Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship

A nonprofit organization

$57,894 raised by 123 donors

100% complete

$50,000 Goal

Equest has been improving the lives of children and adults with special needs since 1981. It was the first nonprofit in Texas to offer therapeutic horsemanship programs for people with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. In fact, our client roster includes over 115 different diagnoses. Our 34 therapy horses provide life-changing results: We see people taking their first steps, speaking their first words, or learning to compete for a ribbon and be part of a team for the first time. It's a very special place where clients feel at home in the beautiful surroundings of our campus which is located in southern Dallas at the edge of the Great Trinity Forest. It's a place where horses speak volumes to our clients by encouraging, loving, and accepting them just as they are. At Equest, one can feel the special connection of instructors and volunteers for every participant, whether it's their first session or they've been riding with us for many years. It's a place where parents find hope when they see the progress, confidence, and goals achieved by their family member - progress that they'd been told would most likely never happen. 

The programs offered at Equest include:

  1. Occupational and Physical Therapy The horse's gait is identical to human ambulation patterns and helps build core strength, develop balance, and more.
  2. Therapeutic Horsemanship: Horseback Riding, Carriage Driving, Competition Learning these skills transfers to improving daily living goals.
  3. Equine Assisted Learning Horses make excellent partners for experiential learning.
  4. Mental Health Counseling Horses are extremely alert to emotional energy and their feedback helps in processing feelings.
  5. Hooves for Heroes (Veterans) provides peer-to-peer support All of our programs are free of charge to veterans. 


The Benefits: in addition to developing core and muscle strength, head control, spinal alignment, gait improvement, our programs provide:

· Self-confidence

· Self-control

· Attention focus

· Motor Sequencing

· Social Emotional Intelligence

· Communication and Non-verbal Cues 

· Directionality

· Mobility and Orientation

· Spatial Awareness

 


Giving Activity

Mission

Equest's mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs by partnering with horses to bring hope and healing through equine assisted activities and therapies.

Needs

Any amount makes a difference for our horses, clients, volunteers, and staff members. We are eager to serve our community and your support makes that possible. Equest is expanding its reach into the southern Dallas neighborhoods by offering literacy classes and partnering with local high schools to provide opportunities for community service hours and internships.

$25,000 - Average cost of acquiring a therapy horse

$10,000 - Cost for veterans to attend two semesters of group therapy

$7500 - Sponsors care of 1 of Equest's therapy horses for 1 year

$2,500 - Scholarships for 10 therapeutic horsemanship clients

$1,000 - Literacy program materials for 30 first graders

$500 - 1 semester of a client's tuition

$360 - 2 PT/OT sessions

$120 - 1 counseling session

$60 - 1 safety helmet

$40 - 1 bag of feed and bale of hay

$25 - Carrots and treats for the horses

Equity Statement

Equest values diversity, equity, and inclusivity and is committed to having a diverse board and staff that reflect the communities that Equest serves.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship

Tax id (EIN)

75-1823701

Guidestar

Causes

Intellectual, Developmental, and Physical Differences, Animals, Veterans

Operating Budget

$3,000,000 - $9,999,999

Counties Served

Dallas, Rockwall, Tarrant

BIPOC Serving

Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

PO Box 171779
Dallas, TX 75217

Phone

972-412-1099

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