Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS) is a non-profit society near Grande Prairie, Alberta, offering equine-assisted programs since 1984. It runs therapeutic riding, cart driving and grooming for people aged 3 and up with a diagnosed disability, plus youth programs and public lessons.
- Therapeutic riding
- Therapeutic cart driving
- Therapeutic grooming and ground driving
- Little Pony Motricity (ages 3 to 6)
- Youth Leadership (ground-based)
- Unbridled equine-assisted mental health for youth
- Inclusive summer youth camp and adult rider camp
- Public riding lessons
- People with physical disabilities
- People with autism, cognitive disabilities or brain injury
- People with visual, hearing or speech impairments
- People with learning disabilities, ADHD, epilepsy or anxiety
- Children ages 3 to 6
- Youth ages 8 to 17
More about this center
About the Program
PARDS says each new client starts with an assessment to set goals and match a suitable horse. Therapeutic lessons run 30 to 45 minutes, Monday to Thursday, in 10-week sessions. For people who can't or don't want to ride, it offers cart driving, with a horse or pony hitched to a cart, and grooming and ground driving.
Little Pony Motricity has children ages 3 to 6 work in pairs with a pony on obstacle courses, in 30-minute weekly lessons. Youth Leadership is a ground-based group program for ages 8 to 12 and 13 to 17 focused on cooperation, relationship-building and self-esteem. Unbridled, funded by the Grande Prairie Stompede Association, brings a mental health professional together with a horse to help youth work through lived trauma. See our guide to equine-assisted psychotherapy.
Getting Started
Therapeutic programs require a clinical diagnosis and a PARDS Physician Release form. New clients register online or through the office, selecting a New Rider Therapeutic Assessment, and PARDS calls 3 to 4 weeks before a session to set times. People without a diagnosis are directed to public lessons.
Therapeutic riding, driving and grooming cost $300 per 10-week session plus a $50 annual membership. Youth Leadership is $200 per session after a sponsor subsidy, and Unbridled is $50 per individual session or $150 for the weekend group. PARDS says it wants everyone to have access regardless of cost, and families who need help with fees can call the office. Helmets, boots and safety belts are provided. The arena is heated but kept at about 5°C, so dress in warm layers.
The Horses and Staff
The herd has 16 horses, including Fjords, Quarter Horses, Paints, an Appaloosa, a Welsh pony and three miniature horses. Shirley McDonald is the executive director. Robyn Boudreau (rider intake assessor and instructor mentor) and Amanda Udey are CanTRA II instructors.
History
PARDS began in 1984 as the South Peace Therapeutic Riding Association, serving four children with borrowed horses and facilities. It incorporated as a non-profit society in 1985 and took its current name in 1988. In 2007 the County of Grande Prairie granted it a long-term lease on 55 acres next to Evergreen Park.
Location
PARDS is at 710009 RR 55, County of Grande Prairie No. 1, Alberta T8W 5A7, outside Grande Prairie city limits next to Evergreen Park, on 55 acres of treed land.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I register at PARDS?
Register online or contact 780-538-3211 or info@pards.ca. Registrations are accepted year-round, and a Physician Release form is required for therapeutic programs.
What ages does PARDS serve?
Therapeutic riding is open to ages 3 and up. Little Pony Motricity is for ages 3 to 6, and Youth Leadership for ages 8 to 17.
Location
Grande Prairie, Alberta T8W 5A7
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.