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

60 riders annually

1st Exhibition Performance with 8 riders at Willow Bend Polo

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
 

Julie Butterfield is hired as 1st Executive Director

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 
 

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 
 

Equest moves to new facility in Wylie, Texas

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 
 

Rider Brenda French, with coach Lili Kellogg selected to Team USA-World Disabled Sports Championship in Holland 

OT/PT is added to the curriculum

Cindy Thomas is hired as first Physical Therapist

10 Year Anniversary

Equest/Texas A&M Partnership in Excellence is formed

Miss Velvet wins NARHA Region 8 Horse of the Year 

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.

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

Nannie Hogan Boyd Trust donates F-350 XL diesel truck for hauling horses 

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 

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

Deb Lewin wins NARHA Independent Adult Rider of the Year Award

20th Anniversary

Program Director Lili Kellogg wins the NARHA James Brady Professional Lifetime Achievement Award 

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

Mrs. Butterworth wins NARHA Horse of the Year Award

Susan Schwartz wins NARHA National Volunteer of the Year Award

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

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

Amy Causey hired as Program Director

True Eyed Jack wins NARHA Region 8 Horse of the Year

Services for Veterans in development stages

Equest acquires first Mini Ambassadors, Sugar and Tex

NARHA becomes Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Int.’l)

30th Anniversary

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

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

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

Equest celebrates 35th Anniversary

Lili Kellogg becomes CEO of Equest

Equest sells Wylie facility and consolidates all operations to the Texas Horse Park

Amy Causey re-hired as Program Director

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
 

Dr. Kenton Arnold (Equest’s Vet) wins PATH Int’l Region 8 Veterinarian of the Year Award

Equest survives COVID – 19 Pandemic

Equest celebrates 40th Anniversary

Completion of the Al Hill Jr. Arena