EQUUS Foundation

MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Special Equestrians harnesses the healing power of horses to transform lives. Our mission is to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals with disabilities through the equine experience. We provide year-round Equine-Assisted Services, creating life-changing pathways through mounted and unmounted activities.

Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic Mounted Services
    Therapeutic Unmounted Services
    Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

7: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Special Equestrians

     1. Dana Fielding

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor in Training, B.S. in Biological Psychology

2. Debbie Saffren

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Registered Therapist in Hippotherapy, American Hippotherapy Association Level I certification

3. Janice Witt

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Registered & Licensed Occupational Therapist, B.S. in Psychology, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

4. Kathy Harris

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl. Certified Riding Instructor

5. Lara Feldman

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH Intl Advanced Level 1 Certified Instructor, Certified Equine Massage Practitioner, B.S. in Equine Science, M.S. in Animal Science, an MBA and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Organizational Business Leadership.

6. Leslie Mangigian

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, Master’s Degree in Special Education, PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor in training

7. Megan Glenn

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Special Equestrians

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation, M.S in Occupational Therapy, in the process of Hippotherapy Certification from the American Hippotherapy Association.

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Special Equestrians offers a range of private, semi-private and group lessons targeted to specific physical, mental, and emotional needs:

     INDIVIDUAL LESSONS

     Therapeutic Riding is Special Equestrians’ largest program, offered to individuals who have challenges associated with a physical, cognitive or social-emotional disability. Students in our therapeutic riding program build confidence and independence as they develop mastery of different riding skills at their own pace. Lessons are structured to provide students with educational and hands-on opportunities to promote the development of horsemanship skills such as basic horse care and riding skills.

     Hippotherapy is an evidence-based practice conducted at our barn by specially trained occupational and physical therapists for children and adults with neuromotor, cognitive and/or sensory difficulties. Instructors use the horse’s movement as a therapy tool to achieve individualized goals aiming to facilitate overall function in a person’s everyday life. The three-dimensional movement of the equine can improve the flexibility, posture, balance, core strength and mobility of the rider.

     Silver Saddles is a program specially focused on improving overall strength, endurance and flexibility for people over the age of 55 with age-related disabilities. Lessons are focused on partnership with the horse through the use of classical dressage principles, which increases students’ range of motion, endurance, and core strength.

     GROUP LESSONS

     Special Equestrians is offering two types of equine-assisted activities that meet community partners’ needs as well as our safety protocols:

     1) Off-site, ground-based programming. Special Equestrians brings two horses directly to community partners for ground activities. The goal is to provide enjoyment and learning opportunities for individuals with developmental, intellectual and emotional disorders. For students on the autism spectrum these sessions provide a unique opportunity for growth and development in social communication through activity-based learning that harnesses the transforming power of interaction with horses. For all participants, it helps them overcome a fear of the horses and regulate behaviors. They will learn safety awareness around horses, and how to groom and a general overview of horsemanship.

     2) Small groups of on-site visits to Special Equestrians for mounted and unmounted programming. These programs operate in close collaboration with local alternative schools, residential homes for children, and at-risk youth. Lessons and workshops help promote team building with peers, positive communication skills, increasing awareness of others, and empathy. The trusting nature of the horse-human connection encourages participants to lower their defenses and their habitual reactivity and become more receptive to new ideas and positive relationships with others. SE also works with children whose families are impacted by cancer and is developing a special onsite program for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

     Special Equestrians offers a one-week summer horse camp in August for children with disabilities ages 8 to 16. Activities include group therapeutic riding lessons and unmounted instruction on horse care and stable management, arts and crafts, team-building activities, and downtime to relax with therapy dogs. At the end of the week, campers will participate in a horse show to demonstrate their new skills to family and friends.

Community Outreach and/or Public Education:

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Special Equestrians holds two student horse shows every year. These events introduce the community to the power of therapeutic riding and the programs offered at SE and give families and community members an opportunity to see riders build confidence by displaying their talents and receiving ribbons for showing their horse. In addition, we offer a Holiday with the Herd open house in December that allows the community to get an up-close look at our horses and get their photo taken with a horse.

     Special Equestrians also transports one or two of our therapy horses to several senior living communities so that residents are able to interact with the horses for one hour in a one-hour, open-house format. During these off-site visits, we have witnessed many meaningful connections occur between the senior residents and our horses. Residents respond well to the calm and trusting nature of horses and their bright, soulful eyes reinforce the deep synergies between human and equines.

     Finally, Special Equestrians attends local community day events and brings 2 horses for attendees to groom and take pictures with.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine.

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered.

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation
    Lease
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner
    Return

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Auction
    Kill pen/Feedlot
    Surrender
    Seizure
    Abandonment

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares

Not Checked:
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Not Checked:
A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival attesting to the health status of the equine is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are on trial for up to 30 days
    Equines are on trial up to 60 days
    Equines are on trial for 60 or more days
    The trial period may be reduced based on the equine's progress
    During the trial period, the organization accepts total financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care
    During the trial period, the organization accepts financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care, up to a fixed amount agreed upon by the organization and the owner
    The trial period may be terminated by either the organization or the owner for any reason

Not Checked:
Equines are not taken on trial
During the trial period, the owner/donor is financially responsible for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by a veterinarian upon arrival and/or prior to quarantine departure
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip

Not Checked:
Blood work other than Coggins
The equine is microchipped if the scan indicates that there is no microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

Not Checked:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine off-site for a prescribed period of time
The equine is not quarantined

The typical length of quarantine is:   10 to 20 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Not Checked:
Jumping
Driving (Pulling a carriage)

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Photographs are taken of each equine annually and kept with the equine's health records
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually

Not Checked:
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding): Daily

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

Not Checked:
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, breeds equines
The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, are permitted to house stallions

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

Not Checked:
Our organization will never have a healthy equine euthanized under any circumstances
Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
Veterinarian

Not Checked:
    A certified euthanasia technician
    Senior staff with appropriate training
    Employee of animal control shelter or humane society with appropriate training
    Veterinary student under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
    Not applicable. Our organization prohibits euthanasia under any circumstances

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner
    Our organization does NOT re-home an equine to first time equine owners
    Our organization will only re-home an equine to a location where another equine resides
    Potential adopters/purchasers must visit our organization and be observed with the equine on site
    Adopters/purchasers are NOT required to provide updates

Not Checked:
    The distance of a potential adopter/purchaser's home from our facility is a consideration for when re-homing an equine
    Our organization conducts a site visit of the adopter/purchaser's facility before the transfer of the equine to the adopter/purchaser's facility
    Potential adopters/purchasers are encouraged to do a short-term, on-site foster with the equine

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must be notified of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization.

Not Checked:
    The agreement states that re-homed equines CANNOT be sold, adopted, transferred, auctioned, released, given away, or otherwise placed into the possession of another individual or organization under any circumstances.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must grant approval of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization, including being provided written notification of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that the terms of our organization's agreement will be binding on any future individual or organization taking and/or in possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines cannot be bred
    The agreement states that if there is any breach of contract the equine must be returned to our organization
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make unannounced visits
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make scheduled visits
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization free of charge
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization for a fee
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for one year
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for two years
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for three or more years
    None of the statements are included.
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.
    Our organization does not have the authority to transfer ownership and/or does not own any of the equines involved with our programs.

Our organization requires references from the following:
Veterinarian
Personal/Other

Not Checked:
Farrier
Not applicable or no references required.

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
Not applicable; None received

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    Equines may be returned to their owners
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian

Not Checked:
    Equines may be sent to auction
    In the case an equine is unmanageable and demonstrates repeated dangerous behaviors, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    If a suitable home cannot be located within 12 months, the equine may be euthanized
    If a suitable home cannot be located, and space is not available for the equine to remain at the organization, the organization will secure a suitable home for the equine and accept financial responsibility for the lifetime of the equine

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
Rehoming other than returning free-leased horses to their owners occurs only for horses retired completely from our programs. Our rehoming contracts are individualized agreements. We do not advertise horses needing to be rehomed nor have a standard application; we look within our SE community for a suitable home.