Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped

Lori Sarner, President, volunteered at Pegasus in 1986 and because of her background in Equine Therapy helped fund and then grow the organization into what it is today. Lori spent her first 10 years from 1986 to 1996 perfecting the program and educating the medical community on the merits of equine therapy. She grew the program slowly during that time before expanding the organization. In March of 2013 Lori Sarner was Honored with special woman of the year honors by the Riverside County Commission for Women and the Board of Supervisors. See Article.

Lori has worked with an Equine Therapy group in England, that met on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, whose major patroness was Princess Anne. Lori also worked with some of the Queens Horses. Her commitment, love and passion for special needs individuals and horses have helped Pegasus riders soar beyond limitations.

Pegasus started with only a couple of horses and four riders. We now have a stable of 12-14 therapy horses, over 120 volunteers, and over 175 active riders coming weekly to our facility, off of Cook Street.

Our riders come from all three of the Coachella Valley's Unified School Districts severely Multiple Handicapped and M/M classes. Pegasus provides the buses that transport these riders to the Riding Academy. Some of our riders are from Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation, Palm Springs Stroke Recovery Center, Desert Arc, The Braille Institute and others are referred from the United Cerebral Palsy Association, Autism Association, and ACT for MS, The Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, Private Physicians, and physical therapists.

Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped© is a NON-PROFIT organization. We do not receive Federal government funding...the only government funding we receive is via those Coachella Valley Cities that offer a community grant program. We are governed by a Board of Directors and supported by a diverse group of professionals that are dedicated to our mission. Your tax deductable contribution can help!

At Pegasus we know...
The secret of success is to try,
The secret of love is to love,
The secret of life is to live.

Lori Sarner
President, Instructor

Click here to read more about Lori in the May 2012 issue of Desert Magazine.

Your donation will help provide a much needed arena roof, exercise and game equipment to help stimulate and motivate the children and adults.

"You can make a difference."

DIRECTORS
Lori Sarner Chase Berke Penny Carpenter	Carl K. Osborne, Esq. Larry Patton Karen Renberg Dick Shalhoub	Peter Solomon Timothy Vail, D.V.M. Dick James Cinthia Gosselin

DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Chuck Hodges

OFFICERS
Lori Sarner - President Karen Renberg - Vice President Operations Karen Renberg - Secretary	Chase Berke - Vice President Equine Therapy Program Legal Counsel - Carl K Osborne, Esq. Treasurer - Cinthia Gosselin

ADVISORY BOARD
Chris Brady CEO and Owner, Animated Media Technology Advisor Lisa Brady President and Co-Owner, Animated Media Social Media/Grants Advisor Sandy Cox, MFT LSP Child & Adult Stroke Rehab. Sheryl Singer Deeds, Ed.Psy. Counselor Alicia Gomez West Region Operations	Jay Forgeron, RPT Fr. Andrew Green Church of St. Paul in the Desert Episcopal Gloria Greer Founder, ACT for MS I. Annali Hanna, M.D. Psychiatry DeAnn Lubell PR Director, Angelview Crippled Children Betty J. Ludwick, M.A., Ed C.S.C., R.I.D. Certified Deaf Services Specialist J. Alex Gomez Entravision Communications	Janet Newcomb, MBA Marketing/Public Relations Allison Przekop, D.O. Child Neurology, Loma Linda, Director Pediatrics Movement Clinic Robert D. Wilmeth, Jr., CPA Abel, Krieger & Wilmeth Ellie Weiner High School Volunteer Program Administrator Yermolai Simmons Producer / Editor

STAFF AND CONSULTANTS
Robin Montgomery Albeth Paris Grass PR Consultant	Virginia Davis Stable Manager Cheri Radley SRC Coordinator

VOLUNTEER RIDING INSTRUCTORS
Christie Arban Chase Berke	Geoff Binney Pete Peterson Larry Patton	Lori Sarner Manny Valencia

PHOTOGRAPHY
Loretta Vlach Bobby Turner	Geoff Binney Maile Klein

35-450 B Pegasus Court, Palm Desert, CA, 92211
(760) 772-3057

View Larger Map

Directions:
~ 10 Freeway, Exit Cook Street
~ North on Cook Street
~ Cross Varner Road
~ Chase School Road turn right
~ Drive straight into Pegasus Ranch
~ Paved street turns into dirt road to Pegasus

CHAMPAGNE	ROCKET	PAYDAY
COCOA	SMOKEY	ZIA
SASSY	BULLET	DOLLY
GENERAL	SHORTY	DILLON

Our horses are donated or rescued, they provide an important service to our special needs clients. Our Stable of horses carry on the age old tradition of serving mankind.

The horses go through extensive and constant training to ensure they are qualified for the theraputic program. All horses are evaluated before they are accepted into the program. Each week from October through May they carry riders through a series of exercises, routines and challenges designed to improve their well being and self esteem while having fun. This is no small order for a horse, but their sensitivity and extraordinary patience is evident when a rider is mounted on a horse.

Your donation will help provide a much needed COVER / ROOF for the arena.

"You can make a difference."