About Us

Equi*Star Therapeutic Horseback Riding

About Us

Our Barn

Our main barn houses 6 of our 13 horses and two ponies. It has an attached indoor riding arena that is used when there is a need to be indoors.

Our Staff

Certified Equi*star Instructors

Mariam Smith- Not only is she our Executive Director and our Founder but she is also a very dedicated Instructor. Miriam was an avid equestrain for much of her life, and while taking human services courses in college she became interested in therapeutic horseback riding. Her vision was to share the thrill of horseback riding with people that would not be able to experiance it on their own. She started with one horse, a handful of volunteers and a few riders and in the past ten years, Equi*Star has become a very successful organization and has helped hundreds of people with disabilites benefit from therapeutic riding.

Jeff Zdrojewski

Carrie Brittin

Eilene Sarratori

Carrie Truesdale

Sandy Klinger

All of our instructors attend classes and meetings, pass a written test and must be current in first aid and CPR. They must have an understanding of various disabilites and have a great deal of horse experience.

Instructors in training

Janice Chapman– Janice has had her own horses for many years. She has been instrumental in teaching her children and grandchildren to ride and show. Now Janice is sharing her experience and expertise with everyone here at The Ranch. She loves working one-on-one with the independent riders. Janice has a wealth of knowledge and a caring heart. Besides the fact she is training hard to become an instructor, Janice is our Volunteer Coordinator. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Janice @ 716-772-2156.

Peggy Sue Shiesley

Our Location

Equi*Star Therapeutic Riding Center

Equi*Star is located 9 miles North of Lockport N.Y.

Follow Route 78 to Newfane. At the traffic light turn right on Charlottleville Road. Drive 1.5 miles, just over the railroad tracks and turn left on Fuller Road. The ranch is about 1 miles down on the right just after Drake Settlement Road.