By Kim J. Harmon

STAMFORD – In this season of giving, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding has made a plea to those people willing to help those less fortunate. Pegasus provides therapeutic riding lessons to mentally- and physically-handicapped riders throughout the state of Connecticut but needs the generous support of donors to make the programs possible.

Thanks to generous support in the past, Pegasus has continued to make progress in every aspect of its operations. All of the programs are running at full capacity, with the center at Ox Ridge Hunt Club having expanded to six programs over five days.

During the past year, Pegasus has been able to accommodate 55 riders from its waiting list, reducing that list by almost 30%; offer therapeutic riding during prime time hours, including weekends; add four more days of therapeutic riding to the schedule; manage and train its own horses, enabling it to create better matches between horse and rider.

“We have significantly decreased the number of disabled individuals waiting to ride,” said president Elizabeth Braun, “but we still have a long way to go. During this time, Pegasus needs your support more than ever.”

That’s because the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, the organization which oversees the certification of professional staff and the accreditation of all programs, frequently updates and expands its requirements. Since the field of therapeutic riding is gaining more and more acceptance and medical recognition, staff members are required to also expand their training and that requires money.

“For the past 25 years,” said Ms Braun, “we have enthusiastically embraced the challenges before us. As a result of our continued effort, Pegasus remains in the forefront of therapeutic riding worldwide. To sustain this extraordinary accomplishment, we need your financial help.”

Connecticut riding programs during the 1999-2000 year will be run at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien; Kelsey Farm in Greenwich; the New Canaan Mounted Troop grounds in New Canaan; Corgi Hollow Farm in Newtown; Laurel Ridge Farm in Roxbury; and Lion Hill Farm in Easton.

New York riding programs during the 1999-2000 year will be run at Coker Farm in Bedford; Pendleton Farm in North Salem; and Fox Hill Farms in Pleasantville.

Now, Pegasus is working towards building a central facility of its own and it will all become possible with help from everyone.

Pegasus is seeking donations as high as $100,000, but also has other levels of sponsorship such as $5,000 (purchases a special therapy horse for the program, which reduces the waiting list), $1,000 (sponsors a full session of lessons designed to meet the rider’s specific needs), $500 (provides a special therapist for each lesson), $100 (purchases much needed equipment such as saddles, bridles, halters and surcingles), and $50 (provides protective head gear and other equipment for the riders).

Can you help? All contributions are tax deductible.

Call 1-203-356-9504 for further information or write to Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc., 45 Church Street, Suite 205, Stamford CT, 06906.