Our Equine Staff

At Equi-librium, we know our horses have the most important jobs of all. Our 15 therapy horses range in size, breed, and skill to meet the diverse needs of our participants. For many of our horses, therapeutic horsemanship is a second (or third!) career after years in the show ring, race track, Renaissance Faire circuit, or even the police force. Scroll down to meet the incredible animals that live and work at Equi-librium.

STAR

Star is our resident Miniature horse! Born in April 2010, he stands only 8 hands tall or 32 inches. Star came to Equi-librium in January 2020. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in his giant personality. Even though he is smaller than most ponies, Star is considered a draft horse, built for pulling. As a driving horse, Star is capable of pulling up to 3 times his weight. In his past work, he competed in driving shows and won many ribbons to show for it. He is also our famed local ambassador! Maybe you have seen him out supporting our events. If your school or organization would like to book an educational visit with Star, please contact Program Director Christina Coxe at christina@equi-librium.org.

Star was purchased through a generous grant from The Stabler Foundation.

Jackie

Born in 2007, this beautiful black 15.3 hand tall Percheron/Standardbred mare is a “Jackie of all trades.'' Before Jackie joined the herd in October of 2015, she worked in an Amish carriage operation near Lancaster, PA. Big and very strong, she effortlessly pulls the wheelchair-accessible Thornlea wagon in our driving program. Jackie is also a dependable, smooth-gaited horse for our mounted programs. She excels in driving lessons and in mounted lessons, where she accommodates our larger riders.

Jackie was purchased through grants from The Stabler Foundation and Just Born.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

SONNY

His stunning red coat and sunny disposition make Red Sun, or Sonny, as we call him, a perfect addition to our riding program. Born May 13, 2001, Sonny is a chestnut-colored registered Paint gelding, standing at 15.2 hands tall. He joined the herd in March of 2015. He is a perfect match to our mounted program with his extensive training in western pleasure riding. He can be a bit on the slow side, but that’s exactly how he helps many of our riders. His steady gaits and sweet temperament have made him a favorite of the instructors and participants alike. Sonny excels in mounted lessons with all levels of riders.

Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

Thank you to those who are helping to sponsor Sonny in 2023:
The Linsky Family

GEORGE

Read our Press Release Here!

George is the newest member of the Equi-librium herd, but he’s a familiar face in the community. That’s because George served on the Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit for 12 years! You’ve likely met George in the streets of downtown Bethlehem, at Musikfest, or at his old home at the Quadrant Private Wealth Stables, home to the Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police.

We are grateful for the opportunity to support George in his retirement from police work, and keep his mind and body active with a new career as a therapy horse! George arrived in late 2022 and spent the winter in training learning his new job, and made his program debut in 2023.

George was generously donated by the Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police.

FAITH

Born in 2000, Faith is a gray Thoroughbred cross mare standing at 15.1 hands tall. She was rescued from a kill pen and trained in Roman riding by a good friend of Equi-librium. She joined the herd in May of 2018. Faith loves participating in summer camps and school groups, as she is happy to stand patiently for hours while being groomed! She is one of our more forward moving horses and excels in mounted and unmounted lessons with riders of all levels, and in Equine-Assisted Therapy Services.

Faith was purchased through a generous grant from The Stabler Foundation.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

Thank you to those who are helping to sponsor Faith in 2023:
Jenn O’Hara & Cathy Girandola

ROSIE

Rosie is a registered Haflinger mare standing at 14 hands tall. Born April 25th, 2004, she wears a beautiful golden colored coat common to the Haflinger breed. She joined the herd in July of 2019. With her playful personality and sweet temperament, she is a barn favorite. Rosie is owned by our very own Jamie Keller, who was downsizing her own family farm, and we’re so grateful she allowed us to bring Rosie into the Equi-librium family. Rosie has many talents and excels in mounted and unmounted lessons alike, with independent riders and assisted riders.

Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

Thank you to those who are helping to sponsor Rosie in 2023:
Nancy & Bob Ehle

Guinness

Guinness is a Haflinger gelding standing at 14.3 hands tall. Born in 2013, he is a young member of the herd. He joined our driving program in 2020 after a "post-graduate education" in the highly regarded draft horse program at Morrisville State College in Morrisville, NY. His broad frame and desire to learn makes him ideal for driving. After a year driving with a cart, Guinness has graduated to driving our big, wheelchair-accessible Thornlea wagon. He loves to play and goof around in the pasture and you will often find him hanging his head through the fence. He is gaining experience every day as a therapy horse and loves attention from people. In late 2021, Guinness began training under saddle to join our mounted programs! His size and talents make him an ideal addition to our equine herd. Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

Sam

Despite his solid brown coloring, Sam is a 15.2 hand tall registered Paint gelding. Born in 2011, he had loving owners who nurtured his kind soul and rode him Western Pleasure on long trail rides. He loves people and is eager to please. Sam’s gentle spirit and calm demeanor make him ideal for our therapeutic services. He joined the Equi-librium herd in February 2021. Sam excels with independent riders in mounted and unmounted lessons.

Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

Thank you to those who are helping to sponsor Sam in 2023:
Cathy Girandola

EDDIE

Edward The Great (a.k.a.“Eddie”) is a gray Percheron gelding standing at 15.3 hands tall. Born in 1997, this Gen Z steed hails from Lancaster, PA. Before Eddie’s career began at Equi-librium in November 2021, he was a jousting horse on the Renaissance Faire circuit, traveling around the U.S. to places such as Michigan, Kentucky, and New York. Eddie excels in all programs but his favorite includes mounted games like ring toss, because it reminds him of playing with the squires.

Eddie was graciously donated by Kate Hopkins and Roundtable Productions.

Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

CHEF

Chef Graf Gunner is a 22-year-old 16.1 hand chestnut Hanoverian. Chef was previously a show horse who competed up and down the East Coast circuit in every discipline from hunters, jumpers, to dressage. Afterwards, he landed himself a great home with her Royal Highness of Roundtable Productions, Kate Hopkins. Chef was the Queen's master of ceremonies mount, where he conducted the Joust games and tournaments of champions. He also goes side saddle! He is new to our program but we have no doubt he will excel in riding classes and help to develop more advanced riding skills.

Chef was donated by Kate Hopkins and Roundtable Productions.
Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

RICKY

Ricky Bobby is a registered bay Quarter Horse gelding. His show name is “Cash In Diamonds.” At only 8 years old, he is the new baby of the program. Ricky was a former competition reining and cow horse. He is a great match for our program with his easy-going temperament, smooth and steady gaits, and curious, friendly personality.

Ricky was generously donated to us by Elizabeth Piccone of Bear Creek, PA.

Photo: Devin Lynn Photography

APRIL

April is an 11-year-old Arabian Appaloosa cross pony standing at 13.2 hands tall. Before coming to Equi-librium in June 2022, she lived at the backyard barn where she was born. Her personality is sweet, outgoing, and very curious! April is in training to become a therapy horse, in hopes that she will be a good fit for hippotherapy someday due to her smaller size. She currently participates in equine-assisted learning and unmounted lessons.

April was purchased through a grant from the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation.

Would you like to donate a horse to our program?

Equi-librium is looking for a few good horses to add to our herd! We have space for 15, and currently have 13, and a few will be retiring soon. We are really interested in finding one or two larger drafts or draft crosses, (although we do not want to consider any horses over 16 hands and 15 years old) and another pony would help to address our program needs as they currently stand. If you know of a horse that could be donated or sold (at a reasonable rate), or you have one yourself and you’d consider offering it to be used in a program like the one we have here at Equi-librium, this handy checklist, filled out and sent to us at kim@equi-librium.org would be the first step in that process. Thank you for your consideration!

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN A THERAPY HORSE?

Therapy programs are physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging for horses. We strive to keep our horses happy, healthy, and loving their jobs for many years. Here are some of the criteria we consider when looking for a great equine partner:

• sound at the walk, trot, and canter with balanced, rhythmic gaits

• well-mannered horses capable of accommodating physically unbalanced riders, adaptive riding equipment, and assistive devices

• obedient to voice and leg signals

• accepting of multiple horse leaders and the presence of professional and volunteer helpers. Side helpers walk alongside and assist our participants during lessons. Equine-assisted therapy sessions are conducted by a PATH-certified riding instructor and certified physical and occupational therapists who design movements to help participants with functional limitations.

Our equine friends who are no longer with us

CASH

From the moment he arrived, Cash stole our hearts. Born in 2003, this 15.3 hand tri color paint (brown and white paint with a black mane) is here at the behest of a former volunteer who watched Cash be ridden by every child in their family, nieces and nephews included. Now that they are all done riding, she felt Cash still had a lot of love and desire to work in him, so he's with us as long as he loves being ridden in our program. He immediately was comfortable in our program, and everyone welcomed him here - he's easy to love! Cash is here on a free lease by a friend of Equi-librium.

UPDATE 12/20/2020: It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the unexpected passing of our amazing Cash. He took ill on Monday evening and was under the care of our trusted veterinarians until the very end. Cash was a staple at Equi-librium. With his sweet personality, his unending patience and his devious charm he won the hearts of many. He showed his playful side by knocking his halter off the rack or playing stubbornly with his leaders, but showed his true worth through the patience he demonstrated with his riders. He was fun and quirky and was the source of many horse tales at Equi-librium. Sometimes the reason our friends get taken from us too early are not clear, but Cash clearly fulfilled his purpose at Equi-librium through the lives he touched and the positive energy he brought. He will be missed dearly, but will live vibrantly in our memories.  

Snickers

This welsh pony, born in 1994, is as sweet as the candy bar she is named after. This 14 hand bay pony is reliable and can handle any beginner. Her sweet disposition seems to quiet any upset child and is very patient as her little riders learn their vaulting positions. Snickers also very well trained for the experienced rider and seems to enjoy to let loose and perform a great canter.

UPDATE: 1/23/2020
Snickers Departure 
After 16 faithful years in the program, Snickers has started her transition to full retirement. Snickers has been a staple for many people passing through Equi-Librium. Her ‘snicker’ and friendly face served as a welcome to anyone who stopped by. Her health and happiness are our first and foremost priority. A special opportunity has arisen for her to be the pasture companion for a local horse in need. Her temperament and easy-going nature that has made her so valuable to our participants, will now be used to her benefit. This is a temporary placement that benefits both horses and we will be in constant communication to monitor her well-being. Although it will pain some of us to see her go, we will always have her best interests at heart, and she will always have a special place at the heart of Equi-librium.

BROWNIE

Born in 2009, this little brown pony is a fairly new addition to our herd. Even though his size is diminutive, his ability to capture attention is outsized to say the least. At 10 hands, he is, in size, in between our mini, Li’l Bear, and Snickers, our smallest pony. He can assist small riders who are here for hippotherapy, but he can also pull a cart, and will be an excellent addition to our driving program. His formal introduction at last year’s Fall Participant Horse Show and Open House was the highlight of the day! Brownie was donated to us by a friend of Equi-librium.

UPDATE (1/25/2021) Brownie, who was loaned to us through a free lease, has been a charming part of Equi-librium’s driving program for the past two years. His adorable nature and spunky personality brought lots of smiles to our farm. Many of our staff and volunteers who interacted with him have a “Brownie story” to tell. Even at only 10 hands tall, he thought he was the biggest horse on the farm. Although we loved our time with him, his owner missed him and was ready for him to come home. This new stage in his life will have him driving as a team with another pony who is not only his match in size, but his match in devious charm as well . Perhaps none of us will miss him as much as our miniature horse, Star, but we will remember him as the animated little pony he was!

SPIRIT

After two years at Equi-librium, Spirit has moved on to fulfill his potential beginning December 20, 2020. We will miss his spunky personality and his desire to lick all who pass by. Although we loved having him here, his young age and abundance of talent required more than our program could provide. His new owner is ecstatic to have him and is eager to use his talents and ambition with young riders who want to progress with their riding skills. He will be surrounded by family and kids who love him much like he is here. We wish him the best and know he is destined for a great life!

LI’L BEAR

Bear was a brown and white painted miniature horse born June 18, 1993. Although cute and cuddly, little and mighty better described him, as he was able to pull 3 times his own weight. Li'l Bear had been with Equi-librium since 2003, working in our cart driving program, our summer camps, and as an ambassador. He visited schools, nursing homes, libraries and other special community events. We will miss him so!

UPDATE: Bear passed away peacefully in his pasture on the morning of October 22, 2019. He had been slowing down of late; he was diagnosed with Cushing’s, but other tests revealed inconclusive and conflicting results, leaving our vets to conclude that he probably was suffering from cancer. Part of our program from 2003 on, he was in many ways the symbol of Equi-librium, acting as an ambassador for school children, clients at agencies, and he was always a big hit at events like our Kentucky Derby, Horse Show and our Polo match. Donations can be made in his memory.