About |
Formerly a program offered by Easter Seals under the name of RISE (Riding Instruction for Special Equestrians), Equi-librium was founded in 2001 and each week provides therapeutic riding and carriage driving programs to approximately 100 children, youth and adults with special needs.
There is no “typical” Equi-librium participant. The people who come to Equi-librium are from all backgrounds, with varying degrees of cognitive, physical, behavioral, psychological or sensory disabilities. The primary disabilities include autism, ADD (attention deficit disorder) ADHD (attention deficit, hyperactive disorder), cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, TBI (traumatic brain injury), developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, bi-polar disorder, ODD (oppositional defiant disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), sensory dysfunction, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, visual, hearing or language impairments, cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.
Participants come from primarily Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe counties, both as individuals referred by physicians, therapists and psychologists, as well as in groups from other human service agencies and educational organizations. The benefits of horse therapy include improved balance, muscle tone, attention to detail, confidence and fun, all leading to a higher equality of life and greater productivity.
Equi-librium is the only Premier Accredited Center of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International organization in the region, and the only one to offer both riding and carriage driving in the Commonwealth. It is also an Education Improvement Organization, so designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as part of its Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. It is also a Partner Agency of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
For more information about Equi-librium, please go to www.equi-librium.org, or contact Cheryl Baker at 610-365-2266, Cheryl@equi-librium.org.