LTRA future still unknown

LETHBRIDGE-Snapped boards and a flattened roof are still waiting to be cleaned up at the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association.

The program came to a halt nearly a month ago when heavy snow destroyed the roof.

Rick Austin, the Executive Director for LTRA says they are still waiting to get things back up and running, “Classes are still cancelled and they will not be started until we know more.”

Since the devastating blow, organizers have been looking at a short term solution, but it isn’t easy. They are certified through the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association and strict guidelines must be met such as a dust-free arena, wheel chair accessibility and several safety measures.

“We’re having difficulty finding another area or place with those standards, so we are working on it, but we haven’t been successful yet,” added Austin.

Insurance adjusters have assessed the site, and Hanson says he is optimistic that money will come through, but the organization is hoping for more community support to make sure the facility is top notch, “What we are looking at is building it better, we want to put a little better facilities inside the building.”

It’s not just organizers who want to see the facility back up and running. For clients and volunteers like Erica Leniczek, the facility offers a distraction from her busy lifestyle, “It’s therapeutic to me too almost, because I’m a student and I have a really heavy course load. Coming on Tuesday and Thursday morning has been a way for me to just relax and do something good, but also get my mind off everything else going on.”

Leniczek says she misses the clients and is anxious for the program to find a suitable temporary home or rebuild the arena as soon as possible.

Anyone looking to donate to the project can visit the LTRA website.