In 1994 Gallastar began as a center for therapeutic horseback riding with an emphasis on serving young people with cognitive and emotional difficulties. The Center is based on a working horse ranch in the beautiful rolling hills near Afton, Virginia, surrounded by hundreds of acres of wooded riding trails. Gallastar was one of the first therapeutic riding programs in the nation to form a true collaboration between the mental health and therapeutic riding communities in what is now called equine-assisted psychotherapy. The Center is owned and operated by Ron and Lorelei Pulliam of Afton, Virginia.

Ron is a licensed mental health counselor with over 30 years of experience in the field. Ron recently retired as the clinical and administrative supervisor of the Child and Family Services in Rockbridge County, where in addition he provided individual, family, adult, and experiential therapies. Lorelei is a special educator at Agnor Hurt Elementary School in Albermarle County with 17 years of experience as a teacher. She has raised and trained horses for 30 years and has extensive training and is certified as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor.

At Gallastar, the benefits of therapeutic riding are integrated into treatment paradigms to serve the specific needs of specific populations. Clients who enter the program with protective barriers as a result of emotional or physical abuse, for example, find the dependence and unconditional acceptance of the horses irresistible. Through their relationship with their special horse, they learn to develop intimate and meaningful relationships and rediscover their feelings once more. When a client learns to communicate and achieve harmony with a 1000-pound animal, they can begin to feel competent and effective in other areas of their life as well, often with profound results. Countless metaphors relating to issues of empowerment, safety and protection, healthy relationships, and other “life lessons” can be woven into each riding session and tailored to meet each individual's needs.

At Gallastar, animals are such an integral part of the programs that they literally become "partners in therapy." Children and adults seem drawn to the barn cats, the playful dogs (including Gus the 3-legged wonder dog), and the other animals that live at the sanctuary. Over the years, many other animals have come to call Gallastar home as well. One of the first additions to the horses was a potbellied pig named Ranger. His special and endearing story was featured on a Miracle Pets segment on Animal Planet. Children relate to his story of abuse at the hands of well meaning but neglectful owners whose lack of care put Ranger and his family at terrible risk.They can cheer him on when he breaks free to find a better life and smile at his good fortune when he finally finds sanctuary and his entire family is then reunited to live the remainder of their lives in total safety and love.

Ranger’s trials and tribulations resulted in an awareness of these fascinating, stocky little creatures and the terrible plight they are facing in our country with overbreeding, a lack of qualified homes and thousands of them facing terrible deaths each year. The small animal shelters and rescues consider them farm animals and the vast majority of farm animal shelters consider them pets. It has been estimated that in this country only two out of 100 potbellied pigs will live to maturity. Even those two will be fortunate to live in an environment where they live the lives pigs were intended to. Seeing the thousands of pigs in desperate need and so little being done to help them, Gallastar has championed their cause and given sanctuary to approximately 100 of them since Ranger’s arrival.

With the closing of Minipigs in Culpeper, the need in this area is even more critical and calls are coming in every day for pigs with no alternatives.

All of the animals at Gallastar are rescues and their stories touch the hearts of the children who meet them. Many of their own stories are also of loss, abandonment on some level or even abuse. The triumph of these now safe and loved animals sends a powerful message that just because you weren’t wanted or loved in one situation doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place somewhere where you will be treasured, loved, and respected for who you are. It is the goal for them to realize there truly is a place for everyone. Gallastar makes no secret of the lengths that we go to help these creatures and the medical bills that helping them sometimes incur. To children growing up in our throw-away culture, that too sends a powerful and often novel message to them also. That message is that there are people who will never give up on those who they have taken responsibility for.

Being responsible for 100 pigs, 8 horses, 2 goats and numerous dogs and cats can be overwhelming for two people in addition to their jobs. As one can imagine, the daily care of over 100 animals requires considerable time, effort, and money. barn, arena, paddocks, and resort-style home were all designed and built by Ron himself. The program and the beloved animals need help, both financial and in the form of the following:

• volunteer labor
• help with daily chores
• building new pens and enclosures, site maintenance
• donations of food and other animal supplies
• monetary donations

Title Photo: Vinnie and Louie enjoy another peaceful day in the pasture at Gallastar.

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