ABOUT STAR
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What We Do
STAR serves children and adults from Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Jefferson, Monroe, McMinn, Roane, Sevier, and surrounding counties. We work with individuals starting at age four to seniors with physical, mental and neurological disabilities or those considered at-risk. In 2015, STAR served 213 individuals with a total of 4,176 hours of Equine Assisted activities. History of STAR STAR began in 1987 as Lynn Petr’s Therapeutic Recreation Master’s thesis project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The program started with five riders, one horse, three volunteers and one employee (Lynn). |
Mounting Block With Lift
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Beginning the program at Lynn’s farm was difficult since the riders who used a wheelchair had to be carried up a hill to the barn. Soon STAR moved to a seven acre farm on Northshore Drive. The program grew on this leased property for four years. When the farm was sold, STAR leased a 13 acre location on Old Stage Road. After seven years that land was sold to developers and STAR moved to a beautiful 25 acre farm on Yarnell Road. As yet another move seemed eminent, the decision was made to purchase property and build a facility that was geared entirely to the needs of the disabled.
In 2002, 63 acres of fantastic pastureland was purchased in Loudon County and the quest began to construct the stable and outdoor arena. Those were completed in 2004 and full operations began that spring. The Education Building was completed in 2007 followed by the Indoor Arena in 2008. We are forever in awe of this location and the phenomenal people who grace our doors every day. A Compost Station was built in 2008 to turn our manure into a viable composted product. To protect our trailers, a shed was built in 2009 to keep our valuable vehicles out of the weather.
Then there were two...
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding has been serving our East Tennessee community for 29 years out of our lovely facility in Loudon County. Then came this email...
“Hey Lynn, Gina here – we are looking to donate our equestrian facility and wondered if you might be interested. I know you have a very nice facility where you are, but I have to ask because we really believe in your organization and how it’s run.”
That email received in early February of this year started things rolling for STAR in a big way. A few short months and many meetings later, STAR had our second location. Now it was always in our strategic plan to have a satellite location so this wasn’t totally radical, it was just, well quick and unexpected. Gina and David Moore have always been gracious to STAR. They donated a wonderful horse, RB about 10 years ago and our three-horse trailer. But they moved away so we never got to spend time together.
While the 47 acre facility was donated, STAR did pay closing costs which were substantial especially on our already tight budget. However, knowing how costly maintenance can be on a farm, Gina gifted us with the contents that remained including tractors and mowers! A double blessing!
The facility consists of a refurbished farm house, a large brick office building (circa 1960’s), 13 stalls that need retrofitting from bull pens to horse stalls, an old barn with a wonderful loft, a substantial round pen, a HUGE covered arena, hay fields and …it is on the lake. Amazing I know.
There is a lot of fixing up to do as well as making the whole place ADA compliant but the template from which we are working is magnificent. The first program to begin out there will be the STRIDES program which is our mental health component. This place is so calm and serene – perfect for breaking through the chaos that can come with life stresses. We cannot begin therapeutic riding until the facility meets accessibility requirements (entrances and bathrooms) but that will come.
The fact that this farm is located in Knox County opens many doors for us enabling partnerships with inner city groups, stronger ties to UT and the ability to reach those in counties farther east. We are excited to get started.
This gift is proof that miracles DO happen! We are so grateful for the faith Gina & David have in us to care for their beloved farm as we reach more individuals who are in need of healing through horses.
As mentioned above there is a lot of fixing up to do, below is a wish list of projects that need to be completed before classes can start in South Knox. Each part has been assessed for cost and we could sure use some help getting it done!
10 Stalls @ $800 per stall (sand, gravel, mats, boards, gates, hooks & latches, packer rental) All Stalls Funded! Thank you!
Ramp & Block ($2,500) pressure treated lumber, hardware and posts Funded!! Thank you!
Arena Dividers ($4,000) lightweight PVC to section off the arena into smaller rings
Bleachers ($3,600) parent and spectator seating, aluminum, movable
ADA Bathroom & Entrance to Building ($32,000) reconfiguring walls and doorways, electronic handicapped doors, heat & air, sink/toilet, concrete, piping, excavation, etc.
Entrance Sign @ Road ($3,000) permanent sign Funded!! Thank you!
Sprinkler System ($4,000) pipe needs repaired, water rerouted from city to well, some pasture spigots installed, pipe and trenching, labor
Weather Mesh ($12,000) screens to enclose the open part of the arena to reduce wind and keep rain out.
In 2002, 63 acres of fantastic pastureland was purchased in Loudon County and the quest began to construct the stable and outdoor arena. Those were completed in 2004 and full operations began that spring. The Education Building was completed in 2007 followed by the Indoor Arena in 2008. We are forever in awe of this location and the phenomenal people who grace our doors every day. A Compost Station was built in 2008 to turn our manure into a viable composted product. To protect our trailers, a shed was built in 2009 to keep our valuable vehicles out of the weather.
Then there were two...
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding has been serving our East Tennessee community for 29 years out of our lovely facility in Loudon County. Then came this email...
“Hey Lynn, Gina here – we are looking to donate our equestrian facility and wondered if you might be interested. I know you have a very nice facility where you are, but I have to ask because we really believe in your organization and how it’s run.”
That email received in early February of this year started things rolling for STAR in a big way. A few short months and many meetings later, STAR had our second location. Now it was always in our strategic plan to have a satellite location so this wasn’t totally radical, it was just, well quick and unexpected. Gina and David Moore have always been gracious to STAR. They donated a wonderful horse, RB about 10 years ago and our three-horse trailer. But they moved away so we never got to spend time together.
While the 47 acre facility was donated, STAR did pay closing costs which were substantial especially on our already tight budget. However, knowing how costly maintenance can be on a farm, Gina gifted us with the contents that remained including tractors and mowers! A double blessing!
The facility consists of a refurbished farm house, a large brick office building (circa 1960’s), 13 stalls that need retrofitting from bull pens to horse stalls, an old barn with a wonderful loft, a substantial round pen, a HUGE covered arena, hay fields and …it is on the lake. Amazing I know.
There is a lot of fixing up to do as well as making the whole place ADA compliant but the template from which we are working is magnificent. The first program to begin out there will be the STRIDES program which is our mental health component. This place is so calm and serene – perfect for breaking through the chaos that can come with life stresses. We cannot begin therapeutic riding until the facility meets accessibility requirements (entrances and bathrooms) but that will come.
The fact that this farm is located in Knox County opens many doors for us enabling partnerships with inner city groups, stronger ties to UT and the ability to reach those in counties farther east. We are excited to get started.
This gift is proof that miracles DO happen! We are so grateful for the faith Gina & David have in us to care for their beloved farm as we reach more individuals who are in need of healing through horses.
As mentioned above there is a lot of fixing up to do, below is a wish list of projects that need to be completed before classes can start in South Knox. Each part has been assessed for cost and we could sure use some help getting it done!
10 Stalls @ $800 per stall (sand, gravel, mats, boards, gates, hooks & latches, packer rental) All Stalls Funded! Thank you!
Ramp & Block ($2,500) pressure treated lumber, hardware and posts Funded!! Thank you!
Arena Dividers ($4,000) lightweight PVC to section off the arena into smaller rings
Bleachers ($3,600) parent and spectator seating, aluminum, movable
ADA Bathroom & Entrance to Building ($32,000) reconfiguring walls and doorways, electronic handicapped doors, heat & air, sink/toilet, concrete, piping, excavation, etc.
Entrance Sign @ Road ($3,000) permanent sign Funded!! Thank you!
Sprinkler System ($4,000) pipe needs repaired, water rerouted from city to well, some pasture spigots installed, pipe and trenching, labor
Weather Mesh ($12,000) screens to enclose the open part of the arena to reduce wind and keep rain out.
