EQUUS Foundation

MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Pegasus Therapeutic Riding enhances the lives of individuals who have disabilities and challenges through equine-assisted activities and education.

Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic Mounted Services
    Therapeutic Unmounted Services

8: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Pegasus Farm

     1. Claudia Spinelli

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Registered Instructor

2. Diane Maudsley

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Registered Instructor

3. Elizabeth Fortes

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor

4. Judy Halden

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

5. Krista Morris

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Registered Instructor

6. Rosani Ortiz

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

7. Sophia Rosenbloom

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Registered Instructor

8. Suzy Angier

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Pegasus Farm

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Pegasus currently offers two programs for people with special needs: therapeutic horseback riding and a therapeutic horsemanship program.

     Therapeutic riding lessons include instruction in basic equestrian skills as well as opportunities for social interaction, recreation, sport, therapy, and work with basic developmental concepts.

     Unmounted sessions take place in the barn and/or arena. Participant’s progress through sequenced activities adapted to their abilities. Sessions may include ground training, equine first aid, grooming, identifying parts of the horse, and how to tack up and lead a horse.

     Equine-assisted activities and therapies are an internationally recognized treatment approach to a wide range of cognitive, sensory and physical disabilities. Pegasus is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center, meeting the highest industry standards for EAAT programs.

     1. Therapeutic Riding:
     Therapeutic riding benefits come from the transfer of movement from horse to rider. Lessons include instruction in basic riding skills, and opportunities for social interaction, recreation, and work with basic developmental concepts. Activities exercise mind and muscle and have produced improved mobility, balance, posture, coordination, language development, behavior control and concentration, all skills required in our students’ daily lives.
     Sessions are offered quarterly for periods of 6-10 weeks. Sessions are 45 minutes in length, and participants typically have one class per week during each session. Our instructor-to-student ratio is a maximum of 2:5, so that students receive high-quality instructor time. In addition, each student is matched to a horse of appropriate size and movement type, so that best results are achieved. Finally, students are each assigned a leader and up to two side walkers for the lesson – representing some of the 300 volunteers who work with our program.

     Instructors are all required to be PATH-certified, and our staff includes instructors with OT and PT professional skills.

     2) In addition to riding sessions, Pegasus offers students the opportunity to participate in non-riding activities that still incorporate therapeutic human-horse interaction. Lessons are adapted to the students’ abilities and can include ground training, equine nutrition, grooming, comparing riding disciplines, basic equine anatomy, and learning how to tack up and lead a horse.


     Physical: Grooming incorporates large muscle groups as well as fine motor skills. The student is constantly stretching, bending and reaching, which requires balance and coordination.

     Social/Relationships: Students have the chance to work together and help one another. They also have the opportunity to develop relationships with the volunteers, the instructors and the horses they care for.

     Routine/Sequencing/Responsibility: Grooming has a specific order to it, which brings routine and sequencing into play. In addition, each student's work has a direct impact on the horse's health and well-being; with that comes a sense of responsibility and pride.
     Finally, when the student has finished grooming his or her horse, the work is reviewed, creating a standard the student should strive to achieve.

     Reflection: At the end of each session, students self-assess their performance, identifying their strengths and opportunities for improvement.

     Awareness/Focus: Horses talk to us with body language. Learning to listen to a horse's body language is, in large part, what keeps us safe around these powerful animals. Horses & Me students learn to be focused, present and "in the moment" when working with horses.

     Calming: Horses respond favorably to a slow, quiet demeanor and a soft voice. As students become calmer and more soothing, they begin to notice the positive effect their behavior has on their horse.

     Confidence/Empowerment: The development of the horse/human bond assists students in gaining respect, trust, and leadership skills. Each success empowers them and builds self-esteem, which motivates them to try new things and take an active role in their own education.

Community Outreach and/or Public Education:

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Inspired by our highly successful partnerships with organizations serving disadvantaged youth, Pegasus has fostered new relationships with agencies that work with foster children, trauma survivors, adults with developmental disabilities, and other individuals at risk.

     These programs are both highly customizable and scalable based on the agency’s resources. Sessions are taught by PATH-certified therapeutic riding instructors in collaboration with staff from the partner agency.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine.

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered.

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation
    Lease
    Return

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner
    Auction
    Kill pen/Feedlot
    Surrender
    Seizure
    Abandonment

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.

Not Checked:
If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations
A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival attesting to the health status of the equine is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    Equines are on trial for 60 or more days
    During the trial period, the organization accepts financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care, up to a fixed amount agreed upon by the organization and the owner

Not Checked:
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are not taken on trial
    Equines are on trial for up to 30 days
    Equines are on trial up to 60 days
    The trial period may be reduced based on the equine's progress
    During the trial period, the organization accepts total financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care
    During the trial period, the owner/donor is financially responsible for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care
    The trial period may be terminated by either the organization or the owner for any reason

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming

Not Checked:
    Physical examination by a veterinarian upon arrival and/or prior to quarantine departure
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip
    The equine is microchipped if the scan indicates that there is no microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

Not Checked:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine off-site for a prescribed period of time
The equine is not quarantined

The typical length of quarantine is:   20 to 30 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Not Checked:
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Jumping
    Driving (Pulling a carriage)
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually

Not Checked:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records
    Photographs are taken of each equine annually and kept with the equine's health records
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding): As needed; no set schedule

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

Not Checked:
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, breeds equines
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, are permitted to house stallions

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization will never have a healthy equine euthanized under any circumstances
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility

Not Checked:
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
Veterinarian
A certified euthanasia technician

Not Checked:
    Senior staff with appropriate training
    Employee of animal control shelter or humane society with appropriate training
    Veterinary student under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
    Not applicable. Our organization prohibits euthanasia under any circumstances

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
Potential adopters/purchasers must visit our organization and be observed with the equine on site
Our organization conducts a site visit of the adopter/purchaser's facility before the transfer of the equine to the adopter/purchaser's facility

Not Checked:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner
    Our organization does NOT re-home an equine to first time equine owners
    Our organization will only re-home an equine to a location where another equine resides
    The distance of a potential adopter/purchaser's home from our facility is a consideration for when re-homing an equine
    Potential adopters/purchasers are encouraged to do a short-term, on-site foster with the equine
    Adopters/purchasers are NOT required to provide updates

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.

Not Checked:
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must be notified of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines CANNOT be sold, adopted, transferred, auctioned, released, given away, or otherwise placed into the possession of another individual or organization under any circumstances.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must grant approval of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization, including being provided written notification of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that the terms of our organization's agreement will be binding on any future individual or organization taking and/or in possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines cannot be bred
    The agreement states that if there is any breach of contract the equine must be returned to our organization
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make unannounced visits
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make scheduled visits
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization free of charge
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization for a fee
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for one year
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for two years
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for three or more years
    None of the statements are included.
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.
    Our organization does not have the authority to transfer ownership and/or does not own any of the equines involved with our programs.

Our organization requires references from the following:
    Veterinarian
    Farrier
    Personal/Other

Not Checked:
Not applicable or no references required.

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
Not applicable; None received

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    Equines may be returned to their owners

Not Checked:
    Equines may remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be sent to auction
    In the case an equine is unmanageable and demonstrates repeated dangerous behaviors, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    If a suitable home cannot be located within 12 months, the equine may be euthanized
    If a suitable home cannot be located, and space is not available for the equine to remain at the organization, the organization will secure a suitable home for the equine and accept financial responsibility for the lifetime of the equine