Our Equine Staff
At Equi-librium, we know our horses have the most important jobs of all. Our 14 therapy horses range in size, breed, and skill to meet the diverse needs of our participants. For many of our horses, therapeutic horsemanship is a second (or third!) career after years in the show ring, race track, Renaissance Faire circuit, or even the police force. Scroll down to meet the incredible animals that live and work at Equi-librium.
STAR
Star is our resident Miniature horse! Born in April 2010, he stands only 8 hands tall or 32 inches. Star came to Equi-librium in January 2020. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in his giant personality. Even though he is smaller than most ponies, Star is considered a draft horse, built for pulling. As a driving horse, Star is capable of pulling up to three times his weight. In his past work, he competed in driving shows and won many ribbons to show for it. He is also our famed local ambassador! Maybe you have seen him out supporting our events.
If your school or organization would like to book an educational visit with Star, please contact our Outreach Coordinator, Krista Dailey at krista@equi-librium.org.
Star was purchased through a generous grant from The Stabler Foundation.
BuFORD
Born in 2003, Buford is a sleek black-and-white registered Paint gelding, standing at 15.3 hands tall. Handsome and with impeccable manners, he reminds us of an English butler! Before starting his journey as a therapy horse, he was involved in a lesson program doing dressage and hunter/jumper activities. He took to therapeutic riding immediately with his wonderful disposition and experience. Buford excels with independent riders in mounted lessons and unmounted lessons.
Buford was purchased through a generous grant from The Stabler Foundation.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography
Jackie
Born in 2007, this beautiful black 15.3 hand tall Percheron/Standardbred mare is a “Jackie of all trades.'' Before Jackie joined the herd in October of 2015, she worked in an Amish carriage operation near Lancaster, PA. Big and very strong, she effortlessly pulls the wheelchair-accessible Thornlea wagon in our driving program. Jackie is also a dependable, smooth-gaited horse for our mounted programs. She excels in driving lessons and in mounted lessons.
Jackie was purchased through grants from The Stabler Foundation and Just Born.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography
SONNY
His stunning red coat and sunny disposition make Red Sun, or Sonny, as we call him, a perfect addition to our riding program. Born May 13, 2001, Sonny is a chestnut-colored registered Paint gelding, standing at 15.2 hands tall. He joined the herd in March of 2015. He is a perfect match to our mounted program with his extensive training in western pleasure riding. He can be a bit on the slow side, but that’s exactly how he helps many of our riders. His steady gaits and sweet temperament have made him a favorite of the instructors and participants alike. Sonny excels in mounted lessons with all levels of riders.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography
GEORGE
George is the newest member of the Equi-librium herd, but he’s a familiar face in the community. That’s because George served on the Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit for 12 years! You’ve likely met George in the streets of downtown Bethlehem, at Musikfest, or at his old home at the Quadrant Private Wealth Stables, home to the Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police.
We are grateful for the opportunity to support George in his retirement from police work, and keep his mind and body active with a new career as a therapy horse! George arrived in late 2022 and spent the winter in training learning his new job, and made his program debut in 2023.
George was generously donated by the Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police.
George is currently sponsored by Jolene Vitalos, Nancy Kembel, Stacey Burke and generously supported by many friends in the community.
LITO
Born May 5, 2008, Lito is a bay 14 year old French Trotter gelding standing at 16 hands tall. Imported from France, he had a lengthy career in harness racing before he joined our team. With his impeccable manners and calm demeanor, he has great potential to become a superstar in our programs! Lito joined our herd in late 2022 and fit into volunteer lessons right away, making his official program debut in early 2023. Lito loves attention - and the press - and has an in-your-pocket personality that makes him a fast favorite with everyone he meets.
Lito was generously donated to Equi-librium by Deborah Dagurt
TIMBER
Timber is a 14.3 hand tall Gypsy Vanner gelding and the youngest member of our herd, born in 2018. Timber was formerly a logging horse but quickly learned the ropes of being a therapeutic riding and driving horse upon joining our herd in 2023. He is very curious and playful but has already proven, despite his age, to be a great addition to our herd by participating in both our driving program and mounted lessons.
Timber is generously leased to Equi-librium by Polly and Lauren Beste
OPIE
Opie is a 20 year old APHA gelding. He is a “been there, done that” both in English and Western. He came from a family farm in western NY. He is great with kids and has competed in Interscholastic Equestrian Association shows, where he was ridden by many young riders. At 16 hands, he’s also tall enough for older riders! Opie quickly joined our adaptive riding program, and made his show team debut in 2025.
Thanks to generous 2024 grants focused on equine capacity building, Opie’s purchase, transportation and cost of care have been sponsored by both the Stabler and Weiler Family Foundations.
LIBBY
“Babe’s Liberty” is a 14.2 hand chestnut registered Quarter Horse mare. Born May 7th, 2002, she has won many awards competing locally and on the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) circuit. She joined the herd in May 2019 and immediately made friends with her stallmates. Libby is a barn favorite with her soft eyes, smooth gaits, gentle and willing personality, and has always gone above and beyond what is asked of her. With her extensive training and show experience in Western Pleasure riding, she is considered a “been there, done that horse,” which makes her a great addition to a program like ours. For 13 years she belonged to Diane Wampole, a good friend of Equi-librium who donates her time each year, along with her friend Donna Scholtis, to judge our Annual Participant Horse Show.
Libby was generously donated by Diane & Glenn Wampole.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography
ECLIPSE
Bio coming soon!
Eclipse is generously leased to Equi-librium by Laura Behler Equestrian.
Guinness
Guinness is a Haflinger gelding standing at 14.3 hands tall. Born in 2013, he joined our driving program in 2020 after a "post-graduate education" in the highly regarded draft horse program at Morrisville State College in Morrisville, NY. His broad frame and desire to learn makes him ideal for driving. After a year driving with a cart, Guinness has graduated to driving our big, wheelchair-accessible Thornlea wagon. He loves to play and goof around in the pasture and you will often find him hanging his head through the fence. In 2025, he joined our horse show team, traveling off the farm to competitions. His size and talents make him an ideal addition to our equine herd.
CHEF
Chef Graf Gunner is a 22-year-old 16.1 hand chestnut Hanoverian. Chef was previously a show horse who competed up and down the East Coast circuit in every discipline from hunters, jumpers, to dressage. Afterwards, he landed himself a great home with her Royal Highness of Roundtable Productions, Kate Hopkins. Chef was the Queen's master of ceremonies mount, where he conducted the Joust games and tournaments of champions. He also goes side saddle! He is new to our program but we have no doubt he will excel in riding classes and help to develop more advanced riding skills.
Chef was donated by Kate Hopkins and Roundtable Productions.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography
Chef is currently sponsored by the Gerber Family.
Would you like to donate a horse to our program?
Equi-librium is looking for a few good horses to add to our herd! We have space for 15, and currently have 13, and a few will be retiring soon. We are really interested in finding one or two larger drafts or draft crosses, (although we do not want to consider any horses over 16 hands and 15 years old) and another pony would help to address our program needs as they currently stand. If you know of a horse that could be donated or sold (at a reasonable rate), or you have one yourself and you’d consider offering it to be used in a program like the one we have here at Equi-librium, this handy checklist, filled out and sent to us at kimberly@equi-librium.org would be the first step in that process. Thank you for your consideration!
WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN A THERAPY HORSE?
Therapy programs are physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging for horses. We strive to keep our horses happy, healthy, and loving their jobs for many years. Here are some of the criteria we consider when looking for a great equine partner:
sound at the walk, trot, and canter with balanced, rhythmic gaits
well-mannered horses capable of accommodating physically unbalanced riders, adaptive riding equipment, and assistive devices
obedient to voice and leg signals
accepting of multiple horse leaders and the presence of professional and volunteer helpers. Side helpers walk alongside and assist our participants during lessons. Equine-assisted therapy sessions are conducted by a PATH-certified riding instructor and certified physical and occupational therapists who design movements to help participants with functional limitations.
