OLDS – A former volunteer of a local equestrian organization that caters its programming to people with special needs was recognized for his contributions to the group.
Ed Stacy, who for about 12 years enthusiastically volunteered with Olds-based Mount View Special Riding Association, was named recipient of the Rhonda Davies Award for outstanding volunteer as part of the 2022 Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association’s (CanTRA) awards.
Prior to the pandemic-related public health mandates that were imposed in March 2020, prompting the organization to like so many others pause their operations, Stacy would every Tuesday during spring and fall sessions bring out his Fjord ponies Sensible, Sven, Lucky Surprise, and Skoki Lodge, all the way from his Bergen-area property for the benefit of the club’s saddled riders.
Shortly after starting his stint with the organization, Stacy identified a need to design and create a custom-built cart that could accommodate riders who use wheelchairs, and derived a great sense of satisfaction from seeing their faces light up.
“We definitely miss him now that he’s retired from helping us,” said Diane Luxen, Mount View Special Riding Association president, adding he retired in 2020 as a result of the pandemic that forced the program to shut down for a couple of years.
“He was very devoted, reliable and very excited to be there and a part of everything that was going on,” Luxen told the Albertan on April 19 during a phone interview, adding Stacy established quite a reputation over the years.
“He has many fans within the association, both with our riders and with the other volunteers,” she said.
Originally putting Stacy’s name forward back in 2019 for the CanTRA’s annual call-out for exemplary volunteers complemented by additional letters of support written by several people, that process was also hampered by the pandemic, she said.
“Everything fell apart for CanTRA and all of the other programs across Canada. So, everything was left laying there and nothing happened for a couple of years,” she said.
“When things were starting to open up again, they gave us a call and people were able to reapply and to resubmit names if they had a wish to; we were happy to be able to do that,” she said.
His being named an award recipient was the icing on the cake.
“We were ecstatic when he was chosen for that; well deserving and it was a great way for him to retire,” she said.
For his part, Stacy told the Albertan his motivation to get involved stemmed from the smiles the program put on the faces of people who benefit from the service.
Stacy said he also relishes randomly crossing paths with some of the program’s participants while making the rounds in downtown Olds.
“It’s all kinds of nice,” he said.
But receiving accolades was the last thing on his mind.
“I didn’t expect any kind of a thing like that,” he said. “I didn’t think about any kind of an award or something like that.”
The only reward he was interested in was the fulfillment from helping contribute to improving the lives of people with special needs.
“It was always pleasant for me to go; I enjoyed going,” he said, adding, “If people enjoy horses, I think that’s pretty nice.”
Our modern, fast-paced culture does not always seem to prioritize people with special needs, he said when asked his thoughts about the program’s importance.
“We have these people in our society, and who’s going to give them the time of day?” he said, adding he hopes to have made over the years a positive impact on some lives through the therapeutic benefits associated with working with animals like horses.
Stacy said he hopes the custom-made cart will still be used to continue putting smiles on faces.
The association has for more than 40 years served people of varying ages with physical or mental disabilities by providing therapeutic riding. It is also a member of the CanTRA, which certifies riding instructors.
Since public health restrictions were lifted, the Mount View Special Riding Association has slowly but surely been regaining momentum, for the time being relaunching the previously twice-weekly program to a weekly session during the spring and fall.
“It’s a little hard getting started again, because people have kind of drifted away,” Luxen said, adding the group is nevertheless “going strong” but could always use additional helping hands.
However, those weekly sessions seem to be rebuilding interest.
“The last few sessions, there have been waiting lists,” she said. “It is a good sign.”
Prior to getting its upcoming spring session underway, the organization planned to conduct a horse testing night for people who are volunteering their steeds as part of the effort to determine the most suitable match for the individual an animal will be paired up with, she said.
Visit www.mountviewriding.com for more information.
