The Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society (CVTRS) was blessed last week with youthful energy from around the world.
Five students enrolled in Pearson College (PC) in Victoria are assisting the CVTRS as part of their project week.
Each term, the PC sends their students out into the community beyond to pursue projects of their choice that can be creative, outdoor, service or leadership. Their students come from every corner of the world.
According to PC, one unifying characteristic is that each student is committed to “making change happen in diverse and powerful ways.” The project week “is as meaningful as students choose to make it, as their interests, passions, creativity and energy drive it.”
Their energy this week has driven many positive and welcome changes for the expanding facilities at CVTRS.
The students have been learning how to groom the horses, they have been moving hay, preparing the ground for a much-needed round pen and most exciting, clearing the way for a new community garden.
Asked what brought them to Comox Valley, Jessica, from New Brunswick, said she “was interested in horses before, but this experience opened me to the idea of new ways you can help people in a more natural way. I love the way they take care of people here (at CVTRS).”
Jessica thinks she’d now like to pursue a career in therapeutic riding.
Kuenzang, from Bhutan, had never touched a horse before. Helping out has taught her that horses “are spiritual animals and they can sense the spirit of the person coming to them.”
Amid reflected appreciation, as did the other students, toward their host families, saying, “It would not be possible without them.”
Amid and Helen commented that they were interested in coming to Comox Valley because they heard the people were very friendly here and the natural beauty was really something to see. They weren’t disappointed.
CVTRS thanks these very inspirational students. They shared their culture, their passion for making the world a better place, and warmed everyone’s hearts on many a cold fall day.
If you would like to learn more about CVTRS or how you can be more involved, call 250-338-1968 or visit www.cvtrs@telus.com.
— Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society