EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program is proud to announce that in 2011, EQUI-KIDS’ volunteers contributed 19,571 hours in volunteer time; the equivalent of $418,036 in service dollars! This benchmark reflects an increase of 38% over 2010 hours, and EQUI-KIDS anticipates another ground breaking increase in volunteer service for the coming year.

For the past five years, the national volunteer rate has held steady at 26%, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. EQUI-KIDS’ volunteer rate continues to climb to meet the demand of the organization’s program service expansion to serve hundreds of disabled riders each year.

“We are honored and humbled to have the support of more than 300 volunteers who help us deliver our mission every day,” commented Executive Director, Jill Haag. “Our volunteers set the benchmark for exceptional service delivery, and their contributions save our program hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in service to our community. They are the backbone of our program.”

EQUI-KIDS recognizes the power of volunteerism, and we applaud our hard-working volunteer core for the impact, dedication, and devotion they provide to serve our disabled community.

EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Virginia Beach, VA, is holding its first ever Holiday Riding Session for its riders. The three-week lesson session is being offered to give riders a chance to participate in riding between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Forty riders are signed up for the Holiday Session that began November 28 and will run through this week.

Harold Barkley, father of Harold “Bubby” Barkley said of his son riding, “Bubby really enjoys coming over here. He thinks that Sadie is his horse. Just this morning he told me we need to move so we live close to
EQUI-KIDS, and that way he can see her. He really loves this place and he can’t wait for Thursdays to come so he can come out and ride his Sadie. ”

“We wanted to offer an opportunity for our riders to continue lessons during the downtime between Fall and Winter Lessons,” said Kathy Chitwood, Program Director at EQUI-KIDS. “The three week lesson session will have Holiday music and Holiday themed games—and allows us to continue offering our therapeutic services and still have some quiet, restful time for our horses. After the three week session, the horses will have a couple of weeks to train in preparation for our Winter Lesson Session that begins at the start of the year.”

EQUI-KIDS offered Winter Lessons last year for the first time after completion of the Indoor Riding Arena. The Holiday Session is a continuation of EQUI-KIDS expanding its services to the community. After having a waiting list of 350 individuals, the program no longer has a wait list and looks for ways to further its mission of providing equine assisted activities to those with disabilities.

EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Virginia Beach, VA, hosted its ‘Giddy Up and Go’ Free Gas for a Year Raffle with a grand prize of $3,500 in gasoline gift cards for one lucky winner. The ticket was drawn during The Stall Ball on November 12, 2011 and the grand prize winner was Karen Mercier of Chesapeake.

“I knew about EQUI-KIDS and heard a lot of wonderful things about the organization,” said Mercier. “I work with a member of their Board of Directors, and when she posted on Facebook that she was selling Free Gas for a Year raffle tickets, I said ‘I am in for two’ because it is such a worthwhile cause.”

The Giddy Up and Go Raffle raised $6,250.00 to support EQUI-KIDS’ program services. “This is the first year for our fundraising raffle.” says Jill Haag, EQUI-KIDS Executive Director. “The much needed proceeds from this event will help us expand our outreach throughout the special needs community.”

Ticket sales for the 2012 raffle will begin April 1 and the winning ticket will be pulled on October 31.

The Knights and Ladies Auxiliary serve dinner and make gifts for each of the riders which is delivered by a “special visitor.” It is an annual tradition and the event is attended by the riders, their families, volunteers, staff and Board members of EQUI-KIDS.

Jamie Link, EQUI-KIDS’ Program Outreach Coordinator, travels to various Festivals, Fairs, Schools and other community events in the region with the MEO and Maybelline. Maybelline, the smallest animal in the EQUI-KIDS herd at 10 hands high, travels with the MEO as EQUI-KIDS’ mobile ambassador.

The first of its kind in the country, the MEO was funded by a grant received from the Ronald McDonald House Charity in 2002. This 28-foot, wheelchair accessible custom-made trailer includes a horse stall and interactive displays. The MEO’s purpose is to expand awareness and to educate the public on the benefits of equine assisted activities for individuals with disabling conditions.

To read Don’s feature story in our Summer 2011 Newsletter, click here.