The ARA Foundation, Toro Partner to Build Sensory Riding Path for Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Langley, B.C.
The American Rental Association Foundation, in partnership with The Toro Company Foundation, completed a community impact project in Langley, British Columbia, Canada to benefit Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities (PRDA). PRDA is a not-for-profit, therapeutic equestrian riding center dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with a wide range of abilities.
On September 6 and September 7, volunteers from all three organizations worked together to improve two indoor riding arenas, create a sensory riding path — a key new component to the therapy program -- and trench in the paddock area to provide an electrical conduit so the electrical cords are underground, improving safety for staff and volunteers.
“It was wonderful to see rental members donating equipment and their time to improve the facilities at PRDA,” said Judson McNeil, ARA Foundation director of programs and fundraising. “Each project had a significant impact on enhancing the quality of the experience for the individuals served and gave ARA members networking opportunities and a chance to gain new skills while giving back to the community.”
To complete the work at PRDA, more than 30 volunteers from ARA, The Toro Company Foundation and PRDA staff moved 1,800 pounds of arena footing material and resurfaced the two riding areas, over a two-day period. Others painted the extensive baseboards and created the sensory path. All projects required the use of different equipment provided by local rental stores.
“We are beyond grateful for the generous support from ARA and The Toro Company Foundation for the significant impact they have made in support of PRDA riders,” said Erin Julihn, PRDA director of operations. “Each of the completed projects significantly supports the therapeutic riding experience of PRDA riders, empowering the PRDA staff and volunteers to best serve each one's individual needs.”
The PRDA project is the second Community Impact project the ARA Foundation has completed in partnership with The Toro Company Foundation in 2023. The next project is planned for September 27 in Bigfork, Mont.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.