Summary
This article introduces the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association — its mission, history, structure, and role in developing standards, training, and accreditation for therapeutic riding programs across Canada.
The Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) is a national nonprofit organization that provides education, instructor certification, and program accreditation within Canada’s therapeutic riding community. Since its founding, CanTRA has served as a central resource for those involved in adaptive riding and equine-assisted activities, helping establish consistent terminology, safety expectations, and training pathways for instructors and centers across the country.
This guide explores CanTRA as an organization: what it does, how it is structured, and how it contributes to the broader landscape of Canadian equine-assisted programs.
What Is CanTRA?
CanTRA was established in 1980 as a Canadian registered charity dedicated to promoting safe, structured, and inclusive adaptive riding experiences. Its mission emphasizes challenge, achievement, and empowerment through engagement with horses, reflecting the organization’s long-standing commitment to supporting accessible equine activities.
CanTRA is a Federation Member of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI), connecting it to a global network of associations that support educational and ethical dialogue within equine-assisted fields.
Across Canada, dozens of member centers participate in CanTRA’s network, contributing to a diverse, community-driven ecosystem of adaptive riding programs supported by trained instructors and volunteers.
What CanTRA Does
CanTRA’s work focuses on instructor certification, program accreditation, and professional education. These efforts create a foundation of consistency and shared expectations across Canadian therapeutic riding programs.
Instructor Certification
CanTRA offers a structured certification pathway that supports instructors in developing adaptive teaching skills and horsemanship knowledge. The certification levels progress from foundational to advanced, creating clear steps for those pursuing professional development in therapeutic riding instruction.
Program Accreditation and Membership
In addition to instructor certification, CanTRA provides accreditation for therapeutic riding centers that meet its published standards. Accreditation includes considerations for safety practices, center operations, staff roles, environmental design, and horse welfare. This process helps establish a minimum standard across participating programs and supports alignment between facilities and instructor training.
Education, Events, and Community Support
CanTRA organizes workshops, continuing education opportunities, and national events that encourage professional growth and collaboration. Conferences and milestone celebrations — such as the upcoming 45th anniversary gathering in 2025 — connect instructors, center administrators, volunteers, and equine professionals from across the country.
How CanTRA Fits Within Canadian Equestrian Pathways
CanTRA operates within the larger Canadian equestrian landscape, and its certification system aligns with national coaching standards recognized by Equestrian Canada. While the two organizations remain distinct, this acknowledgment supports consistency in expectations across coaching and adaptive instruction.
CanTRA’s focus remains on instructor education and center accreditation within therapeutic riding, while other professional responsibilities — including clinical services — fall under entirely separate licensed professions. This separation helps maintain clarity around the mission and scope of CanTRA’s work.
What Accreditation Represents
When a riding center holds CanTRA accreditation, it signifies that the program has met organizational standards related to instruction, horse care, program structure, and facility operations. Each center expresses these standards within its unique environment, but accreditation offers a shared reference point that connects programs across Canada.
Accreditation does not mean every center looks the same. Rather, it reflects a commitment to thoughtful planning, responsible horsemanship, and consistent expectations for program delivery within the CanTRA framework.
CanTRA’s Place in the Broader Field
CanTRA contributes to the national and international dialogue on equine-assisted activities by:
- promoting ethical engagement with horses
- fostering consistent terminology
- supporting training and professional development
- participating in global networks such as HETI
- encouraging collaboration among instructors, volunteers, and centers
Its work provides structure and shared reference points for a field that spans many regions, program types, and teaching styles.
A Short History of CanTRA
CanTRA began in 1980 with a small group of instructors and supporters who sought to create a unified approach to adaptive riding education in Canada. Over time, the organization expanded its certification levels, built a network of accredited centers, and formed connections with international bodies.
Today, CanTRA remains a leading voice in Canada’s therapeutic riding community, supporting programs from coast to coast through standards, training, and collaboration.
How CanTRA Relates to Other Organizations
CanTRA focuses specifically on adaptive riding instruction and program accreditation. It is not a clinical or medical body and does not oversee treatment services. Organizations involved in equine-related clinical work — or in other forms of equine-assisted activities — maintain their own professional structures and certifications.
CanTRA’s work complements these groups by offering clarity around educational roles, instructor competencies, and program expectations within therapeutic riding.
Conclusion
CanTRA plays a key role in shaping Canada’s therapeutic riding community through its standards, certification pathways, and national network of accredited centers. By supporting quality instruction, promoting responsible horsemanship, and fostering professional learning, the organization contributes to a consistent and trusted foundation for adaptive riding programs across the country.
Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association
Address: 5420 Side Road 6, Guelph, ON N1H 6J2, Canada
Phone:+1 519-767-0700
Website: www.cantra.org
