Equi-Librium

Specialties

Equine-​Assisted Riding and Carriage Driving and other equestrian activities provide benefits to individuals with special needs physically, cognitively and emotionally. Using the three-​dimensional movement of the horse, benefits can be seen in posture, balance, coordination, sensory integration, language development, skill development, self esteem, self responsibility and social development.

For those unable to ride or choose not to ride, the Therapeutic Driving program provides opportunities for individuals to experience similar benefits to riding through the interaction and control of a horse or pony while driving from a carriage seat or their own wheelchair. Other activities such as grooming, tacking & untacking feeding, watering, and leading a horse enable individuals to learn about the care of the horse while gaining invaluable skills that transfer to home and school activities of daily living and academic achievement.

History

Established in 1982.

Equi-​librium began as Monroe County Riding for the Handicapped by a small group of volunteers from 4H and the Easter Seal Society; it served five children and had one instructor. After the merger of Easter Seals of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, the program became known as Easter Seal RISE (Riding Instruction for Special Equestrians), serving children in Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe counties. In the 80s and 90s programs were conducted throughout the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.

In 2001, Easter Seal RISE became Equi-​librium, a 501c-​3 non-​profit organization serving children and adults in Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and surrounding Pennsylvania counties. Equi-​librium now serves between 85 and 100 participants per week through ten equine-​assisted programs.

Participants have conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, social-​emotional difficulties, developmental delays, stroke, MS, and visual impairments. Many have multiple diagnoses and range in age from 2 to 85.