40 years of equest
Take a walk back in time, and revisit some of Equest's greatest achievements in the last 40 years!



1981
-
Equest, originally knows as "Freedom Ride Foundation" is founded by Evelyn Zembrod and Susan Schwartz
-
1 instructor, 1 horse, 2 riders, 4 volunteers
-
Click here to read more about Equest's inception
1983
-
60 riders annually
-
1st Exhibition Performance with 8 riders at Willow Bend Polo
1984
-
94 riders annually, 2 instructors, 6 horses
-
Freedom Ride Foundation becomes affiliated with NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association)
-
Riders Brenda French, Lisa Gold, and Jim Barton, with coach Evelyn Zembrod selected for Team USA-International Games for the Disabled in New York
1985
-
Julie Butterfield is hired as 1st Executive Director
1986
-
Freedom Ride becomes Equest
-
New logo is designed
-
Profits from the Royal Ascot West Party raised enough funds to purchase Equest facility
-
Louise Griffeth begins Women’s Auxiliary
1987
-
1st Instructor Training Course is taught at Equest
-
Riders Brenda French and Jim Barton, with coach Evelyn Zembrod selected for Team USA-International Dressage Championship for the Disabled in Sweden
-
Program moves from Zembrod Ranch to Summertree Stables
-
Gail Pace and Susan Schwartz step up to acting Head Instructors
-
Equest hires Lili Kellogg as Head Instructor
1988
-
Equest moves to new facility in Wylie, Texas
1989
-
277 riders annually
-
Meadow Foundation retires debt on the facility
-
Rider Sylvia Gonzalez with coach Lili Kellogg selected for Team USA- Special Olympic World Games in Minneapolis
-
James Brady comes to Ridefest as Honorary Chairman
1990
-
Rider Brenda French, with coach Lili Kellogg selected to Team USA-World Disabled Sports Championship in Holland
1991
-
OT/PT is added to the curriculum
-
Cindy Thomas is hired as first Physical Therapist
-
10 Year Anniversary
1992
-
Equest/Texas A&M Partnership in Excellence is formed
1993
-
Miss Velvet wins NARHA Region 8 Horse of the Year
1994
-
Rider Tony Hojnacki, with coaches Lili Kellogg and Gail Pace selected for Team USA-World Dressage Championship for Disabled Riders in England
-
South stable addition is funded by EDS
-
Cookies and Cream wins NARHA Region 8 Horse of the Year
-
Equest horses, riders and instructors filmed in a Walker Texas Ranger episode.
1996
-
Receives NARHA Premier Accreditation
-
Program Director’s home is moved to Wylie facility
-
Rider Tony Hojnacki, with coaches Lili Kellogg and Gail Pace selected to Team USA- ’96 Paralympics, Atlanta
-
Therapeutic Carriage Driving is added to curriculum
1998
-
Nannie Hogan Boyd Trust donates F-350 XL diesel truck for hauling horses
1999
-
Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation wing office complex is built
-
Adjacent 14 acres are acquired
-
Farm Manager’s house is purchased
-
Sundowner Trailer is donated by Sundowner Trailers and TQHA Members
2000
-
Princess Anne visits Equest
-
Rider Tony Hojnacki wins NARHA Adult Independent Rider of the Year award
-
Carol Chamberlin wins NARHA Region 8 Volunteer of the Year
2001
-
Deb Lewin wins NARHA Independent Adult Rider of the Year Award
-
20th Anniversary
2002
-
Program Director Lili Kellogg wins the NARHA James Brady Professional Lifetime Achievement Award
2003
-
Riders Stacey Johnson and Amy Bentler, with coach Katie Miller are selected to Team USA- World Special Olympic World Games in Ireland
-
Stacey Johnson wins NARHA Adult Rider of the Year Award
-
Equest begins winning AQHA Equestrians with Disabilities end of the year awards
2004
-
Mrs. Butterworth wins NARHA Horse of the Year Award
-
Susan Schwartz wins NARHA National Volunteer of the Year Award
2006
-
31 therapy horses, 400 riders annually, over 300 volunteers
-
Outdoor arena is renovated thanks to the Margot W. and Ben H. Mitchell Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas
-
Therapeutic Vaulting is added to curriculum
-
Gail Pace wins NARHA Instructor of the Year
-
Bobby Valdez wins NARHA Region 8 Volunteer of the Year
2007
-
Rider James Taylor selected for Team USA- Special Olympic World Games in China
-
Planning stages for a potential second Equest facility, to be located in the Texas Horse Park, an addition to the Trinity River Project in Downtown Dallas
-
Susie Q wins NARHA Region 8 Horse of the Year
2008
-
Amy Causey hired as Program Director
2009
-
True Eyed Jack wins NARHA Region 8 Horse of the Year
2010
-
Services for Veterans in development stages
2011
-
Equest acquires first Mini Ambassadors, Sugar and Tex
-
NARHA becomes Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Int.’l)
-
30th Anniversary
2013
-
Gail Pace wins PATH Int’l. James Brady Professional Lifetime Achievement Award
-
Rachel Hustis wins PATH Int'l. Adult Equestrian Recognition Award
-
Hooves for Heroes Veterans program begins under direction of Jeff Hensley and Susannah Denney
-
Al Hill, Jr. donates naming gift for Al Hill, Jr. covered arena at Texas Horse Park
-
Read's Noble Gil wins PATH Int'l. Region 8 Horse of the Year Award
-
Joan Cutler hired as Program Director
2014
-
Equest receives 2-year Crystal Charity Ball grant for children’s program expansion
-
Romvaldo "Aldy" Saturino wins PATH Int'l. Equine Services for Heroes Equestrian Award
2015
-
Ribbon cutting for Equest-Texas Horse Park facility
-
First semester of programs begin at Texas Horse Park
-
Equest wins CNM Connect Nonprofit of the Year Award
-
Amigos In Jags wins PATH Intl. Region 8 Horse of the Year Award
2016
-
Equest celebrates 35th Anniversary
-
Lili Kellogg becomes CEO of Equest
2017
-
Equest sells Wylie facility and consolidates all operations to the Texas Horse Park
2018
-
Amy Causey re-hired as Program Director
2019
-
Terry Wilk wins PATH Int’l Volunteer of the Year Award
-
Joan Cutler wins PATH Int’l Credentialed Professional of the Year Award
-
Volunteer Teresa Fishman wins Dallas “Good Works Under 40” Award and $10,000 gift for Equest
-
Ground breaking for the construction of Al Hill, Jr covered arena
2020
-
Dr. Kenton Arnold (Equest’s Vet) wins PATH Int’l Region 8 Veterinarian of the Year Award
-
Equest survives COVID – 19 Pandemic
2021
-
Equest celebrates 40th Anniversary
-
Completion of the Al Hill Jr. Arena