EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program

Rolo was the hero today in our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program with Tree Counseling and Mediation 🌳

This client participated in a grooming and symbolic reflection exercise in which decorative hair clips, specially chosen to represent important people and memories for the client, were placed in the horse's mane. The activity promoted emotional expression, self-reflection, mindfulness, and connection. 🌸

Horses come alongside participants and meet them in an experiential space where emotions, fears, and ideas are safe. This therapeutic approach can yield astounding progress toward the participants' goals—the magic of the horse-human connection. 🌟

Great job, Rolo! And thank you to Annemarie Dern and family for sponsoring his impact 🐴

Congratulations to the amazing Christine Wardle, our June Volunteer of the Month! We managed to totally surprise her in the best way! 🌟

Christine has been instrumental in propelling students from our Job Coaching School Partnership Program to become thriving members of society. Her contributions to not only EQUI-KIDS but the entire VB public school community are inestimable. 🍎

We appreciate you Christine!!! 💐

🥹💙🫡

Some horses carry riders. JJ carried a community. His service, patience, and heart touched more lives than we’ll ever be able to count. We were blessed to have him as part of our family, and he will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, Jusino. ❤️🐴

A special thank you to Coastal Equine Veterinary Service, NC State Veterinary Hospital and Faithful Companion Pet Services for their extraordinary care and compassion for Jusino.

Thank you Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol for the memorial lunch in honor of Jusino 🐴 He was a very fine fellow 💐

This week for 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕡𝕖𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕕𝕒𝕪, help protect American horses from slaughter. 🐴

Shannon, the FarmHouse Fresh Skincare CEO, is sleeping in the barn until all 50 states support the SAFE Act being passed into law, an important step toward closing the slaughter pipeline once and for all. See the link below for a simple, quick way to support, and get entered to win some of the botanical products made on their rescue farm 🌱🍉🍯

Participate by May 31!

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One of our heroes made his way across rainbow bridge this Memorial Day weekend. 💔

Thank you to Friends of The Virginia Beach Mounted Police and Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol for allowing JJ to be a part of our program, where he was loved on by our team and participants until his last day on earth. 🐴

We are deeply grateful to Karen Wheelhouse and Family for sponsoring Jusino. As a military vet, Karen and JJ had a special bond through serving their community. 🇺🇸

Leave a comment with a memory of JJ if you wish, and flowers will be accepted for his stall throughout the week as we all process this sadness together. A hero’s journey has come to an end, but his impact will carry on in the lives of everyone he served. 🌟

To all the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, we honor your courage and sacrifice this Memorial Day. 🪖

Take a moment to reflect on the price our heroes have paid for our freedom and check out this video, One More Breath, about veterans who courageously share their stories of how connection with horses became part of their journey toward healing, hope, and finding a way forward when nothing else was working. 🐴

Viewer Notice: This film includes discussions of su***de and sexual violence. Please take care while watching. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988. ❤️‍🩹

Please share this film to help spread awareness and support programs bringing hope and healing to veterans and their families.

One More Breath: Horses Helping Veterans Heal This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the military service membe...

In honor of National Speech Language Pathologist Day, enjoy this video with our SLP, Heather Oman, about how horses help people find their voice. 🐴

Thank you to McKenzie Glass with Terratones Media House for producing this video! 🎥

A Stable Way (Short Documentary) | Equi-Kids This short documentary about Equi-Kids gives an insightful look int...

7 days left to vote!!! Help us win the May $1k 🤑

Visit www.DeckerHelps.com to see how many times you can vote 👀 Contest ends May 22!

✅ LAST CHANCE TO VOTE! ✅ Only 7 days left to vote for this month's $1,000 winner!

EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program
Paint Pink
The Friends of Foster Care

VOTE NOW at DeckerHelps.com. Voting closes after May 22!

We’re sharing an incredible story that feels especially close to home in honor of Mother's Day. This is the heart of the Horses for Mental Health Campaign, and it’s the work EQUI-KIDS does every day in our community. 💠

A 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒾𝒸𝒾𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒮𝓅𝑒𝑒𝒸𝒽 𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓅𝓎 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓂 𝒾𝓈 𝟤𝟨 𝓎𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒻𝓊𝓃𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒷𝒶𝓁 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝑒𝒸𝒽. 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓈𝒾𝓍 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓉𝒽𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓂, 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹 "𝑀𝑜𝓂" 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒.

𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓉.

This is what it looks like to go beyond clinical therapeutic modalities and introduce people to horses. In the video below, moms find space to breathe, heal, and reconnect with themselves at Acres for Life Therapy and Wellness Center in Minnesota. They courageously share their stories on how connection with horses helped them find a way through, even when nothing else was working. 🐴

Please watch and share this video and consider supporting our program via the links in the comments below!

Thank you to Horses for Mental Health’s Founding Sponsor Zoetis Equine for supporting both the programs and the horses at the heart of this work.

And to all the mothers, caregivers, and nurturers in our community, thank you for all that you do. 🌸