordable for all riders we rely on donations and apply for grants to help fund our operations. We also rely on the support of individual and corporate donors.

For more information contact LBTRA at (780) 476-1233 or at: info@littlebits.ca

LBTRA
P.O. Box 29016, Pleasantview, Edmonton, AB, T6H 5Z6
Charitable Number: 11902 – 1277 RR0001