Equest’s Mission
To enhance the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs by partnering with horses to bring hope and healing through equine assisted activities and therapies.
Equest is a 501 (c) (3) public charity, IRS Tax ID 75-1823701. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Our organization is not a United Way Agency. We are dependent upon charitable gifts and grants to support our programs.
Our Story
Founded in 1981, Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship was the first therapeutic riding center in Texas. Our program quickly became an industry leader, building a solid base in the North Texas community serving thousands of clients with our unique therapy partners – our horses!
Equest provides equine facilitated activities, therapies, and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping, social, and learning disabilities and veterans with adjustment challenges. The services provided include physical and occupational therapy, equine facilitated counseling, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship, and competition.
Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas, and remains one of the largest in the country. Equest offers an engaging volunteer program that provides 40,000 hours of direct program service opportunities each year. Equest was named “2015 Non-Profit of the Year” by CNM Connect.
When Equest began more than 36 years ago, we had five riders, two horses, one instructor and 10 volunteers. We have certainly expanded since 1981. Equest now boasts 29 therapy horses, 10 instructors, three therapists, two counselors, and more than 400 volunteers; lives are changed on a daily basis for more than 3,000 clients served annually.
In May of 2017 Equest consolidated to the Texas Horse Park just south of Dallas. Texas Horse Park, a city-owned 304-acre site located in the heart of the Great Trinity Forest, is just eight miles from Downtown Dallas. Equest at Texas Horse Park currently has 38 stalls, a covered arena, outdoor arena, and 6,000-square feet of administration and therapy space. It is also home to Hooves for Heroes, one of the fastest-growing services at Equest, which empowers veterans, first responders, and military families to take charge of their civilian transition, and assume new roles within the community through equine activities and therapies.