Kelowna non-profit asking for help keeping horse therapy service afloat

There is not enough horse therapy for those who need it in Kelowna.

A non-profit called Spark – Society for Providing Horse Assisted Therapy in Kelowna is reaching out to the public in hopes of being able to expand their services.

“It’s really important to us that the power of horse-assisted therapy is readily available for all those who need it, and not just those who have the financial means to pay for it,” life coach and SPARK executive director Annika Voeltz said in a media release.

Clients pay for the service but the cost is subsidized.

“Caring for our six, wonderful horses, and running our programs and services is costly, and without financial support, we just can’t subsidize sessions. Unfortunately, that leaves some of the people who need us most out in the cold,” Voeltz said.

SPARK is hoping for donations in order to address a growing wait list.

“Horses have been used for therapeutic purposes since the time of the ancient Greeks, and help people with emotional regulation, self-confidence, responsibility, and impulse control, among other things,” she said.

Those who benefit from SPARK are people with mental and physical health challenges. Through therapy sessions they interact, groom and lead horses while under the supervision of a mental health professional.

Find out hot to donate through the SPARK website.

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