Can you briefly introduce your organization and the community you serve?
SPARK (Society for Providing Animal Assisted Therapy in Kelowna) is a registered charity whose mission is to facilitate healing and wholeness through guided therapeutic encounters with horses. SPARK’s services are offered to all community members, and many of our clients are experiencing anxiety, PTSD, depression, addiction, ADHD or autism, or may simply attend sessions to experience the gentle support and perspective that a guided encounter with horses offers.

What core need in our community does your organization respond to?
There is a tremendous need in our community for mental health services, especially for those with limited financial means. At SPARK we believe that access to mental health services should not be impaired by one’s finances and, as such, we operate on a fee for service basis for those who can afford to pay and offer a sliding scale subsidy to those who need financial support. SPARK also addresses the need in our community for alternative therapy models. We believe that offering a variety of mental health services, including alternatives to traditional approaches, is critical to meeting a wider range of needs.

What values guide your work?
At SPARK, we embrace the wisdom of our equine partners, who exemplify the power of community and connection by living and working together as a herd. Our approach is grounded in the principles of trust and respect, recognizing the deep bonds that form when we honour these values.

How does equine-assisted therapy complement recovery or mental health services?
Horses are natural masters of mindfulness and the most sensitive and precise, non-verbal mirrors of our own behavior. They reflect back to us our own emotions and behaviours in a way that is tangible and can be integrated, even if an individual doesn’t yet have the words for them. Foundational skills such as how to hold a boundary and how to work another being towards a common goal are key aspects of our sessions.

When and how did your partnership with The Bridge first begin?
The Bridge first reached out to establish a partnership with SPARK in the summer of 2023. In March 2024, Bridge staff joined us for a group session, and together we reached out to the community seeking funding opportunities to support sessions for YRH participants. After beginning group sessions for YRH youth in April of 2024, through SPARK’s own financial assistance program, the Wilden Legacy Fund (in partnership with the KGH Foundation) truly enabled us to put our vision into practice by supporting a series of sessions, and this support continues to this day!

What made the collaboration feel like a good fit?
As a community driven organization, collaborating with The Bridge felt like a perfect fit. SPARK’s group sessions are complimentary to the Youth Recovery House’s overall program offerings and are aligned with the goal of creating a safe space for youth in recovery. Through the engaging, hands-on experience of working with horses, participants can uncover new paths to emotional healing and personal development. This form of therapy encourages youth to build trust and accountability, fostering a deep sense of connection and responsibility. As they navigate these therapeutic interactions, they gain valuable life skills that support their recovery journey and empower them to embrace a brighter future.

The Impact of Working Together

Can you share a story or moment that reflects the impact of our collaboration?
Day one of a recent series of group sessions started with participants emerging from their transport with hoods drawn low over their faces. Wary of their new surroundings and burdened by the weight of their experiences, it was difficult to elicit much more than their names, until we headed out for our first activity: a trail walk with our three small goats. Immediately the protective masks, and hoods, fell away and the exuberance of long-lost children re-surfaced. From there, connections, healing and growth were made possible.

On the last day of this series of sessions, when participants were asked what stood out to them, a very quiet group member expressed how cool he thought it was that, in just a few weeks, the group went from being total strangers to the horses to becoming trusted partners, and how amazing it was that these big animals would be willing to engage with them and trust them.

Final Reflection

If you could describe our partnership in on word or short phrase, what would it be?
Community. At SPARK, we believe in working together as a community, as part of one herd. The Bridge is part of our herd and together we are ensuring that no herd member gets left behind.