This is one in a series of special 91原创 Advance Times stories about what to expect at this year鈥檚 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In, happen Saturday, Sept. 9 in Aldergrove. You can also check out this series in our special keepsake edition hitting the streets on Thursday and available in limited quantity at the car show.

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Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association is saddling up for its fall season, in part by helping out with this Saturday鈥檚 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In.

Participation in the huge charity car show in Aldergrove this weekend offers great exposure for the local equestrian organization, said operations manager Carla Robin. It also gives VTEA a way of giving back to a group that has been there for them for years.

VTEA is one of the longest standing charities of choice for Cruise-In, receiving thousands of dollars each and every year from one of North America鈥檚 largest charity car events.

鈥淭he 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In has been a longtime supporter of Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association, and we are extremely grateful for their support. It helps us to provide the valuable services we have provided to our community for the past 40 years,鈥� said Robin, who joined the VTEA team two years ago as a volunteer coordinator, and more recently took on the role as manager of operations.

She recognizes the critical role Cruise-In has played in keeping the lights on for their Aldergrove-based charity, which provides medically approved therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, and counselling treatments for children and adults, alike.

鈥淥ur goal is to enhance our riders鈥� quality of life by improving their physical, mental, and emotional well-being with the help of our empathetic and gentle horses,鈥� said Robin.

And, she acknowledged that Cruise-In has been imperative to achieving that goal for them, as well as several other local charities 鈥� ones that don鈥檛 typically received government grants or large community donations.

鈥淭he Cruise-In is a great ambassador event for 91原创,鈥� Robin said, noting she and the team will be out Saturday, happy to help ensure the Cruise-In is enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors.

鈥淲e start at 5 a.m. in the morning,鈥� said Robin. 鈥淲e man the barricade gates that they put us at until 6 p.m.鈥�

While VTEA kicks into fall mode, it has just finished up summer camps.

鈥淲e had one (camp) in July and we (had) one in August where we go out to the community, and鈥� we invite kids of all abilities to come in and enjoy and learn what we do here at Valley,鈥� Robin explained.

She鈥檚 happy that kids in the 91原创 community, aged nine to 15, were able to see these 鈥減retty special horses, specifically selected and re-trained so that they can assist with the various types of therapeutic riding that we offer here.鈥�

鈥淭hey鈥檙e gentle, they鈥檙e kind, and they鈥檙e great ambassadors for what we do,鈥� Robin said of the VTEA horses.

Aside from getting ready for Cruise-In and the fall session, which got underway this week, Robin said that Valley will also be offering a mentorship clinic for people interested in working at the association.

鈥淵ou have to essentially really love helping people and like working with horses,鈥� she said of perspective volunteers.

For more information about Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association 鈥� its services, its people, or upcoming events, people can visit the .

READ MORE - CRUISE-IN 2023: Charities 鈥榖eyond grateful鈥� for 91原创鈥檚 huge car show

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