If you look into the chambers of your heart I’d bet most folks hold a special one for children. In that space we have all set aside an area for those who need a little special help to overcome. So if that describes you know Lisa and staff are doing Gods work on earth, for those children, their supportive families and friends and they extend their special gifts to our Country’s military hero’s and Gold Star families who share in the ultimate sacrifice. You don’t understand this kind of love unless you visit the farm or the Web site and see the videos - yeah they know how to have fun as well
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I’ve always believed in miracles just never witnessed one first hand. I was blessed to get to know the Somoano’s when our Son was playing little league We sat in the bleachers together on many occasions. Their daughter Brianna was always so full of smiles and loved to watch her brothers play. It was easy to see the strength in her although she was confined to a wheelchair. It just so happens we had met another wonderful family at our Church - Chuck and Gina Savko. As you get to know folks conversations turn to talking about the “kids” - enter Lisa and Laura their daughters. One day Chuck invites my wife Cyndi and I To a small fund raiser - low and behold Jack and Kathy Somoano and Brianna were there. Well Lisa as it turned out was Briannas Therapist at Emerald M. There have been many stories since that night seems so long ago - but with so many blessings in my life I can now add seeing a miracle before my eyes! The love and dedication of so many volunteers and the support from families who visit, work with, and depend on Lisa and the Emerald M have provided me with that opportunity over and over. One that will always be extra special is to see how this young lady has grown and reached milestone after milestone with her own strength, the love of Jack Kathy and the rest of their family, and some special help from Lisa and the farm. I hope and pray the list of miracles continues to grow every year!
To two special ladies that I have had the pleasure of crossing paths with - Love you Lisa and Brianna -
Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center Inc. is truly a rare gem in the world of nonprofit organizations. I know about it for I personally know Lisa, and her parents and sister.
Even before the program became fruition, there was heart in Lisa’s mission. Throughout the duration the program has existed, the program has continued to possess a genuine heart and soul, due large in part to Lisa’s heart and soul. What she first imagined and built has now become a shared vision and culture through the support of her family, staff, clients, and clients’ families. Its contagiousness is incredible. For those of us who are not actively involved in the day-to-dayness of the program, when you see or hear the success stories that are shared, how can your heart not be touched and moved, more so want to do what you are able to do so the program can continue its cause.
If you are not familiar with the program, learn more about it, and join all the rest of us who so believe in what it is able to do.
The past few years I have had the privilege to meet some of the families who use the services of Emerald M. I have heard so many heart wrenching testimonies oh how being a part of the Emerald M experiences has changed their lives. I am in awe of the wonderful, loving and caring people who work there. To watch this grow from a small organization to the beautiful farm it is today has touched my heart. Thanks to Lisa and her dream so many lives have been touched.
I have supported Emerald M for several years now and have learned through fund-raisers and other events the fabulous work they do for the adults and children who utilize their programs. We, in the Tampa Bay, are very fortunate to have an organization of this caliber in our area. I intend to proudly continue my support of the organization for the life-changing work Emerald M does.
I see daily the miracles that take place with the staff and the horses connecting with the children and adults. The staff give their undivided attention to everyone attending. Emerald M is a very peaceful, serene atmosphere to everyone who visits the facility.
Emerald M is an amazing organization that I have seen wonderful results from, especially regarding my son and I also volunteer as the website manager. You can see and feel the miracles that happen everyday at Emerald M!
Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center has provided such a safe environment for those who truly need assistance that traditional therapy and medicine cannot provide. The staff is very professional, knowledgeable and above all caring. I would recommend Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center without reservation.
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We have had the pleasure of being involved with Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center for the last few years. It provides such a unique environment for a wide variety of clients. Watching lives being changed through the work done at the farm is both encouraging and motivating. Knowing there are people who still genuinely want to pour into others is a good reminder that it truly "takes a village." The hearts behind those serving here are genuine and completely committed to providing the best experience for each client. I would recommend Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center without reservation!
Emerald M is the best in the area! They provide a safe and inviting space to address the special needs of their clients and families. Their staff is educated and trained to provide the safest and most effective treatments and have fun doing it! I am always happy to refer my patients to them for Physical Therapy using Hippotherapy when clinical PT isn't enough. I've witnessed great improvements in these patients and I am so grateful that they can benefit from this alternative form of PT.
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Miracles happen here! The facility, staff(horses included), and volunteers are beyond incredible! So grateful to be a part of Emerald M!
This nonprofit is simply amazing and the staff is truly exceptional.
So much time and effort is spent on children with disabilities, veterans suffering from PTSD, individuals dealing with terminal cancer, as well as foster children.
The founder, Lisa Savko Michelangelo, far exceeds expectations!
Emerald M and their entire staff have a true passion and experience to make a significant impact in the lives of the children and adults they serve. Everyone becomes a significant part of the Emerald M family. I am so grateful to serve this incredible organization.
I have been to quite a few equine therapy facilities in the Tampa area and Emerald M is by far the best. Amazingly caring staff as well as highly qualified when it comes to hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. I'd highly recommend this facility to anyone looking to get their child's mental health or physical therapy needs met.
I have been to Emerald M Therapeutic Center and have been impressed by the staff's caring and understanding of the people being helped. They treat the clients as family. I would recommend this center to anyone having medical problems or needing therapy.
I am a foster mama who was looking for anything to help my kiddos in my home with all their trauma. I was looking for some place with a different approach to ease their minds and hearts while connecting them with their bodies. I was hoping to ground them. Emerald M has literally saved my children’s lives. I have since adopted 3 children and Emerald M is a part of our family. They were present at the adoption and are ever present in our lives. There is such serenity on the farm. I feel at peace there and so do my kids. It is all of our safe place. There is something magical and spiritual about Emerald M. They have the innate ability to heal physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Our lives are better because of Emerald M.
My granddaughter, Ansley, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in May of 2020. Because of where the tumor was located, all of her motor skills became impaired. My daughter found Emerald M to get equine therapy to prolong the side effects from the tumor for as long as possible. Lisa and her staff gave Ansley something to look forward to at a time when she was losing her mobility, speech, and happiness. Our little Ansley passed away almost 4 months ago, but her legacy and memory live on at Emerald M. We have become like family with everyone at Emerald M and am amazed at the difference they make in their clients life! I will forever be grateful to them all!!
Emerald M has made a tremendous impact on our son. His coordination and emotional regulation improve with each session. The best part is that he absolutely looks forward to going each week. It is a peaceful setting that engages children and encourages self-exploration and growth.
Amazing place where amazing things happen! Our 3 year old blind daughter loves getting therapy at Emerald and loves the horses and staff! The growth our daughter has made in a year is phenomenal. This riding center cares about each and every client that comes through their doors and treats them like family. Beyond blessed to have found an amazing place for our daughter!
My daughter, Ansley Johnson, was diagnosed with a rare, incurable, and inoperable brain cancer at the age of 6 called DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma). This cancer steals every aspect of a person's life from them. It takes their ability to walk, talk, eat, drink, sit up, hold their own head, and just about anything else you can think of. Once Ansley began to lose her balance, we were introduced to the team at Emerald M, and definitely didn't know at that time we would become more like family. Lisa and her team helped Ansley's loss in function slow, and once it was gone and we could no longer go to the farm, Lisa would make house trips multiple times a week to ensure she did not get stiff and remained comfortable. She then took on my oldest daughter for riding lessons and counseling to help her cope with what was to come. Since Ansley's passing in July 2021 at the age of 7, Emerald M is now opening an Equine Assisted Learning Center in Ansley's honor to give back to those children who are battling cancer, their families, foster care children and veteran's by providing grief counseling free of charge. Anyone who has been able to experience the pure love and dedication of this organization, and those to come, are so truly blessed.
Emerald M therapeutic riding center is a little slice of heaven where you see huge differences made in people’s lives daily. I feel privileged to be a part of it!
I am a social work major at Saint Leo University that had to complete a field placement internship as a part of the program. I was given a list to choose from, and something gave me a special feeling when reading about Emerald M. Before I knew it, I was placed to intern at this nonprofit. Excited yet nervous, I began my journey at Emerald M. Words cannot describe the magic that happens at this establishment. The people that I have encountered over the last few months are some of the most inspirational individuals I will ever come by in my lifetime. Throughout my entire time here, I have went home every day completely astonished by the services Emerald M provides and the willingness they have to help others. They will do anything and everything in their power to assist their participants. These people are perfectly genuine, providing unconditional support to each and every person that walks through the door. They work immensely hard because these people love what they do, and it shows. Not to mention, the volunteers that Emerald M has are just as amazing. They are hard working, and taught me just as much. As for the participants, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect group of people. Every child taught me something that I couldn’t have dreamed of learning. To watch them grow, succeed, and progress in their therapy with each session was breathtaking. As my weeks at Emerald M went on, I slowly started to realize that as the participants progressed, I did too. It took some time, but I came to see that although I was there to learn from Emerald M’s staff, I was learning from the clients as well. Considering I was unfamiliar with hippotherapy before starting at Emerald M, I was amazed to learn just what the horses were doing for these individuals, physically and mentally. These horses are natural healers, truly. The things that I learned here at this nonprofit are things that cannot be taught in a classroom. As a matter of fact, I believe that they could not be taught anywhere but a place like Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center. To be here is a journey, and each person has the opportunity to make it their own. Whenever I would try to explain the magic that occurs here to anybody, I would be at a loss for words. This place is like no other. My time at Emerald M is time that I cherish, and I am forever grateful.
Everyone at Emerald M is passionate and dedicated to the families who come to the center. We’ve been going to them for almost 2 years for hippotherapy. Within a few weeks others started asking what we were doing different as they noticed a tremendous change in core strength. Physical therapy with horses in the outdoor setting is amazing.
Emerald M is near and dear to our hearts.
Our daughter, is 8 yrs. old. She has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome & Apraxia. She has been receiving therapy at Emerald M for three years. Emerald M is a safe haven for our daughter and our family. They provide invaluable therapeutic services that have made a huge difference in her development. Amazing things happen as a result of hippotherapy, She has new found confidence. Her anxiety settles & peace emerges the moment she sits on her horse. Physically her core/trunk is strengthened which helps her body to maintain proper posture. The core is the center of control for everything else the body does. The muscles associated with core strength include the muscles of the abdomen, pelvis, and back. Poor core strength can cause poor posture which can affect gross motor ad fine motor skills. Poor core strength can also affect breathing and have an effect on speech.
Because they are able to address strengthening her core, her muscle tone has improved. Her eye tracking, focus & attention also continue to improve.
I could go on & on, I can’t say enough about this phenomenal therapy or the amazing individuals at Emerald M who pour their hearts & souls into each and every client.
I’m an old volunteer from this farm, (and still do when I can, occasionally), and it is a top notch facility, with top notch members, and fellow volunteers. I’m also the Marine Corps Combat Veteran that’s featured on their website, Franco and Anna, the rescued Broodmare. This farm treats everyone like they’re family; and the horses at the facility are absolute sweethearts. I’ve witnessed some truly amazing things while volunteering here. And, fortunately for me, have even had the honor of helping some of those clients first hand when those moments would happen. Miracles truly do happen here, this farm is an absolute blessing.
On July 9, 2015 I got a call that no one wants. That’s when my journey as a Gold Star Mom began. Each year only became more difficult & on my 3rd yr I spiraled down the “deep black hole”. I’ll never forget the day in late Nov of 2018 feeling alone & without purpose in my life & not caring if I had a life anymore. That’s when the phone rang & a friend told me she was participating in a Gold Star Mom retreat for a week in Dec & that they had an opening & she thought of me. I kept saying to her, “yeah I’ll think about it” & then felt a nudge & said “ you know, I think I need to do this”. So it all began! During my week with 5 other Gold Star moms we had different activities each day with one going to Emerald M Therapeutic horse ranch. I was not feeling sure of this one. To top it off I was encouraged to work with the only mare named “Anna” who did not want anything to do with this program that day! I remember saying to a friend, “you’ve got to be kidding me, you want me to work with this horse!?! I took the challenge & that was the beginning of a beautiful love affair! As the day went on I knew I wanted to return to Emerald M & spend time with Anna. So I became a volunteer & drove 120 miles twice a week to see Anna & my friends at Emerald M who has become my extended family. They have helped me to find myself again & now I look forward to each day helping others help others. I am so thankful to them for all they do & always look forward to my special times with Anna. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone that feels the need for help.
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I am a Vietnam veteran with PTSD and I had numerous problems before I went to Emerald M Farms I was afraid of horses and became very close with the one horse I was working with they taught me different ways to overcome some of the problems with my PTSD through their therapy and counseling I appreciate what they have done for me it is made a difference in my life
My name is Brianna Somoano and I’m 19 years old. I was referred to Emerald M in hopes that it would help me advance in my physical abilities. so my dad and I went to go see what it was all about. It was one the best decisions my family and I have ever made! I started coming to them back in 2015 and we haven’t looked back since. Little did I know that through this journey of being with Emerald M that I would build such a passion for riding and horses. Before coming to Emerald M, My core was weak and I didn’t have any body awareness and I didn’t have much trust in myself and in my capabilities. I also was very tight and so much tone would kick in. With the help of this amazing organization, I now am aware of my body capabilities and I have built so much trust within myself and in my abilities. I am so much stronger mentally and physically. I have also hit so many milestones, (one of which I will never ever forget) with the help of Emerald M I was able to walk across the stage to receive my diploma at my high school graduation. They have made a tremendous impact on my life and I’ll always be forever grateful for this beautiful organization and the incredible staff involved.
My daughter Sarah was adopted at 5.5 years old from an adult mental institution in Ukraine. She could hardly sit up without help. She was kept tied to a cot by 3straps because she was blind & delayed. After we adopted her we tried every kind of therapy with little success. She gained weight & strength but did not understand how to walk. Every specialist who saw her assured us she should be physically able to walk- there was nothing wrong with her- no CP. it was their guess that she just had missed the developmental milestones & with no vision & limited understanding she just couldn’t figure out how to walk.
So we found out about Emerald M and were able to try it thanks to the gardener scholarship. We started two years ago and noticed a significant change within weeks. Now our daughter can walk with assistance throughout our house, she can get into our van with very little assistance, she can get in and out of the bathtub with very little assistance And it has changed her life as well as ours. And one thing that is truly different my daughter looks forward to therapy. All the therapies we had used prior stressed her out. We believe by her feeling the horse moving underneath her in a way that mimics human walking her brain was able to cooperate with her legs to help her learn where to put her legs and feet to be able to walk. There is no other explanation. She was 11 years old when she started walking It is very unusual for a child to make such great strides at such a late age. We cannot think Emerald M the staff the volunteers and the horses enough. This has been a life-changing experience for our daughter. Sometimes it overwhelms me to see her on the horse and remember she was a little girl who was considered unwanted and bedridden living in an institution on the other side of the world. Thanks to Emerald M She is free to explore the world.