Our story begins one spring day in 2008 at Golds Gym.  Gabriele Lawrence was warming up on the treadmill as she asked Marcia Levine, her personal trainer (known for her intense workouts) for an early morning appointment instead of afternoons... Marcia explained that she "rode" with her trainer/coach in the mornings, as her real passion and job was horses, she was a professional horse trainer and teacher.  Gabriele (known locally as the autism warrior mom) said "hey can you give my son a riding lesson , he's 8, "sure" Marcia said, Gabriele then replied "He has autism", Marcia said “not an issue of course I will”.  Both of the ladies are not known for wasting time so the very next day Gabriele brought Tristan, her son out to the barn and Marcia prepared one of her school horses.  Gabriele's son had had the benefit of therapeutic horseback riding at NARHA certified centers in the past starting at the age of 3 until 5 when they moved down to the Coachella Valley.  Gabriele was well aware of the multifaceted areas of improvement in her own son (increased language, reduced stimming and negative behaviors, increase in his core strength just to name a few) thru the benefits of therapeutic riding.  Gabriele and Tristan had done alot of therapeutic riding at Los Angeles and Santa Barbara NARHA centers, and wanted to bring the benefits to the children and young adults with special needs to their new home in the Coachella Valley.  Gabriele walked Marcia thru what a therapeutic lesson consisted of, the horse was great!  The lesson was great and so was Tristan!  Gabriele looked at Marcia and said "you could do this full time if you wanted to ya know, Marcia quit her job at Golds Gym the next day!  She began her intensive journey into Autism Training and NARHA Certification within the week and Healing Horses, the non-profit was officially born.  Within 30 days Gabriele and Marcia had 5 horses and 20 children with autism and a host of volunteers and Marcia’s riding students as typical peer models.  The local horse community joined in with donations and help as well.  At the forefront of this was Alex Haagen III, the owner of the beautiful Empire Polo grounds who gave Healing Horses a fabulous home with 10 private stalls (and room to grow) private riding arena, picnic tables and big shaded areas with giant palapas.  Gabriele and Marcia call their special place "Shangri-La" as when you are there it is filled with children’s laughter, parents clapping, volunteers high fiving the riders and a general sense of "can do" Today Healing Horses is serving over 53 children and young adults per week challenged with Autism, CP, Down’s Syndrome, ADD/ADHD & Dyslexia, with a waiting list of over 30 families waiting to be served.