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
Beau
Beau, our newest addition to Program, came to Equi-librium as a seasoned lesson and show horse. He stands at approximately 15.2 hands and is 7 years old. He has the cutest pink nose. This guy is Mr. Personality and is happy to be here, welcoming all the participants from his happy Dutch door. While Beau has just started his integration into Program we anticipate him being a favorite in the very near future.
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
lovey
Love Note (Lovey) is a beautiful Hanoverian/TB cross mare on loan from Sarah Kane of Maryland. Standing at a stunning 17hh and 19 years of age, she's a head turner with legs for days. Lovey has had past careers in fox hunting, low level eventing, dressage, and then was a broodmare for a short time before coming to Equi-librium. She makes a great addition for our riders who are moving up in skills and independence.
Lovey is generously leased to Equi-librium by Sarah Kane.
ECLIPSE
Eclipse is a seasoned lesson, trail and camp horse. He is a cross between a Haflinger and an Appaloosa so his color pattern is very unique and eye-catching. This guy has personality plus! Clippy as he is known around the barn made a fast and easy transition into our adaptive riding program winning the hearts of participants and volunteers. Graciously on loan from Laura Behler Equestrian.
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.
NOVA
Nova is a 2009 16 hand Black Percheron Cross mare from beautiful Gettysburg, PA. Before coming to Equi-librium, Nova was used for trail riding and carriage driving tours at the historic battlegrounds and park. Nova arrived late Spring 26' to Equi-librium, and is starting her journey in program flawlessly. She has many fans in adaptive riding classes as well as EAM participants.
Our own "Black Beauty"
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.
