EQUI-KIDS currently offers a variety of equine-assisted activities. Our services include therapeutic riding, therapeutic horsemanship, hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted psychotherapy with a licensed mental health provider. All services are provided by credentialed professionals.
Therapeutic Riding provides mounted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with special needs. Therapeutic benefits include increased muscle strength, balance, coordination, motor skills, communication, self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence.
Therapeutic Horsemanship provides un-mounted activities that focus on teaching participants various equestrian skills while improving their cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral skills.
EQUI-VETS Service Program offers physical and mental healing through equine-assisted 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.
EQUI-HEROES Service Program is a collaborative program with the Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol that provides equine-assisted services to first responders and other support personnel affected by the mass shooting that occurred in 2019. This program launched in 2021 and is offered at no cost to the participants.
The goal is to help clients, through attentive interactions with horses, to achieve self-esteem, self-awareness, confidence, trust, and empathy, to gain a sense of responsibility, and to develop better communication, teamwork, leadership and social skills. These services are provided by Licensed Mental Health Professionals and Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning.
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.
EQUI-KIDS has partnered with Virginia Beach City Public Schools to create a collaborative equine-assisted learning program. Our instructors work with special education teachers to create a one-of-a-kind curriculum to help meet the individual needs and goals of each student.
Job Coaching is a collaborative program with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Office of Exceptional Children. This program provides job coaching, in partnership with the school, to young adults with special needs. This helps participants acquire life skills and receive hands-on training for the social and task-related skills needed to prepare for entering the workplace after aging out of the public school system.
Looking for an extraordinary camp experience for your child over the summer? Look no further than EQUI-KIDS Horse Camp. Each day campers will receive both mounted riding and ground lessons in order to learn proper horsemanship while having tons of fun! The camp will help to build positive relationships with fellow campers, our equines, staff, and counselors.
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