EquiFriends - meeting the needs of special riders
EquiFriends serves more than 100 riders per week from Snohomish, King, Skagit and Island counties. Our participants are challenged with a variety of disabilities, including ADHS, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Emotional or Behavioral Problems, Hearing, Visual or Speech impairment, Brain Injury, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Paraplegia, Stroke or CVA, Schizophrenia and other syndromes. Between 60 to 65 percent are children or young adults under the age of 20 years, with the highest concentration between 3 and 15 years of age.
Our program includes three ten-week sessions of therapeutic horseback riding and one eight-week summer session where classes are offered six days per week. These sessions include horseback riding, vaulting, drill team, competition, and sport riding. Our curriculum also includes youth job training, occupational therapy, and involvement with school districts to enhance the lives and learning of youth, as well as activities that promote the well-being of siblings, caregivers and families of our riders.