For 30 years, The Shea Center has been a constant source of connection, support, and friendship for one longtime client Melissa Piccinati. Although she first came to Shea at age 14, her journey with horses began much earlier.
“I have been riding horses since I was 5 years old,” she recalls. Because she has cerebral palsy, she initially rode bareback. The warmth of the horse’s body helped relax the tight muscles that are common for many people with her diagnosis. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love of horses and eventually led her to The Shea Center.
What has always stood out most to Melissa about Shea is the way staff see each client as an individual. “The thing I love about The Shea Center is their ability to not just work with the client and their disability, but also their ability to see the person for who they are on the inside,” she says.
That caring approach helped create lasting relationships—not only with staff members, but also with the horses. While it’s hard to choose a favorite, two horses have always held a special place in Melissa’s heart: Auggie and Mac ‘n Cheese.
Over the years, she developed a particularly close bond with Auggie, even helping staff desensitize him to a variety of situations before she moved to Northern California. Those connections became one of the biggest reasons she stayed involved with Shea after relocating. “I especially did not want to lose my bond with Auggie and Mac,” she explains.
Today, FaceTime barn visits and virtual exercise sessions help Melissa stay connected to the program she loves. “My FaceTime barn visits are definitely very special because not only do I get to visit with Auggie and Mac, but I also get to meet new horses when they come,” she says.
The virtual sessions provide more than just a chance to see familiar faces. They also help her maintain strength and make transfers to and from her wheelchair easier. What keeps Melissa motivated week after week is simple: seeing her favorite horses and continuing to benefit from the exercises.
“This 30-year milestone means a lot in terms of the friendships and bonds that I’ve developed with the staff and horses alike,” she says. “Just because we’re on opposite sides of the state doesn’t mean those friendships will end. I think it actually makes them stronger.”
Melissa would also like to dedicate this milestone to her father, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 17, 2026. Throughout the years, he was one of her biggest supporters. He loved watching her interact with Auggie and Mac and seeing the improvements in her posture while riding.
As she celebrates 30 years with The Shea Center, Melissa’s story is a reminder that the bonds formed here—both human and equine—can last a lifetime, no matter where life takes you.