Equestrian

Hope Haven Pegasus

In the Spring of 2020 Ontario's first Special Olympics (SO) Equestrian team, Hope

Haven Pegasus was approved and continues today as a partner program with

Special Olympics Ontario.

We are excited to be laying the groundwork for other equestrian center's across

Ontario and even Canada to apply for their own teams, creating a national pool of

competitors. Thank you to Special Olympics Ontario for supporting our

endeavor and the Owen Sound community for welcoming our sport within their

organization.

Who can participate on the team?

All individuals ages 6 years and up with intellectual disabilities are welcome to

join Hope Haven Pegasus. There are opportunities for both mounted riders and

unmounted horsemanship participants to both train and compete.

What is the "regular" season format?

Our Hope Haven Pegasus team has the opportunity to train year around.

However, the bulk of our training and competitions happens between April and

December. You can join at any time throughout the season that works for you!

Here is what's involved in the SO Equestrian season:

Weekly Lesson(s) - Once per week, athletes will be scheduled into a private or group

                      lesson depending on ability, skill and competition goals.

                      Full Team Events - Mid year, our team will enjoy a special event featuring friendly

competitions and team-building activities. Additional team socials and spirit weeks

                      will be held throughout the year to foster connection, collaboration, and fun.

Competitions - There will be 2 invitational video competitions held throughout the

                       year, one in June and the other in November. More competitive athletes will have

                       opportunities for other dressage video competitions.

What is the cost?

To provide program accessibility for those with intellectual disabilities who wish

to participate, the Special Olympics weekly lesson fee is between $40 and $55

depending on group size. There is no cost to our team event sessions or

competitions at this time as Hope Haven will be seeking donors to offset the

extra costs in order to make this an accessible program.

If you require assistance with funding, contact Hope Haven directly for further

assistance.

How do I register?

Step 1 - Register as a Special Olympics Ontario athlete.

Step 2 - To begin the registration process or discuss program details, please contact

Hope Haven at 519-986-1247.

For more information visit Hope Haven's website, call 519-986-1247, or email our

Head Coach Shannon: sspeer@hopehavencentre.org