Brief History

Pegasus Farm in Hartville, Ohio was established 1985 by three teachers of orthopedically handicapped children in the Canton (Ohio) City Schools, who envisioned more for their students than just a lifetime in front of a television. Their goal was to establish an equestrian center that could offer children with disabilities the opportunity for physical activity and recreation.

Pegasus opened in the spring of 1986 with ‘five riders, two horses and one back yard.” By the second year of operation, more than 70 riders were enrolled. A nine-stall barn was constructed solely from donations of materials and labor by community members. At that time all of the horses were donated as were a variety of other goods and services, including tack, feed, and riding helmets. As a result of this early effort, Pegasus Farm became one of the first facilities to be accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) in its first year of operation.

In 2006, its twentieth anniversary year, Pegasus Farm served more than 600 children, youth and adults with a wide range of physical, emotional, behavioral and mental disabilities. Our participants reside in eight counties throughout northeast Ohio. Currently, on a weekly basis we serve more than 238 participants. From 2005 to 2006, the number of participants in our therapeutic programs increased 44% as the organization welcomed a new executive director and new board members.