Equi-Kids Therapeutic Riding Program

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an interactive process combining the use of an EAP trained horse, a trained mental health professional and an appropriately credentialed equine professional to address psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional and the client.

Because of the horse’s prey nature and intense sensitivity to subtle changes in their environment, they are the perfect partners for professionals who teach a wide range of life and coping skills.

The concept that horses might be helpful or healing to those struggling with mental health issues is based on the idea that horses are extremely sensitive to changes in a person. Because of this, horses react and respond to people differently based upon the person’s emotional state.

The horse acts as a large biofeedback machine, providing the client and therapist with information regarding the client’s mood and changes within those moods. If a client arrives anxious, the horse will act and respond one way. If the client is able to reduce his or her anxiety, the horse’s behaviors will also change, providing a plethora of information and skill building opportunities for both the client and therapist.

Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which the therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. It is used as a means to help participants improve coordination, balance and strength. Hippotherapy has been used to treat patients with neurological or other disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, head injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioral disorders and psychiatric disorders.

Launched in 2010, EQUI-KIDS’ affiliate program, EQUI-VETS offers physical and mental healing through equine activities for armed service members wounded in the line of duty. Offering therapeutic horseback riding, horse care activities and outdoor experiences, this program is offered to active duty and retired veterans at no cost in honor of their dedicated service to our country. Interacting with the horse strengthens emotional bonds and builds trust and confidence with each session. The goal of the program is to assist in physical and mental healing through equine activities to help our heroes reconnect to their families and their lives.

The EQUI-VETS Service Program offers the support of fellow military personnel to assist with the therapeutic riding session. For those participants who do not wish to ride, many join our volunteer ranks to lend a hand on the farm.

The Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area is home to the largest military population in the U.S. and is comprised of 10 active military installations. As of late 2018, the area hosts over 97,000 active duty service members and, combined with their family members, makes up 12.9% of the local population. An additional 13.5% is represented by veterans, constituting more than double the national average of 6.2%.

Returning veterans often struggle as a result of their military experience. The wounded warriors served by EQUI-VETS commonly face issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, anxiety and other chronic mental illnesses. Approximately 18% of American veterans struggle with PTSD. Left untreated, the disorder can have deadly consequences. Veteran suicides are currently happening at a rate of 22 per day, a startling and heartbreaking statistic. These conditions make it extremely difficult for them to readjust to normal, daily life.The EQUI-VETS Service Program offers the support of fellow military personnel to assist with the therapeutic riding session, and for those participants who do not wish to ride, many join our volunteer ranks to lend a hand on the farm.

Some traditional therapies are ineffective in healing those suffering from these conditions and those in the medical community are turning to alternative therapies as a result.

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) determining the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on PTSD in military veterans showed a statistically significant decrease following three weeks of therapy and again at six weeks. The NIH found that logistic regression showed that participants had a 66.7% likelihood of having lower PTSD scores at 3 weeks and 87.5% likelihood at six weeks.

Our current program is able to provide services to a growing but limited number of veterans per year with a community need and expressed interest in participation far exceeding our ability to serve. Approximately 75% of those served by the EQUI-VETS program are transitioning veterans. We have a current waitlist of several dozen individuals and two local veterans organizations who qualify for assistance through our program. As a thank-you to the members of our armed services for their selflessness and sacrifice, our EQUI-VETS program is offered at no cost to participants.

EQUI-KIDS partners with Virginia Beach City Public Schools through our School Partnership Program (SPP) allowing our instructors to collaborate with special needs teachers to enforce classroom curriculum goals. Special needs classrooms from local elementary, middle, or high schools (on a rotating basis) spend one morning a week at our facility in a hands-on learning environment. Participants receive therapeutic horseback riding lessons, do ground work in the barn, grooming and caring for the horses, and spend time in our classroom helping tie their farm-based experiences and concepts to their traditional classroom curriculum.

The primary goal of the SPP is to enhance students’ education and life skills through the use of horses and our farm while exposing children to an alternative learning environment. It is a unique program to which many of the students may not otherwise have exposure.

The resulting improvements in behavior and relationship management are almost immediate. Students learn a functional curriculum and, more specifically, work experience skills. We see vast improvements in social skills and academic skills within the classroom. Due to the positive aspects of sensory integration directly related to therapeutic riding, more learning can happen in the traditional classroom. This special education program reinforces the public education program for everything from life skills to academics.

EQUI-KIDS is proud to partner with Virginia Beach City Public Schools Office of Exceptional Children, through their work experience program. Through this program, a certified EQUI-KIDS instructor provides job coaching, in partnership with the school, to disabled young adults. The goal of this program is to help them acquire life skills and receive hands-on training for social and task-related skills needed to prepare them for entering the workplace, once they have aged-out of the public school system. Students participate in approximately 100 hours of onsite work experience coaching over the course of one academic school year.