Changing Strides
About Us
Our Story
Changing Strides was founded by Lisa Sabo and Sarah Klifa to address the need for equine therapy to serve veterans, battered women, adults with mental challenges, and at-risk youth in the urban setting of Orange County. We offer our programs at the OC Fairgrounds Equestrian Center to provide convenient access to those who will benefit.
Meet our founders
Lisa Sabo, President, is the co-owner of Sabo Eventing and trains horses and riders in eventing, dressage, and jumping. She has ridden and coached to the top levels of eventing and is a Level III certified instructor with the United States Eventing Association. She owns several horses and ponies used in her lesson and training program, in addition to the horses she trains, which are owned by her clients. Lisa has provided horses under contract to various therapy programs and operated by others at the OCFEC.
Sarah Klifa, Secretary, is a trainer who operates Cheval Training Stables. She owns horses used in her lesson and training program and two miniature horses, in addition to the horses she training, which are owner by her clients. Sarah utilizes miniature horses in various therapy programs and the miniatures are certified as Assisted Animal Therapy horses to work with the elderly and hospice.
Board of directors
Carolyn Beaver
Chairman
Carolyn is the Director of two public companies, and another non-profit orgainization. She was SVP and Chief Financial Officer of Sequenom, Inc., a public company in San Diego, and was Corporate Vice President, Controller and Cheif Accounting Officer of Beckman Coulter, Inc. She previously was a partner in the Orange County office of KPMG LLP for 15 years. Carolyn is an amateur equestrian.
Lisa Sabo
President
Lisa is the co-owner of Sabo Eventing and trains horses and riders in eventing, dressage, and jumping. She has ridden and coached to the top levels of eventing and is a Level III certified instructor with the United States Eventing Association. She owns several horses and ponies used in her lesson and training program, in addition to the horses she trains, which are owned by her clients. Lisa has provided horses under contract to various therapy programs and operated by others at the OCFEC.
Brian Sabo
Director
Brian is a past president of the United States Eventing Association Board of Directors, United States Eventing Association Level IV Certified Instructor, Former Chef d’Equipe of the Mexican National Team, owner of Eventing Training Online and has 40 years of experience in the Equine industry.
Susan Gyor
Accountant
Susan is a Certified Public Accountant with years of valuable experience as an IRS registered tax preparer. She currently works at Channels & Channels, Inc. located in Costa Mesa and is an amateur equestrian.
Sara Klifa
Secretary
Sarah is a horse trainer who operates Cheval Training Stables. She owns horses used in her lesson and training program and two miniature horses, in addition to the horses she training, which are owner by her clients. Sarah utilizes miniature horses in various therapy programs and the miniatures are certified as Assisted Animal Therapy horses to work with the elderly and hospice.
Changing Lives Through
Changing Strides
Special thanks to our sponsors
Changing Strides works with non-profit human services organizations to provide equine therapy to their clients in individual and group settings.
