Equest Special Riders Inc.
Instruction for physically and mentally challenged horseback riders since 1982
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Tacoma, Washington .
Welcome
Equest Special Riders Inc. is a non-profit organization of trained volunteers who provide therapeutic-recreational horseback riding and instruction for persons left physically or mentally dysfunctional through irregularites of birth, high fevers, disease or trauma from an accident.    A few students are adults; the greatest majority of the Special Riders are children.  Children, who might never have walked, enjoy a chance to experience the exhilaration of moving freely, mounted atop a horse.  While riders are involved in specialized games designed to improve coordination, the horse's gait massages their leg muscles.  You need only watch one session to realize how much riding impacts the self-confidence and well being of the students.  

Equest Special Riders, Inc. is a registered nonprofit corporation with tax-exempt status under Section 501(C)(3) of the IRS Tax Code.   All monetary or in-kind Donations are tax deductible.  Our tax ID number is 91-1220703
Thank you for your support!
Equest is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International PATH.  Our riding instructor is PATH Certified
click to go to PATH site
We are looking for Saturday & Thursday volunteers that can come on a consistent basis each week.  That can be every week, every other week or maybe just one or two sessions. Our ability to offer classes depends on knowing if we have enough volunteers to ensure safe classes for our riders.  Without consistent volunteers we cannot run classes safely and, in some cases, we have to send riders home if we don't have enough volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering, we have 3 classes that are conducted on Saturdays from 10am and end at 1pm and 2 classes that are conducted on Thursdays from 7pm to 7:45pm.   You must be 14 years or older and can walk in a sand arena for 45 minutes at a time.  You will be helping get the horses ready for class and sidewalking with our riders. 

Please contact us at oldhawkin3@comcast.net and we will send you volunteer information and the time of our next training.



We are in need of Saturday  &  Thursday Volunteers
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Debbie Maroon, Equest President and member of the Equest family for over 25 years. Her untiring devotion to Equest has allowed us to weather many a storm. She will be missed and remembered by many riders and volunteers that she has mentored thru the years. Remembrance gathering to be announced at a later date.
Avalon Photo May 2022
Horse Health Expo 

Thanks to Tacoma Equine Hospital for allowing us to have a booth and let everyone know what we do. 

January 21, 2023

Susan Holloway, Michelle Provan, Linda Williams, Pat Bliss, Patty Gillette & Pam Earl
Not pictured Jolene Barabe 
We had our first volunteer appreciation party July 8th 2023 since COVID. We gathered at Round Table Pizza to acknowledge volunteer hours and say goodbye to two of our volunteers.
Volunteer Appreciation Party     July 8, 2023
The August 2nd to 6th C-Fair horse show comes to a close.  This is our top monetary contributor to support Equest.  Lots of work by Equest Volunteers taking care of the awards.  Thanks to The Morgan Horse Club making us the beneficiary of this show. 

We want to thank our Equest volunteers who gave up your personal and Family time to help make the show run smoothly.

Patty Gillette, Jolene Barabe, Susan Holloway, Martha Macias, Pat Bliss, Debra Goltiani, Michelle Provan and Linda Foster 
Thursday night Halloween class
No Classes Thursday October 26th