STAT Inc. (Southern Tier Alternative Therapies)

We first found STAT when our then 2 year old son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy on top of a long list of birth defects and comorbidities. His team recommended horse riding to support muscle tone and control.
We had no idea how helpful this would be across so many areas of his life during the course of 3 years. We made the 164 mile round trip drive weekly for 30 minutes at the stables and when we were there he would have the opportunity to ride, brush, and play with the horses. He was building a connection among the incredible group of volunteers as well and being able to share his weekly stories of schools and therapies back home and they became like a family to us.
My son would always be so excited to go tell his friends what he had been doing week to week in school and we noticed that his speech began improving, his concentration and his patience as well.
He seemed so much more regulated being near the horses and listening as he rode.

He became so confident as well and would happily tell everyone that would listen how much he loved Rocky, Cooper, Scarlet and Pepper.

We are so lucky to have had STAT in our lives!

My daughter just recently started services at STAT Inc. She is 7 years old and is diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and high Anxiety. In this very short time frame I have already seen a change in her ability to stay center and balanced, not just on a horse, but while walking as well. She is gaining fine motor and large motor skills, something she has really struggled with. Most of all, she is overall happier and more confident in herself. She loves seeing the horses and the staff who work with her! She adores how gentle and caring "her horse" is. Everyone is so caring and compassionate towards their clients. This is the first "activity" my daughter actually enjoys and counts down the days each week until she gets to go back. To her this is not therapy, it is her Happy Place, where she gets to do amazing things with amazing people, and amazing animals. I am very thankful to have STAT Inc. services, staff members, and their amazing animals in our family's lives.

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STAT has wholeheartedly provided a platform for practioners, like myself, to make our dreams of utilizing horses to heal a reality. Through STAT I have met amazing families, dedicated volunteers, and other practioners who are consumed with providing a positive change in people's lives. STAT is the real deal and their desire to provide help, change, and healing is contagious. STAT's story is just begining and I am so blessed to be a part of it ❤

Amazing people with an unbelievable story! I met Kat about 8 years ago and her strength just amazed me. She empowered me in so many ways and she didn’t even know she did.

I have been apart of this amazing origination for a long time and have attended a few events as a volunteer. I love being apart of the STAT family as there is no better feeling than working with the beautiful kids they help and seeing the smiles on their faces

I had the amazing opportunity to work the summerfest, I was in awe and truly touched by what this organization stands for. The whole day was filled with love and hope!

STAT is an amazing facility that provides incredible therapy opportunities to so many children and adults in our community. Surrounded in endless natural beauty, it provides the perfect setting for healing, growing, learning and discovery to take place.... and the horses there are super cute too! Quite simply, STAT is love. ♥️

Cat and the gang are great hosts and top-tier trainers. It's not easy to find such a combination of knowledge, commitment, and warmth in one spot. Highly recommended!

Adelphoi Village developed a relationship with STAT Inc. during the Spring and Summer months of 2018. The program offered equine therapy to a group of six females, aged 12-18, over the summer months. Catherine and her staff members were excellent to work with. She provided tours of the facility and an experiential learning day for administrators of Adelphoi Village, which allowed us to make an informed decision to utilize the services. All of the females that participated in the program brought with them traumatic past events which impacted their present condition. By participating in the program, they were able to deal effectively with this trauma by receiving a non traditional therapeutic intervention. Above all, Catherine's passion to help the girls in the program was the greatest selling point of all. From the first time we met as an agency with her, it was evident that she believed in what she was doing and that she was certain she could make an impact with the girls. It was an easy decision to allow the girls from our programs to participate in this service. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is considering an implementation of equine therapy.

This is Hope's 3rd summer at Ligonier Theraputic Center. What a wonderful place! Hope is really showing improvement in her fine motor skills, not to mention her social skills. We are always greeted with a warm welcome and her therapy sessions are tailored just for her! Everyone is so friendly and focused on the kiddos!

My twin girls have cerebral palsy and been with STAT for over a year now. They absolutely love the experience they have there. They are excited to ride and visit the horses, and "play" with all the great people who are part of their therapy. They both have gained a lot of core strength and confidence. STAT is full of truly caring individuals, my wife and I could not be happier.

I'm a substitute volunteer, mostly filling in during the summer when I'm off work from teaching. As a teacher, I observe how much growth the children have through this program and I am amazed! As a horse lover, I am happy to see the horses having a meaningful impact on so many riders, their families and the people who work/volunteer in the program. I also donate to the program when I am able - a very worthwhile cause!! I spread the word about the wonders of STAT to everyone I know.

STAT provides wonderful opportunities for children with a range of disabilities to grow and heal while enjoying the connection and movement of horses. I have volunteered at Fargnoli Farms for 3 years and the changes and growth I have seen in our children is astounding. We have had children come who were non-verbal and are now speaking in sentences. Some who come timid of the horses and learn quickly they are safe and riding and working with horses is fun. How about one little one who had never had a conversation with Dad but after a couple of rides told him about her visit to the farm. Little ones who have difficulty sitting up but with the loving guidance of volunteers and the movement of patient horses can hold themselves upright for some of their ride. Teens who comment how much they miss their time at the farm when they can't be there. As a volunteer I am blessed to involved with such a loving, caring group of people making a difference in our lives, the children and their families. This is an amazing nonprofit with amazing results.

STAT HAS BEEN A VITAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. MANY SPEVIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS WOULD NOT BEABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF EQUINE WITHOUT THIS TERRIFTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE . WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THEM FROM THE BEGTINNING AND HOPE TO CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP FOR MANY YEARS TO COME

I started to volunteer with the STAT Program at Fargnoli Farms in February 2012. I saw a story in a local weekly newspaper, The Tioga Courier, telling about the program and Linda Fargnoli. Linda opens her farm up to this program twice a week. The story talked about the need for volunteers for the STAT Program and what the volunteers need to do, keeping the children safe with no experience needed regarding horses. I had started taking lessons to learn to ride horses a year or so before, as in my 50's decided it was something I wanted to do. I love horses. I happen to love children. Seemed like a good mix to me. I started working with a pony names Snowy and a little boy named Evan. We had a team of 3; one to lead the pony, two people to sidewalk and make sure that little boy was safe. We also were to interact with our rider. In the beginning, Evan was reserved but seemed to be happy to be there. Dougie and Mrs. H. were the sidewalkers and Evan was very comfortable with Mrs. H. as he knew her from school. After a bit, we all became more comfortable with each other. We would be silly, sing, play different games that Linda would set up such as ring toss from the pony's back, find little plastic animals placed around outside, or throw rocks in the creek.

Mrs. H. left us but helped with finding another volunteer, Bernadette. We also started using a bigger horse. Evan seemed to get a little bored with the pony and it was felt that he may need more movement. Evan's sense of balance improved greatly. He is very happy to come every week. He interacts and is happy to see his team and his horse, Floozie. Evan loves the cats, chickens and ducks on the farm. He is particularly fond on the cats. Evan has learned to rein around barrels at a walk, turn Floozie in a circle and recently even rode at a trot. The biggest step for me in working with Evan is that he will walk with me and hold my hand or he has walked arm and arm with me. He now will air blow Floozie a kiss at the end of his ride.

I have also recruited a family friend, Dave, to help with sidewalking and recently added my husband, Ronald to our fun Saturday mornings as a volunteer, too. Linda Fargnoli will thank me for coming and it is like THANK YOU. I get so much out of this program, maybe more than Evan. Love everyone there and Linda has a big heart and caring for this program.

My son Evan was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 5 yrs old. He is considered "high functioning". We had heard great things about "STAT" from other parents of Evan's class mates at school.
What a blessing! The changes in Evan were very suttle but quite evident as time as progressed! I had no clue what this would do, but I was willing to try anything. I have seen wonderful changes in Evan. I have also observed changes in the other children that ride when Evan ride and it is just remarkable!
STAT is just funominal for these kids and without this program I have no idea where they would be. I am certain that Evan would not be where he is today with out the help of STAT!
From one very greatful mother!

I have been volunteering here for over a year now and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. Watching the kids improve so much has been a real treat. They do so many good things here and it really is amazing. Anyone can benefit from this, not just the children. The parents and the volunteers alike are taught things as well. It really is an awesome program.

I was lucky enough to have Cat Markosky visit my workplace during a United Way Meeting. My son has apraxia of speech and I had heard from a few different people that riding a horse would be great therapy. I had the chance to speak with Cat after the meeting. She was so positive and told me to contact her and give it a try. That was 3years ago. My son looks forward to going to Stable Movements every week. He loves the horses, he has gained great self confidence and he looks forward every week to riding.We have met many wonderful people who volunteer and other families helping their children like us. What a great program.

My son starting riding when he was 3 years old. He couldn't run without falling, couldn't throw a ball, couldn't climb stairs; my list could go on. He had such a hard time trying to do the things that all kids do. When he rode the horse the results were amazing. Over time it was wonderful to see the difference in him. He could run without falling, climb the stairs use the equipment on the playground. We finally got to take down the baby gates in the house. He was also unable to communicate. His language is emerging. He's signing and more verbal on the horse. It's a therapy I'm very passionate about and am lucky he gets the opportunity to ride.

Southern Tier Alternative Therapies has been such a blessing for many individuals with an assortment of disabilities in our rural Upstate NY area. Being a teacher of children with autism, I learned of STAT as many of my students regularly attend riding lessons at the nearby Fargnoli Farms. Looking for a place to volunteer and intrigued as to why so many people flock there I contacted Linda. Immediately I feel in love. The other volunteers are so welcoming and are from all walks of life, the horses are simply amazing, and of course the kids are witty and wonderful. This meaningful volunteer opportunity has allowed me to be part of a wonderful team and has helped to bridge a gap between school and therapy. The Therapeutic Riding sessions focus on meeting a variety of students’ needs including, but not limited to, additional academic practice (recognizing letters, colors, and sight words, practicing propositions, knowing right vs. left, etc), balance and motor planning, increased communication (via more eye contact, waving hello, verbally greeting others, or using the iPad or Dynavox to facilitate conversation via STRIDES), addressing sensory needs and eliminating basic fears or anxieties. Progress is forward, noticeable, and ongoing. I am incredibly grateful to STAT for paving the way for such positive opportunities. I wish you continued growth and success in all the years to come!

STAT has made it possible for our son Thomas, with Prader-Willi Syndrome to keep on horseback - which he needs desperately due to excessive low tone and 83degree scoliosis - after he aged out of eligibility! :) We are SOOOOO grateful for the assistance - there's no way we would be able to afford it, yet it is tremendously beneficial for our boy. Not only does it help him hugely physically - the emotional benefits are measurable! He's soooo proud of himself - the horseman that he is, and it even increases and improves his speech!!! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS STAT!!!!
Catt Maczko, Mom to Thomas Jersey Maczko, dob 4/28/05, PWS by upd.