Equine-Assisted Services at Equi-librium

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2025-2026 Participant Handbook
2026 Program Calendar
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Equi-librium, Inc offers the highest quality of Equine-Assisted Services and is premier accredited by the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Int’l).  All activities are provided by licensed or certified staff with the assistance of volunteers. 

Program Objectives

By offering a progressive and individualized approach to equine-assisted activities, Equi-librium:

  • provides an equine-assisted adjunct that reinforces and enhances a program participant’s occupational and physical therapy programs;

  • provides a multi-sensory experience enabling program participants to develop their sensori-motor and perceptual motor skills;

  • provides a psycho-educational opportunity for learning and achievement;

  • provides an opportunity for socialization and recreation, and;

  • provides an opportunity for program participants to achieve their highest potential possible in functional horseback riding skills.

Methodology

Equi-librium uses a progressive, individualized program with each of its participants. Program participants are not usually started in the program learning traditional functional riding skills. Instead, each participant starts on the horse using an approach that reflects each participant’s level of postural control, balance, coordination, and perceptual and cognitive skills. An individual program plan is developed at the start of each season creating objective goals for the program participant. As participants progress through their goals, they “graduate” to increased skill levels on the horse leading to functional and independent riding within their capabilities.

FROM THE PATH Int'l website: THE Benefits of EAAT by Diagnosis

recreational & adaptive riding and horsemanship

This recreational horsemanship program teaches fundamental riding and horsemanship skills. Participants will develop foundational horseback riding abilities through mounted patterns and exercises, supplemented by activities involving horse care and groundwork to build multi-faceted equestrian skills along with increased independence and self confidence.

Participants in Adaptive Riding & Horsemanship classes may have other program opportunities, including Special Olympics and the Equi-librium Show Team. For more information about the Show Team, please CLICK HERE.

Equi-librium also offers specialized “Silver Saddles” Adaptive Riding & Horsemanship classes for older adults over 55. For more information about Silver Saddles, please CLICK HERE.

2026 TUITION: Group Lessons - $240/month, Private Lessons - $340/month

EQUINE-ASSISTED MOVEMENT

Equine-Assisted Movement (EAM) provides the participant with a variety of sensory-motor experiences through the movement of the horse.  These experiences can be facilitated by changing physical positioning on the horse, games, and/or altering the movement of the horse in a variety of ways (hills, footing, pace, etc).  EAM helps to develop body awareness, improved posture and balance, coordination, and motor-planning.This program is suited for individuals of all ages with impaired balance, low muscle tone, decreased strength, low endurance, or other disabilities, and can be used as a fundamental class to transition into Adaptive Riding (riding skills). 

2026 TUITION: Group Lessons - $240/month, Private Lessons - $340/month

SILVER SADDLES

This program is designed for adults age 55 and above. It combined Equine-Assisted Movement and Recreational Riding and Horsemanship strategies with fitness exercises and centered riding techniques to achieve desired outcomes and goals with regard to problem solving and sequential processing.

2026 TUITION: Group Lessons - $240/month
Special rates may be available for active program volunteers.

HORSE SHOW TEAM

Participants who are working towards independent and competitive riding may be selected for our Horse Show Team, with opportunities to show offsite in addition to the Annual Horse Show held at the farm. This program has additional costs associated with participation. Riders interested in more competition opportunities may graduate from this program to train at other local show barns. By nature, Equi-librium is not a show barn; non-competitive programs will have scheduling priority, and competition opportunities may be limited.

In addition to our Show Team, Equi-librium is proud to partner with Team Northampton Special Olympics.  Since March of 2013, Equi-librium has provided an instructor, horses, and facilities for spring equestrian team training.  Equi-librium staff and volunteers work side by side with Special Olympics coaches and volunteers to support the riders as they prepare for a competition at the farm.

Equi-librium proudly supports our participants whatever their goals may be. Our talented and credentialed riding instructors are able to help riders progress their riding and competition skills if they so desire.

2026 TUITION: $260/month. No volunteer or multi-lesson discounts are available for this program.

EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is primarily unmounted in nature. EAL promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals through equine-assisted activities.  In an EAL setting, an experiential approach integrates equine-human interaction in a guided learning experience to meet the identified goals or desires of the participant(s).  Working with equines provides opportunities to teach critical life skills such as trust, respect, honesty, and communication.  EAL is suited for individuals or groups from preschool to high school, as well as adults, and offers special learning programs for those needing emotional or mental health support. 

Equi-librium offers Ride, Learn and Grow, a division of Equine-Assisted Learning, to public schools in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. CLICK HERE for more information.

THERAPEUTIC CARRIAGE DRIVING

PLEASE NOTE: Equi-librium’s driving program is currently at capacity with a waiting list. We are not currently enrolling new participants in the driving program.

Therapeutic driving produces similar benefits as riding such as improving balance, core strengthening and trunk stability, coordination, and independence.  This program is designed for those who do not wish to, or may not be able to, ride upon a horse.  Lessons are conducted by a PATH Int’l Certified Driving Instructor.  Participants will learn how to groom, harness, and hook up the horse to cart.  In addition, learning how to steer through patterns and obstacles can help facilitate specific desired outcomes and goals with regard to problem solving and sequential processing. Equi-librium owns a Thornlea Wagon which is equipped with a hydraulic wheelchair lift.

SUMMER HORSEMANSHIP CAMP

Equi-librium’s Horsemanship Camp offers an inclusive experience providing campers of all ages and abilities the opportunity to ride and learn about HORSES!  Activities include: riding, grooming, groundwork, games, horse care, communication, educational and horse-related activities.  The ratio of camper to staff is four to one. Camp runs five days a week from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Campers must be independent with self-care skills, be able to attend group instruction for a 45-minute period of time, must have independent sitting balance, and must not require more than a leader and one side walker.  If more assistance is needed, an intake assessment will be conducted to determine the suitability of the program to the participant’s needs.

MOBILE MINIATURE HORSE PROGRAM & FARM VISITS

Farm visits offer the opportunity to learn about the basic care, feeding, communication and movement of the horse.  Fees are determined by the size of the group and amount of time and activities scheduled for the visit.  We welcome children, adults, corporations, and anyone looking to experience the beauty and fun of a horse-related educational experience.  Events can be planned to host special events, birthday parties, 4-H and Scout groups, corporations, school and community groups, or other small group events. 

In addition to farm visits, our Mobile Miniature Horse Outreach Program allows us to bring our pint-sized therapy horses out on the road for visits to schools, libraries, community events, and more.

Email christina@equi-librium.org to arrange a visit.