STAT Horse Sanctuary draws hundreds to St. Patrick’s Day Open House in Winchester

Tony Ault Staff Writer

The STAT Horse Sanctuary became a very busy place Saturday, March 18, with more that 150 visitors at the ranch’s St. Patrick’s Day Open House at 31530 Scott Road in Winchester.

Greeting visitors was Pattie Roberts, founder and director of the nonprofit sanctuary housed at a 20-acre leased ranch that currently serves 19 horses and has handled up to 47 in the past. In addition to the horses, there are goats, chickens, a donkey and a very old llama named Jeremiah that wanders aimlessly around the grounds and is loved by all the volunteers.

“What we do basically, is we take old horses that are no longer rideable but are healthy and loveable, and we use them as companion and therapy animals. We work with licensed therapists and call it ‘carrot therapy.’ We (also) invite the special needs community to come

Kelsey, in the Placerville area, where Cliff Johnson worked for the Forest Service. Some of their adventures in Kelsey included building a cabin and an outhouse, interacting with odd neighbors, and attending a two-room school where Darell was valedictorian of a class of three students. Aft er a few years, the family moved to Alturas on Highway 395 at the Oregon border and before Darell’s senior year of high school they moved to Monrovia where Darell graduated in 1960.

Having an income was always important to Darell. Trying to earn some spending money, Darell bought 100 baby chicks when he was 12 years old. He raised them and sold them dressed, and afterward he decided he did not ever want to raise chickens again.

Darell always loved cars. He started driving when he was about six years old. He drove a Model A to the end of their long country lane where he and his brother and sister caught the school bus. Darell would stand on the seat to steer while his brother worked the pedals. Also, as a child, he would drive across the desert while his stepfather and uncle lay on the running boards shooting rabbits.

Darell’s first job was washing cars for an auto sales agency. He remembers the thrill of driving the cars that he washed. In Monrovia, he worked in a convalescent hospital, a pharmacy and a gas station. He considered going into mortuary science but decided instead to attend beauty college.

He excelled as a hairstylist and earned credentials to teach at the beauty school. It was there that he met his first wife, Ramona Rubio. They married in 1965. Darell was drafted into the Army in 1966 and was a battery clerk stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany, where their daughter Darya was born. After returning to California, Darell purchased a salon in Arcadia and his son Todd was born in 1971.

In 1981, the family moved to Temecula where Darell and his first wife formed the Farnbach Aldstadt Design Company with another couple from the Arcadia area. They did commercial and residential interior design in the fast-growing area, while Darell continued traveling to Arcadia every other week to work in his salon.Darell also collected and restored antiques and had an antique store inside the Temecula Mercantile building.

When Darell’s and Ramona’s marriage ended, an Arcadia hair client introduced Darell to Rebecca Marshall. They married seven months later and Darell persuaded her to move to Temecula. Darell helped her to raise her teenage children Andrew and Abigail Marshall.

Anyone who knew Darell knows he loved cars. Until recently he had a Model A pickup, a Model T roadster, a 1938 Cadillac LaSalle and 1970 and 1972 Ford Mustang convertibles. Before he moved to Temecula, he owned two of his favorite cars, a Packard convertible and a Mercedes convertible. His salon in Temecula

“The Pink Caddy” featured the front clip of a 1969 Fleetwood Cadillac as the reception desk. He owned about 70 cars during his lifetime.

Through the years, Darell became a close friend to others who enjoyed classic cars, most notably the Drifters Car Club members.

A high point in Darell’s life was going with some of the Drifters to drive exotic cars onto the auction block for Mecum Auto Auctions.

In 2019, Darell’s red 1972 Mustang Convertible was featured in Mus- out, senior citizens and moms with teenagers,” Roberts said. “It’s an amazing bonding experience. We are totally staffed by volunteers. We are totally supported by donations.”

Volunteers at the ranch range from teens to seniors. One volunteer, Kim Rhodes, is a well-known Disney Channel actor, playing Carey Martin on the Disney Channel sitcoms The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Suite Life on Deck. She is constantly tending the horses and other animals at the sanctuary. “It’s heaven,” she said. “I can’t articulate a reason that would properly illustrate what this place does for my soul. It is everything I have ever wanted. Knowing that I’m being of service, making a difference, working with animals... Working in a place that we need and giving back to the community I’ve fallen in love with.”

Rhodes is one of the many volunteers working at the nonprofit sanctuary. Feeding the horses some treats was senior volunteer and contributor Teresa Matthews who the horses tang Monthly magazine.

When the Farnbachs became empty nesters, they began to advocate for the Vail Headquarters historic site that was threatened with demolition. Darell was a plaintiff in the suit that settled favorably. Darell spent many hours each week overseeing the restoration, as well as setting up a small museum called the Little Temecula History Center with others in the Vail Ranch Restoration Association.

Darell’s faith in God was a guiding force in his life. When Darell was seem to love. Some of the teenage volunteers who sought solace with a visit to the sanctuary in the past, are now helping whenever they can. about six years old, he responded to an altar call at a Nazarene Church he attended with his Grandma Farnbach. His heart and behavior were changed after he asked Jesus to come into his life and he never forgot what a difference knowing Christ made in him. Darell specified that old hymns including “The Old Rugged Cross” be sung at his memorial gathering. The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce named the Farnbachs the 2019 Citizen of the Year, and in 2021, their names were placed on the Wall of Honor

The St. Patrick’s Day Open House at the sanctuary was the first after the COVID-19 pandemic. In prior years it was held at local restaurants according to Roberts, who was almost overwhelmed by the day’s turnout. The event included gift baskets from many businesses that were offered in a silent auction, a bounce house for children, a DJ with music, booths hosted by various organizations like Foresters Group, Lemon Quest products, Denise Gregory clothes and others. But the most popular attractions were the horses and animals living at the sanctuary, especially with the younger teen guests. Food offerings included Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and special corned beef hash slider dishes. Roberts said donations will help keep the horses healthy and away from euthanasia for many years.

Donations will also help buy the medicines and feed for the animals, fly controls, dewormers, shelters and corrals and tractor work. Corporate sponsors are welcome as in the Temecula City Hall.

Darell died at home Tuesday, March 14, in Temecula after a long illness. His brother Garry Farnbach preceded him in death. Darell is survived by his wife Rebecca, sister Donna Reese of Bishop, brother Robert Farnbach of Ukiah and stepsiblings Sheila Brooks of Ukiah and David Brooks of Sacramento. He leaves children Todd of Medford, Oregon, Darya of Fairhaven, Vermont, and their spouses, stepson Andrew Marshall of Temecula, stepdaughter Abigail Juarez and her well as sponsors for veterinary services and ranch insurance. To help with the STAT Sanctuary, visit STATHorseSanctuary.org or call 951-733-3000. husband of Wildomar, grandchildren Terran and Taj Farnbach and Natalia Kartaszynska, five stepgrandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Darell loved Temecula and was proud to have been part of the restoration of Vail Headquarters, but he said his best legacy was his children, which included his stepchildren and grandchildren. He was loved by many in the community and will be long remembered, especially by the third-grade students who took bumpy rides in Darell’s Model A at Vail Headquarters during field trips.

Peripheral Neuropathy Breakthrough!

“My feet feel like they’re on re.”

“Each step feels like I’m walking through wet paint.”

“I live in constant fear that I’ll fall.”

“I can’t sleep, my hands and feet tingle all night.”

What do all of these people have in common? ey su er from peripheral neuropathy. It’s estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately this gure may be signi cantly higher as the disease is o en misdiagnosed because of its wide array of symptoms.

Sarika Connor, L.Ac, of Soma Acupuncture & Wellness in Temecula shares this belief. “I’ve been treating neuropathy, in all its various forms, for about a decade now and so o en my patients come to me because of the symptoms, not because of a diagnosis. ey see me on television, or read the testimonial of another patient and say to themselves ‘hey, I feel the same thing’.”

Frankie M. of Murrieta testi ed to this. “I remember my husband driving me to my consultation and I saw a woman running just outside our neighborhood. I was so envious - I just kept thinking ‘I would give anything just to walk again’. My primary care doctor told me my troubles with pain and balance were just symptoms of old age and gave me a prescription. I was so depressed.”

Fortunately Frankie would eventually see Sarika on the local news talking about similar symptoms and how she o ers a real solution at Soma Acupuncture. “I just knew I had to see her. She was my last hope.” ey’ve been everywhere else. ey’ve been told there’s no hope. ey’ve been told ‘it’s just part of getting older’.” shares Amanda, a Patient Care Technician at Soma Acupuncture. “It just breaks my heart but I know how much we can help people like Frankie so I’m always so happy when they walk through our door.” ose diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy o en face a very grim reality; Western medicine declares that there is no solution while most alternative therapies carry large price tags and o er little to no resolve. Which is why Sarika and the sta at Soma Acupuncture pride themselves on being ‘the last resort with the best results.’

“Almost all of our patients come to us with a story similar to Frankie’s.

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves and this damage is commonly caused by lack of blood ow in the hands and feet. A lack of blood ow results in a lack of nutrients; the nerves then begin to degenerate and die which causes pain ranging from discomfort to debilitation. Because neuropathy is a degenerative condition, once those nerves begin to deteriorate they will continue to do so until they are completely expired, leaving those su ering with crippling balance issues. “In this case, the absence of pain is not necessarily a good thing,” shares Sarika. “ is usually indicates that your nerves are hanging on by a fragile thread.”

So how exactly is Sarika able to reverse the e ects of this degenerative disease? “Acupuncture has been used to increase blood ow for thousands of years which helps to get the necessary nutrients to the a ected nerves. But the real magic happens when I integrate ATP Resonance Bio erapy™. is is tech that was originally developed by NASA to expedite recovering and healing.”

“I just can’t say enough about Soma Acupuncture,” Frankie shared through tears of joy. “My husband and I moved here 3 years ago and he’s gone hiking almost every day. I always stayed home because of the pain and discomfort. Yesterday I walked the trail with him! And next week we’re starting ballroom dancing lessons. I am truly living life these days.”

“According to Frankie’s test results, she has seen a 74% improvement in pain and functionality, which is on par with a majority of our patients.” shares Amanda. “But more important than those test results is the joy she’s expressed being here and hearing about all the amazing things she’s able to do because she feels great!”

By seamlessly blending the ancient science of acupuncture with modern medical solutions Sarika has achieved a 90% success rate in reversing the e ects of neuropathy. She starts each patient with an initial consultation during which a sensory exam is performed. “ is not only aids in making a proper diagnosis but it helps to de ne just how much nerve damage has occurred” tells the practitioner. “ is is important because if a patient has su ered more than 95% damage, there is little that I can do to help them. I’m familiar with the medical miracle but I know my limits as a practitioner and the limits of my medicine.”

When it comes to treating peripheral neuropathy, regardless of its origin, early detection greatly improves your chances of a full recovery.

If you or someone you love are su ering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling or ‘pins and needles’ or you’ve recently been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, it’s important to know that there are options. ere is hope.

Call (951) 597–0488 to schedule an initial consultation or visit SomaAcuWellness.com to read more incredible success stories.

March 24 – 30, 2023