"The Greener Pastures Program at Mission Bay has been fantastic for my autistic daughter.

I found it very difficult to find a program my daughter could participate in.  Greener Pastures has been amazing!

Because Sonya and the volunteers have been so wonderful and kind, my daughter is really interacting with people more.  She has also begun to play games with other kids.  Before, she preferred playing on the computer or just watching videos over and over.  Greener Pastures has helped spark her interest in people and helped her make gains in language.

Since participating, she has become more verbal,
made social gains, and learned recreational skills. 
Best of all, she is having lots of fun!

Sonya, the volunteers, everyone... is wonderful. 
I am so glad this program is here."

Signed
Mother of a child with autism

"I have always had a love for horses and had long dreamt of learning to ride properly.  At first I felt a little self-conscious being a 40 year old woman just learning to ride; but Sonya immediately put me at ease.  Her friendliness and easy disposition, as well as her professionalism and knowledge, made for a strong bond right away.  I was also impressed with the high quality riding facility she has built.  It is truly first class.  I'm now thinking about purchasing my own horse, who will of course become a member of the Mission Bay equine family!"

Sara Harvell

Mission Bay Equestrian Center is one of the best barns
I have ever been to. 

I love coming out here to volunteer for Sonya (the owner of the barn). It is so much fun to be able to do what I do with the horses. Before Sonya let the volunteers do anything with them, she made us come out one day for 8 hours to teach us about horses. This was a training day. About a month later we volunteered at a horse camp she had, and ever since, I've been volunteering for her in whatever she needs volunteers for.  I have been volunteering out here at the barn for about a year now, and in that year the other volunteers and I have volunteered for pony parties, horse camps, and other things. Sonya doesn't pay us for any of this because we don't let her; that is not the point of going out there and doing this for her, it's because we love being with the horses and being out there. So Sonya treats us to fun things, like she takes us on trail rides, she lets us have sleepovers at the barn, she lets us come out whenever she's there, and she lets us ride. Sonya does this for us because she wants us to know how thankful she is for us doing this for her, because she knows without her volunteers she can't do as much as she wants to, and I love doing it for her so we have no problem helping her out. At first Sonya was like a boss, she says to do something we do it. But now she's like a big sister to all of us, and yes we still respect her, now we just pick on her a lot. Well that is the end of my story. We want you to know Sonya that We Love You.

 

By Jackie Pickett