Mission: Equi-Ed has used the therapeutic power of the horse to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities since 1993.
Equi-Ed's Goals:
~ Enhance each student’s educational plan through coordination with school staff and the implementation of activities which support achievement in basic subjects and pre-vocational skills.
~ Improve the students physical, medical, social, and emotional well being through interaction with specially selected horses, in a positive environment which encourages involvement and caring between disabled and non-disabled individuals.
~ Stimulate awareness and understanding of the efficacy of therapeutic riding.
~ Provide professional development and training for individuals in the therapeutic riding industry.
Target demographics: Ages 4 and up
Programs: Equi-Ed offers therapeutic riding, vaulting, horsemanship and competition opportunities to its students.
Equi-ed has been a place of learning and acceptance for our daughter who is intellectually disabled. For the past 10 years, Equi-Ed has provided a safe and fun environment where she can gain skills, not just in riding horses, but in following instructions, working on balance and core strength, and using communication skills with instructors as well as horses. Equi-Ed is a unique non-profit in that it benefits a range of students with a variety of abilities and allows all participants to gain self-confidence and skills in horsemanship. It is a special place, indeed!
Equi-Ed has been a part of our daughter's life for over 7 years now. In spite of cognitive disabilities, she is able to ride horses at Equi-Ed competently, demonstrate the ability to follow directions, and connect with these gentle animals in a way that empowers her on a weekly basis. The staff at Equi-Ed is knowledgeable, patient and accepting of differences. I would highly recommend this incredible program to children and adults alike! Equi-Ed is a place where amazing things happen...and lives are changed!
Our daughter has been riding at Equi-ed for over three years now. We were so happy to have found this wonderful place! She had previously been enrolled in therapeutic riding at another facility, but was told she had gone as far as she could. Being intellectually disabled, we all felt our daughter needed to continue her connection to riding, being with people who understood her, and of course, experiencing unconditional acceptance from these gentle horses. Equi-Ed provides all of the above and does so with expertise. Our daughter always looks forward to her lessons which improves her self-esteem immensely. The staff is amazing and everything our daughter learns from her riding instruction carries over to many other areas of her life. We are so grateful for this non-profit organization and hope that it can grow and expand with the generous support of others.
