EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program

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EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program

EQUI-KIDS | EQUI-VETS | EQUI-HEROES The organization is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.)

EQUI-KIDS is changing lives, one stride at a time through the power of equine-assisted service for children & adults with special abilities, active duty & Veteran military service members, and first responders. EQUI-KIDS is a 501c3 organization that provides life-changing equine-assisted services (EAS) to a large and diverse community of children and adults with special needs in the Hampton Roads

community. as a Premier Accredited Center. PATH Intl. is the international professional organization that sets the standards for the EAS industry and certifies credentials for PATH Intl. centers and instructors. EQUI-KIDS serves an average of 100-130 participants each week and all services are provided by credentialed providers. Our services include therapeutic riding, therapeutic horsemanship, equine-assisted learning, equine-assisted psychotherapy with a licensed mental health provider (mental health services for individuals and groups), Speech Therapy, EQUI-VETS Military Service Program (serving active-duty service members and veterans), EQUI-HEROES (serving first responders), job coaching, school partnership programs, summer inclusion camps, and educational workshops. Participants range in age from 5 years to seniors in their 90s with more than 150 distinct diagnoses recorded. EQUI-KIDS continually improves the methodology and evaluation of its services to develop the most positive, cost-effective, efficient services and organizational structure possible. EQUI-KIDS provides therapeutic interventions to help develop healthier, more productive citizens, creating a positive impact for our community today and in the future. EQUI-KIDS relies upon -250-300 active volunteers who receive rigorous training and who provide 14,000 plus volunteer hours annually. More than 800 plus participants are served during an average fiscal year. The organization is governed by a highly engaged, volunteer board of directors and is staffed by 12 full-time/10 part-time employees, along with a herd of 21 horses and 4 ponies. Each horse is a different size and has a unique personality, which provides us the opportunity to create the optimal match between horse and participant. Philanthropic contributions for EQUI-KIDS comprises 92% of its gross annual operating revenue of $1,386,00.00. EQUI-KIDS has the ability to create sustainable, long-term programs that provide measurable objectives that carry over into the participant’s life at school or at work, at home, and in the community. Now, more than ever, EQUI-KIDS is an invaluable resource for children and adults with special needs and their families as well as our military heroes and first responders.

06/24/2026

Thank you Theresa Tuner for the Prime Day supplies!! 🥰

06/23/2026

Amazon Prime Days are happening June 23-26 📦 Check out our wish list at https://a.co/0c2kqHjn and drop ship some supplies to the farm! 🐴 From barn tools to paper products, every donation makes a difference for our participants, like Maddie from our Job Coach Program.

Maddie made Hamilton's wish come true - his favorite horse treats! 🍪

06/22/2026

⛳ Who's on your dream golf foursome?

Pony Up and tag the friends, coworkers, clients, or golf buddies you'd love to spend a day on the course with!

For 12 years, the Schliske family has partnered with us to honor the memory of their son Andrew, who loved golf as well as horses. Every swing supports our services for veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities in our community. 🐴❤️

🏌️ Form a team
🤝 Become a sponsor
🎁 Donate a raffle item
📣 Share this post to help us fill the course!

Visit http://ponyup2026.givesmart.com for ticket and sponsorship info🏌️

Tag two or more friends and get entered to win extra golf swag at the tournament! Who are you tagging to hit the links on 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎?

06/18/2026

This week for Therapeutic Thursday, we want to introduce you to Robert. He is a Navy veteran who spent time with Zeus today, working through his goals for combating the effects of Huntington’s Disease. 🇺🇸

Robert has been in our ground based lessons for a while, and expressed that what he really wanted is to RIDE. Candyce advocated for his wish and got clearance from his doctor to try, and sure enough he passed the assessment to participate in mounted sessions. 🐎

Through the dedication of Robert’s wife, care team, and the side walkers and volunteers at the farm, a dream came true today in the barn. That’s what we do at EQUI-KIDS, for people with over 150 diagnoses. Equine-assisted services touch the lives of people with the same diagnosis of someone you know. 🫂

06/15/2026

Today we honor our herd of 18 therapy horses for Int’l Working Animal Day! 🐴 They are our full time equine coworkers, our hoofed heroes and difference-makers, and our secret to participant success. Happy Working Animal Day to our hardworking horses, mule, and barn cats! 🏆🍎🫶🏻

06/12/2026

Set up EQUI-KIDS as your preferred charity in the Walmart roundup program and donate every time you shop! 🌟

Shop Walmart.com today for Every Day Low Prices. Join Walmart+ for unlimited free delivery from your store & free shipping with no order minimum. Start your free 30-day trial now!

06/11/2026

Congratulations Emma Brookover and her horse Declaration on a blue ribbon last weekend during Stirrups and Stripes! Emma is a fantastic member of the EK team with a huge heart for animals and a passion for mental health. 🌟

Thank you to our friends at Meadows and VBHSA for putting on a fantastic horse show and supporting our military and first responder programs 🪖👮🏿‍♀️ We appreciate our community supporters and couldn't make our impact without you.

06/10/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month, which aims to destigmatize and honor the invisible wounds of trauma. Approximately 13 million people in the US experience PTSD at any given time, and equine-assisted therapeutic programs are an effective, evidence-based option we see providing hope every day to many who suffer. 🩵

For more information on how horses make an impact on PTSD and the 150+ diagnoses we serve, read the 2025 Annual Impact Report now on our website. 🐴

https://www.equikids.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2025-Annual-Impact-Report-V5.20.26.pdf

06/08/2026

Rolo was the hero today in our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program with Tree Counseling and Mediation 🌳

This client participated in a grooming and symbolic reflection exercise in which decorative hair clips, specially chosen to represent important people and memories for the client, were placed in the horse's mane. The activity promoted emotional expression, self-reflection, mindfulness, and connection. 🌸

Horses come alongside participants and meet them in an experiential space where emotions, fears, and ideas are safe. This therapeutic approach can yield astounding progress toward the participants' goals—the magic of the horse-human connection. 🌟

Great job, Rolo! And thank you to Annemarie Dern and family for sponsoring his impact 🐴

06/07/2026

Congratulations to the amazing Christine Wardle, our June Volunteer of the Month! We managed to totally surprise her in the best way! 🌟

Christine has been instrumental in propelling students from our Job Coaching School Partnership Program to become thriving members of society. Her contributions to not only EQUI-KIDS but the entire VB public school community are inestimable. 🍎

We appreciate you Christine!!! 💐

Address

2626 Heritage Park Drive
Virginia Beach, VA
23456

Telephone

+17577217350

Website

http://www.equikids.org/

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