Our History

In 1978, Jeanne and Syd Greenberg founded SARI Therapeutic Riding in memory of their daughter.

Sari Greenberg was born with Down Syndrome at a time when few people knew how to cope with it. Jeanne was told to hide Sari in a foster home and tell people she died so the family wouldn’t have to deal with her disability. Instead, the Greenbergs brought their daughter home. They found that she loved the time spent with farm animals. So after Sari’s sudden death at age 15, they devoted themselves to helping other children like her develop a special relationship with horses.

Over the years since then, understanding of and demand for therapeutic riding has grown. Thousands of children and adults with special needs have received the therapeutic, recreational and educational benefits of therapeutic riding at SARI.

SARI was one of the first therapeutic riding centres to open in Canada. The Greenbergs donated the property and the original barn. Within a few years, SARI had a new indoor arena, offices and a viewing lounge where parents could sit in comfort and provide support for each other, while their children rode.

By early 2000, SARI had reached capacity, both in physical space and the number of clients being served due to the physical limitations of the facility. The five staff members shared limited office space and there was little room for volunteers and private assessments of prospective participants.

Now, thanks to a successful $1 million capital campaign, SARI has new stables, a new viewing area/lounge and offices. Exterior fencing and landscaping was also completed in 2010.

Jeanne is still a very active member of SARI’s Board of Directors and a leading force in its fundraising efforts.

SARI now has weekly therapeutic riding lessons. It also has a summer camp that integrates children with and without special needs for an adventure with horses. SARI has a strong board of directors and staff, CanTRA certified instructors, over 200 volunteers and 13 horses who make the programs possible.