Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre
Puslinch, Ontario
Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre is a registered charity on a 102-acre farm in Puslinch, Ontario, between Guelph and Cambridge. It has offered therapeutic riding since 1982 and is an accredited member of the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA).
- Therapeutic riding for ages 3 and up
- Equine facilitated wellness (counselling with horses)
- Life Skills Day Program for adults
- Equine assisted learning for groups
- Little Breeches farm program for children
- Camp Sunrise farm and horse camps
- Riding Club for independent riders
- Group visits and grooming program
- Children and adults with physical or cognitive special needs
- Riders with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delays or visual or hearing impairments
- Children, teens, adults and families with mental health concerns
- Adults 18+ with cognitive delays
- Youth, families and corporate groups
More about this center
About the Program
Families apply with a rider package that includes a physician referral and profile. Sunrise then books an assessment with a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and/or speech-language pathologist: about an hour of discussion and a 15 to 20 minute mounted assessment. Riders pay an annual membership fee that includes CanTRA insurance, and a scholarship fund helps riders who need support with the cost.
Equine Facilitated Wellness sessions are led by a registered clinician and a CanTRA-certified equine professional. They address concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, eating disorders and substance use. Sessions typically run one hour, weekly or every two weeks (see equine-assisted psychotherapy).
The Life Skills Day Program runs Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., year round, for adults with special needs. Activities include horse care, farm chores, gardening, cooking and crafts. Little Breeches is an inclusive farm program for ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. Camp Sunrise offers Farm Discovery (ages 5 to 8), Horse Camp (ages 8 to 13, or up to 21 for campers with a special need) and Leader in Training (13+), from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Horses and Staff
Alex Ivic is the executive director and Camilla Giffen is the head instructor. The team includes several CanTRA-certified therapeutic riding instructors and a consulting occupational therapist, physiotherapist and family physician. More than 250 volunteers help each year. The herd has 20 horses and three miniature horses.
History
Sunrise began in 1982 as the Guelph/Cambridge/Kitchener chapter of CanTRA, with five riders and three horses. It bought its Puslinch farm in 1996, and in 2007-2008 received national CanTRA accreditation as a residential instructor training school and exam centre, along with Ontario Camps Association accreditation.
Location
Sunrise is at 6920 Concession 1, Puslinch, Ontario N0B 2J0, about 15 minutes from Guelph and Cambridge near Highway 401. The farm has the Marguerite Clayton Indoor Riding Arena with an accessible viewing lounge, riding and hiking trails, an accessible playground and a therapy forest. Call ahead to arrange a visit.
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 a rider?
Send in the rider package and Sunrise will contact you to book an assessment. There is an ongoing waitlist, so the assessment may take a few months, and Saturday and weekday evening spots are especially limited.
How much do lessons cost?
Call the office at 519-837-0558 or email office@sunrise-therapeutic.ca to ask about current lesson fees. Scholarships are available, and riders who need help with the cost can apply.
How do I book Equine Facilitated Wellness sessions?
Contact Alex Ivic at 519-837-0558 ext. 31 or alex@sunrise-therapeutic.ca.
How do I join the Life Skills Day Program?
Complete the application and intake form, meet with the Life Skills Coordinator, then book a trial day. Call the Life Skills House at 519-763-5517.
Location
Puslinch, Ontario N0B 2J0
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.