LTRA fundraising ride attracts record numbers

By Lethbridge Herald on September 19, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Riders set out on the trail for the 40th annual Joanne Perlich Ride for Dreams on Saturday at Pavan Park.

Justin Seward
Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association took advantage of the blue and sunny skies to ride on horseback for their 40th annual Joanne Perlich Ride for Dreams on Saturday at Pavan Park.

This year marked a record amount of riders with 50.

There were riders from three generations, grandmothers riding with kids, daughter-in-laws and grandkids and extended families out on the trail.

“Just years of community support and public interest in the program,” said Jeanne Perlich-White, LTRA board member.

“Horse enthusiasts that  want to come together for a day of fun and fellowship for a good cause.”

There was a slight change in the programming this year.

“We mixed things up this year,” she said.

“We would usually follow up today’s ride with a dinner and dance afterwards. But this year we decided to kick things off with the dinner and dance and it was our biggest and best ever last night. 

“I think we had over 250 people there, and more sponsorship support, more attendees support, we had a wonderful catered dinner, two live music acts including Trevor Panczak, and a live auction and silent auction. And so we celebrated last night and we’re here to close things out today with a beautiful trail ride.”

The annual ride is meant to assist the organization in their needs for therapeutic riding and equine programs for those who have cognitive and physical disabilities.

“Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding has been around since the mid-1970s and has relied on community support, donations and fundraisers to keep going,” said Perlich-White.

“It’s a really important service of offering unique and very valuable therapy to people with all sorts of disabilities and we can’t do it without a lot of funds. Horses are expensive to keep, they have to be kept fed and  healthy and their year round expenses that go along with providing riding lessons.”

Most of the funds  raised come from rider’s pledges, which were a minimum $200.

Their goal is to help individuals grow and heal with horses.

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