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NEIGH! The horses miss you! They really want you to come back but they know it’s not the safest option right now. That is why the Board of Directors had to make the unfortunate decision to cancel the 2020 Riding season. Doc, Stormy, NuBack, Frank and Bobby will be very disappointed, just like our riders and volunteers are. Things have been looking up lately, but we care about our riders, caregivers, and volunteers too much to take any risks. Following local and provincial health guidelines, and given the nature of our program cancelling the season was the only option. Any rider who had a spot in the 2020 season will retain their spot for the 2021 season. And we hope all of our wonderful volunteers will come back for the 2021 season. A few of our families and volunteers have reached out to ask how they can help. With all of our fundraising events to date cancelled and no rider income this season PARD is very grateful to accept donations to cover the care of our five fantastic therapy horses. If you are interested in supporting PARD you can check out our website at www.pard.ca for all the ways you can get involved. PARD instructors and volunteers continue to work behind the scenes and PARD is especially proud of the instructors adapting to online learning and attending a couple of webinars after the 2020 CanTRA Conference in Alberta was cancelled. PARD is also grateful to the small group of individuals who have worked on the building interiors this spring. PARD is supported by a strong community and we wish to thank everyone for their support. So until we can meet again, ‘the boys’ send their love and wish you health and happiness. Sincerely, Angela Muir President PARD Therapeutic Riding 
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Unfortunately, the Open House/Volunteer Orientation scheduled for Sunday May 24th has been cancelled. Due to the restrictions related to COVID-19, recreational activities including horseback riding at commercial barns are on hold until further notice. With the start of the season uncertain, your PARD Board of Directors is discussing what options may be available if/when we are able to run the program this summer. Lessons typically run June through August for approximately 10 weeks, and require the commitment of many new and returning volunteers. The safety and well-being of our riders and volunteers remains a top priority as we move forward navigating these unprecedented circumstances. We thank you for your patience and support through these tough times. We are looking forward to seeing you at the farm again when it reopens! In the meantime, checkout our Facebook or Instagram pages for updates around the farm and with the horses.  For so many of us, life drastically changed this spring and it's been a struggle to keep up, and keep positive. However our new rescue puppy, Oscar, isn't complaining! He LOVES having us home 24/7 and quite enjoys his loooong walks each day as my husband and I take turns getting some fresh air and decompressing. I'm not sure what life will look like when we do finally emerge from our family den and slowly return to life outside the home but I'm pretty sure this puppy wont want to go back to the old normal! For the PARD horses, we thank our lucky horseshoes for the Carruthers families who live at the farm and love them like their own. With the rest of their lives in limbo, the Carruthers have also been working away at the buildings and their progress gives me something to look forward to! While recreation programs are on hold and physical distancing the norm right now, there is much uncertainty surrounding the start of our 37th season. After learning that the 2020 CanTRA Conference was cancelled this spring, the decision was made to postpone our 2020 Charity Golf Tournament for a year. At this time, no decisions have been made about other events for the rest of the year, because like everyone else we continue to stay at home and wait... In the meantime, checkout PARD’s Facebook and Instagram pages for pictures of the horses. The website will also be updated with any announcements regarding the season or upcoming events. We can’t wait to get back to the farm and get back to it! Wishing you all health and happiness until we can meet again... Sincerely, Angie Muir  PARD Therapeutic Riding will be holding an AGM on Monday, March 16th at 6:00pm at 884 Ford St., Peterborough, Ontario. Those persons holding PARD memberships are encouraged to attend and participate in the election of the 2020 Board of Directors. Membership sales and renewals will be available onsite. Please RSVP for details. Memberships are $10 annually. Members have the opportunity to vote at the AGM, receive a digital copy of the annual newsletter, and are invited to attend events such as the Open House. First time members receive a weather-proof PARD decal to display, and renewing memebers can request a replacement when needed.   Check out our Events Page for more information about our upcoming events!
 BOBBY THE LITTLE WHITE PARD HORSE
You know Stormy and Frank and NuBuck and Doc But do you recall…..the smallest white PARD horse of all? Bobby, the little white PARD horse, Had a very bad habit of banging his stall door. And if you ever heard him, You would know how naughty he is! All of the other horses Wouldn’t believe Bobby was a great therapy horse They never let Bobby explain to them That’s why he started banging his stall door Then one Christmas Eve, Brendon and Wendy came to say, Bobby with you coat so white, Stop all the door banging in our barn tonight! Bobby began to think about all the commotion he caused And the special request from Brendon & Wendy And he did his best to comply to the ‘request’ Then all the horses loved him And they shouted out with glee Bobby with your coat so white You’ll go down in PARD history  Hi Angela,
Congratulations! You are a Runner-Up Winner of our Celebration of Horses Photo Contest, published in Canadian Horse Journal and on HORSEJournals.com. Your Prize will be shipped directly from our sponsor, Canadian Saddlery – and includes a Prize Pack worth $40, including a Treat Ball ($29.99), plus 1 bag of Martin Treats ($9.99) Check out all of the Winners and Runners-Up on our website, at https://www.horsejournals.com/celebration-horses-photo-contest. Thank you for entering our 2019 Photo Contest!  PARD Riders, Volunteers, and their families are invited to the Volunteer Appreciation BBQ this year. It's a chance for everyone to mingle while "not on the clock". Enjoy bbq hotdogs and hamburgers and refreshments. Please bring your own chair. RSVP pardtherapeuticriding@gmail.com
 Visit our facebook page for more info!
PARD will be on hand selling baked goods and hosting a charity BBQ!  The weather was kind and the sun brought a forgotten warmth as volunteers scurried around the farm preparing for the upcoming Open House. The buildings are finished (pictures coming soon, in another post), reorganized inside and out, and ready for final inspection. The ramp area was weeded (what would we do without our Anne Marie) and the grounds are looking much more like home now that the water is receding and the grass growing.
A big thanks to all those who came out the help and enjoy the sunshine! See you at the open house May 26th. |
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