Meet Allie Sarnataro | Program Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allie Sarnataro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center was created with the family unit in mind. We had wanted an organization that was low key, safe, fun and was a place where the entire family could come and enjoy. Not just the students who were riding in our program. Upon starting we set our core values and mission into place right away. Reminding each other it is about the students and the horses. We had been to many other centers in the past and knew some things we wanted to change or do differently.

What should our readers know about your business?
Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) member center that teaches recreational riding to children and adults of all ages with special needs. The idea behind Ride Above was to create a place where the entire family unit could come and feel welcome, relax and enjoy their time at the ranch. While special needs riders are our focus, we also teach siblings and parents who are interested, which gives our families an activity they can share together. Ride Above is a place for family and community, not just for our students but our volunteers and instructors as well. Everyone at Ride Above is committed to changing lives for the better, no matter who you are. We look at every person that is involved and see ability. With a dedicated staff, Ride Above Disability strives to make a difference in the lives of our riders as well as the community of San Diego. Each rider gets an individualized lesson weekly that is tailored to their needs and goals. For some this is working on verbal communication (we’ve had clients whose first words were spoken while on the back of a horse), while others build the core strength they need to be able to walk without a wheelchair or walker, and finally some are really expanding their riding skills and going to local competitions.

We serve students age 4 to 102 with physical, emotional, social, and behavioral disabilities. Some examples of the disabilities we work with are ADD/ADHD, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cognitive defects, autism spectrum, amputations, cerebral palsy, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing, vision and speech impairments, the list goes on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the city of San Diego so as a transplant myself I am happy to share all the best spots! San Diego Zoo and Balboa park, Gaslamp District and Seaport Village, La Jolla shores, Little Italy, Farmers Markets, Street fairs, Oktober fest. Drink at Raised by Wolves, Eat at Coasterra or C-level.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Katie Cram and Wayne Jackson are co-founders of Ride Above Disability along with myself.

Website: radtrc.org

Instagram: @rad_therapeutic_riding

Facebook: www.facebook.com/radtrc