Horses
The relationship between disabled riders and Equest horses is the catalyst to miracles in handicapped lives. Equest's program is about children and adults who reach beyond the confines of their disabilities because of the intervention of these special animals. In the words of one parent, the Equest horse in his daughter's life allows her to achieve "parity" with her non-disabled siblings and friends that nothing else provides.
- Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship needs 33 therapy horses to meet the needs of our disabled riders.
- Each of Equest's horses provides therapy for 15 disabled riders every year.
- Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship's horse management program emphasizes an optimum nutrition, exercise and preventative care regimen that maximizes soundness and productivity. Because of the care Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship horses receive; they often remain on active duty for 5 or more years against the national average of 2 years service for therapy horses. Only 1 in 15 horses offered to Equest is actually accepted into the program.
