Randy is happiest when he is with "my horse, Jag." Randy has a genetic syndrome called Rubenstein-Tabia. He has scoliosis and is mentally retarded. His mother has Multiple Sclerosis and cannot and cannot care for Randy. Thus he became a ward of the state and has lived in four different group homes. He needed something he could always count on and succeeded at, and Sunrise filled the need. Randy became a rider in 1999. He is now 18 with a mental age of an 8 year old. But in spite of his disability he has learned how to be responsible and demonstrate age appropriate conversation and actions with all the Sunrise staff. Most of all, a hole in his soul is filled by his special friend, Jag. As he rides, Randy's back is strengthened as well as his mind. He takes pride in the fact he has learned all the steps he must do before he rides. Randy has received unconditional love from "my horse Jag" and has "turned small steps into confident strides!"