STAMFORD – The Pegasus Therapeutic Riding program, based in Stamford, has embarked on its annual fundraising drive to continue to offer programs to mentally- and physically-challenged equestrians.

As a result of past help, Pegasus was able to increase its number of rides 9% - from 2,681 to 2,928. Pegasus was also able to train its physical therapist and therapy horses in long line hippotherapy; award ribbons to 74 riders at the 20th annual Pegasus Horse Show; bring 810 riders and family members to the 8th Big Apple Circus Benefit; and offer financial aid to one out of every three riders.

According to Pegasus president, William Taggert, “It is important to remember that Pegasus does not function in isolation – we are part of a larger community. Keeping that in mind, this fall we chose to include as the beneficiary of a significant portion of our Big Apple Circus Benefit silent auction proceeds to the New York WTC Police and Fire Widows’ Children’s Benefit Fund.”

Pegasus Therapeutic Riding was founded in 1975 at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien, Connecticut by a group of volunteers who were determined to bring the benefits and joys of horseback riding to the disabled of their community. Since then, Pegasus has grown to become one of the largest and most highly regarded therapeutic riding programs in the United States, servicing some 200 students each year in programs scattered at ten sites throughout Fairfield, CT and Westchester, NY counties.

The Pegasus program runs at horse barns in Connecticut and New York and with horses donated for a few hours every week by the barn owners. Volunteer assistants to our professional physical therapists provide riding therapy to students with such physical and mental disabilities as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, blindness, and Downs Syndrome, as well as learning and other developmental problems. Students range in age from two to 70.

To offer you help, call 1-203-356-9504.