History
Kristy Pigeon built the Sagebrush Arena in Hailey, Idaho, and developed the therapeutic riding program in the summer of 1991. Her interest in doing so was a result of her desire to share the beauty and serenity of the Sawtooth mountains and the Wood River Valley and the healing power of horses with challenged individuals. Kristy trained as a volunteer at the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy in Woodside, California, and she brought her skills and resources together to start the Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped (SETCH) at the Sagebrush Arena. Her vision was to provide therapeutic horseback riding lessons to individuals with disabilities at no charge. Kristy served as the executive director until her retirement in August 2010, and her vision is still carried out every day!
Having already served as a board member and volunteer for many years prior, Cheryl Bennett began as the executive director in April 2011. SETCH leased the use of the Sagebrush Arena for 20 years, and it had been a long time goal of the board of directors to find a permanent home for the program. Having the heart and soul to bring the program to the next phase, Cheryl began working hard to secure a permanent home for SETCH.
