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The following profile looks at one of several Chamber members featured in the summer edition of our INSIGHT Magazine promoting health and wellness

The smile on Luca D’Alessandro’s face quickly becomes contagious as the nine-year-old – who has special needs - confidently sits tall in the saddle on ‘Miami’ as the horse is calmly led by a volunteer instructor and a Canadian certified instructor around the barn at Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre.

For his mom, Caleigh, seeing the radiant smile on her son’s face every time they visit the Puslinch Township facility over the past few years always brings her a sense of jubilation.

“Over time, we’ve watched his confidence grow and his communication improve - something we weren’t sure we would see so quickly,” she says. “The consistent routine, along with the special bond he has built with his horse ‘Miami’, instructor Camilla, and volunteer Sue, has meant so much to our family. Sunrise has given Luca not only new skills, but also real joy and a sense of belonging.”

Since it was founded nearly 45 years ago, Sunrise has continually brought similar joy and belonging to hundreds of children and adults with special needs by allowing them to experience the elation and therapeutic benefit that comes when working with horses and participating in farm activities.

It’s a restorative process, says Sunrise co-founder and long-time Board President Ann Caine, that is inspirational to witness.

“When you have a disability as a young child and you’re growing up, people are always doing things for you,” she explains. “So, when you put a child on an 800 to 1,000-pound horse and give them the reins – even though they have a leader and a person walking beside them – all of a sudden they’re in control and that’s very empowering.”

Animals make an impact

Sunrise Executive Director Alex Ivic agrees and immediately marveled after joining the non-profit organization this past spring at the innate intuitiveness the horses have when it comes to building connections with their young riders. It was this aspect of the work that attracted him to the position following his previous experiences with the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, Assistance Dogs International and Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.

“Having seen the power and impact animals have with people with disabilities the last 15 years, this position lined up with exactly where my values are,” he says of his decision to join Sunrise. “It was also kind of a new challenge and after meeting with the board and the team, it all just aligned.”

With eight full and part time Canadian certified instructors, three mental health professionals, plus eight summer camp counsellors and more than 300 active volunteers, Sunrise operates a wide variety of therapeutic riding programs for children, youth, and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, in addition to individuals on the autism spectrum, and those with visual and hearing impairments.

Encompassing 102-acres just east of Cambridge, the facility features a bright and airy indoor riding arena in addition to multiple paddocks for more than 20 horses, and a stone farmhouse that acts as the base for its Life Skills day program aimed at supporting young adults. 

It’s a far cry from where the organization began in 1982 with three horses and five riders and operated from what would be the first of five different rented facilities over the course of 14 years at various locations in the Guelph and Cambridge areas. During most of that period Sunrise operated seasonally since it did not have access to a suitable indoor arena until moving to its permanent location in 1996.

“We started with a very small program,” recalls Ann, who was inspired to open the facility through her past experiences with therapeutic riding in England and her work at the Ontario Veterinary College at Guelph University. 

Successful capital campaign

She enlisted the help of her daughter, who had trained in England as an equestrian instructor, and together they brought Sunrise to fruition – noting the name reflects the fact every day is a new one.

Their last location near Guelph Lake on GRCA property featured a stone house for a barn manager and program office, but with no arena, programming remained seasonal. They did however find a way to hold a summer day camp, plus sleepovers in tents for the children one night a week.

“I would cook pancakes the next morning for all these kids but that’s how you grow things,” laughs Ann. “The board decided we couldn’t keep paying rent and moving all the time because we were not going to get established.”

A well-targeted capital campaign, plus continued support from a variety of service organizations and businesses, including various local Rotary, Lions, Optimists, and other service clubs, have helped Sunrise create and maintain an established base with a growing roster of clients from throughout Southern Ontario and implement additional programming.

“Therapeutic riding is at the core of where everything was started. But there has been a desire to continue to serve our clientele anyway we can so we’re continually looking to augment services,” says Alex, referring to the summer-long day camp Sunrise started offering several years ago that utilizes an inground pool on the property. “We are really trying to work farming, ecology and nature into everything we do in addition to riding.”

Creating strong connections

Besides a community garden program which has been incorporated into the facility’s Life Skills program and sees fresh vegetables offered to clients’ parents, Sunrise is also creating a therapy and memorial forest. This involves transforming 20 acres of land into a managed forest and meadow habitats of native species to be used not only for various wellness and nature-based activities but provide an opportunity to honour and recognize a loved one.

“One of the amazing things I’ve already discovered since I’ve been here is there are so many volunteers, clients, parents, staff and donors who have been around 10, 20 and 30 years,” says Alex. “That’s not common but it’s so frequent here that it just kinds of tell you something.”

Ann concurs, noting the strong connection the children and their families have with Sunrise and its staff, volunteers, and especially the horses.

“We really do listen to the families,” she says, adding many of their clients have practically grown up at Sunrise. “Most of the parents will say this has become their second home.”

Ann refers to a note she received about the Sunrise horses from a long-time client who has no fine motor skills and requires the use of a walker but has been coming to the facility since she was four years old. She is now in her early twenties and still visits Sunrise, finding ways to assist with the horses. 

The woman wrote, in part:

“You make us feel tall and proud. When I groom you, make your food and clean your stall, it gives me something to do in return. But when you put your head down and let me pet you, when you breathe warm air on me, I feel loved inside. Sunrise horses, thank you for all the support you give us and the way you make us feel. You’re pretty special”.

Visit www.sunrise-therapeutic.ca to learn more.