Overview
Our Background
Pegasus Project is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Premier Accredited Center, providing therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities to those with special needs and disabilities. Founded in 2003, Pegasus Project began at Snow Mountain Ranch in Cowiche, WA as a pilot project with seven riders with special needs and one instructor. Due to the remarkable benefits observed and the tremendous response from the riders and their families, Pegasus Project continued to expand its therapeutic riding services and now serves an average of forty riders every week.
In 2006, Pegasus Project moved to its new home, Tumbleweed Ranch, in Yakima, WA. Nestled in the foothills of the Washington Cascade Mountains, the beautiful twenty-six acre site has allowed for greater growth and expansion of Pegasus Project services.
Pegasus Project is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, relying heavily on support from the Yakima Valley community in the form of grant support, individual donations, and contributions to annual fundraising events. In addition to generous financial support, volunteer involvement from individuals in the community remains one of the most important areas of support to Pegasus Project.
As Pegasus Project continues to grow and strengthen as a special service organization in the Yakima community, our goal continues to be to provide our riders with a positive, safe, life enriching experience.
Our Mission
To provide quality therapeutic riding and equine related activities to people with special physical and emotional needs to improve their health and well-being.
NARHA Premier Accredited Center
In September, 2008, Pegasus Project participated in a voluntary accreditation process in an effort to achieve the distinction of being a NARHA Premier Accredited Center. After two years of preparation for the accreditation process, Pegasus was successfully granted NARHA Premier Accredited Center status in December 2008.
NARHA, which is headquartered in Denver, CO, is the largest and most recognized organization setting industry standards for equine-assisted activities and therapy programs in the United States, Canada, and abroad. The accreditation process is a peer review system in which trained volunteers visit and review centers in accordance with NARHA standards. A center that meets the accreditation requirements based on the administrative, facility, program, and special interest standards becomes a Premier Accredited Center for a period of five years.
In addition to receiving accreditation for the therapeutic riding program, the hippotherapy program at Pegasus, carried out in conjunction with Children's Village, was accredited as a special interest. The hippotherapy program is conducted by a licensed physical therapist, which utilizes the movement of the horse as a treatment tool.
Pegasus Project is the only NARHA accredited therapeutic riding center in Yakima and the greater Central Washington region. It is also one of only three centers in the state of Washington to bear the title of Premier Accredited Center.