Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association
Langley, British Columbia
Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association (VTEA) is a registered, volunteer-based charity that has offered therapeutic horseback riding since 1983. From its riding centre in Aldergrove, in the Township of Langley, BC, it provides medically approved therapeutic riding, hippotherapy and counselling for children and adults, plus weekend summer camps for kids.
- Therapeutic riding
- Hippotherapy
- Grooming and tacking sessions in the barn
- Weekend summer camps (ages 8 to 16)
- Children and adults
- People with a broad range of diagnoses, including cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis (hippotherapy)
- Children ages 8 to 16 (summer camps)
More about this center
About the Program
In therapeutic riding, each session is tailored to the rider and may include visual games, conversation or quiet time walking with the horse. Riders put on a helmet and safety belt in the arena, then a leader and side walkers guide horse and rider around the arena. Some clients groom and tack the horses with an instructor in the barn instead, either as a session on its own or as a step toward riding; the instructor decides this with the client or family.
VTEA describes hippotherapy as a treatment used by physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, in which the horse's movement can encourage core strengthening. Clients may sit backwards or sideways, or lie on the horse's back, while the horse is led or long-lined.
Weekend summer camps for kids ages 8 to 16 include beginner English riding lessons with CanTRA-trained instructors, grooming, barn chores such as feeding and cleaning paddocks, arts and crafts, and games.
The Horses and Staff
Co-founder Pippa Hodge is a registered physiotherapist specializing in clinical hippotherapy and a CanTRA Coach and Examiner. The instructor team holds CanTRA Level 1 and Level 2 certifications; longtime instructor Julie Matjiw has been with VTEA since 1996.
The herd has 13 horses, including Norwegian Fjords, Morgan crosses, Quarter Horses, an Irish Sport Horse and a Pony of the Americas.
Getting Started
New clients fill out a client information form and a waiver, plus a physician referral form for therapeutic riding or hippotherapy, and email them to VTEA so staff can review them in advance. They then book an initial assessment with the program manager or a designated team member, which does not include time with the horses. Demand is high, so a riding program may not be available right away.
Lesson costs vary depending on government funding, such as the At Home Program through the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. VTEA also lists Canadian Tire Jumpstart, CKNW Kids Fund, President's Choice Children's Charity and the Sunshine Foundation as places families who need help with the cost can apply. Call or email for current rates.
Location
VTEA's riding centre is on 256th Street in Aldergrove, just south of the Fraser Highway, at 3330 - 256th St, Langley, BC V4W 1Y4. The 27-acre property has an indoor arena, woods and trails.
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 sign up for therapeutic riding or hippotherapy?
Complete the client information form, waiver and a physician referral signed by your doctor, then call (604) 857-1267 to book an assessment. Email the forms to info@vtea.ca ahead of the visit so staff can review them.
How much do lessons cost?
Costs vary slightly depending on funding, such as the At Home Program. Contact info@vtea.ca or (604) 857-1267 for current rates.
Who can attend summer camp?
The weekend summer camps are open to children ages 8 to 16. Contact the office for dates and pricing.
Location
Langley, British Columbia V4W 1Y4
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.