We were lucky to catch up with Allie Sarnataro recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Allie, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I think about this all the time. I love running my own business with co-founders and being my own boss. Prior to running Ride Above Disability I had several jobs as a regular employee. I liked them all but now have to say I love running a nonprofit. It is not always easy and it seems you are always working but if you do something you love you don’t work a day in your life. I believe that saying is true!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Allie Sarnataro, I am the Executive Director of Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center. We are a nonprofit organization teaching children and adults with disabilities how to horseback ride as a form of therapy. I started in the industry as a volunteer actually. I was a volunteer for 8 years at a similar organization in New Jersey. I loved it so much I knew I wanted this to be my career one day. I was content at the time volunteering as I loved working with the riders and horses while going to school. When I moved out to San Diego, I started the journey to become a certified instructor and did that for many years. I continued teaching and worked my way up becoming a Program Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator and then Program and Volunteer Director. Now I am excited to say I am the Executive Director for RAD. It is totally out of my comfort zone but I am enjoying learning something new and pushing myself to lead and try new things.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what helped build our reputation to start, was myself and the two other co-founders Katie Cram and Wayne Jackson had a ton or horse experience and experience within therapeutic riding for many years. When we started we all had our areas of strength that helped build the business. Katie was the expert in horse management and equine standards. Wayne set up and helped with all of the business ends of things and was good at public speaking and promoting RAD. I did all the admin and organizational back end of coordinating. From there we strove to be the best in the industry and have standards for all our horses, instructors, students and volunteers. We had experience in other centers so we knew what he wanted to strive for and how to make this one of the best centers in San Diego.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Katie and I met at another therapeutic riding center in San Diego. She was an instructor there already and I started volunteering. Eventually I started working there as well and we became friends who shared a love for the horses and teaching therapy lessons. Wayne eventually started volunteering at the place we both worked and he was a steady volunteer for many years. We all went to another therapeutic riding center together and then in 2014 started this business venture together!

Contact Info:

• Website: radtrc.org
• Instagram: @rad_therapeutic_riding
• Facebook: facebook.com/radtrc
• Youtube: @rideabovedisability
• Other: TikTok: @ride_above_disability

Image Credits
Jennifer Wingrove Curry