2024-2025 Annual Appeal
Dear Friends,
As the year comes to an end, we reflect back on the accomplishments of each and every participant at Equi-librium throughout the past twelve months. These successes are many, as we have served over 230 unique individuals this year through programs on our farm in Nazareth, in addition to over 1,000 individuals in the community through our educational and outreach programs. Ensuring the highest quality and safety of equine-assisted services would not be possible without the generous support of our community throughout the year.
This year, it is our pleasure to introduce one very special story about the bond between a horse and his rider, and the effectiveness of adaptive riding and horsemanship. This is Ashley’s story:
MEET ASHLEY
Ashley is a Deafblind individual who has Usher Syndrome. She is completely blind and uses cochlear implants to allow her to hear. Ashley is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Leadership and working at the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. She lives with her partner, Keri, and their two cats. Ashley is no stranger to the benefits animals can bring to people with disabilities. She has worked in therapeutic horsemanship in the past, as well as with Seeing Eye Dogs, including her current dog, Emrys, who retired earlier this year. When Ashley reached out to Equi-librium in early 2024, she was quickly welcomed to the farm for an intake evaluation. “At that time, I was completely deaf and completely blind,” says Ashley. “While the team at Equi-librium said that they had not worked with someone who was Deafblind before, they would be willing to work with me and learn from each other.”
MEET GEORGE
Almost exactly one year before Ashley began programs at Equi-librium, George was entering his first official program session as a therapy horse. After 10 years of service on the Bethlehem Mounted Patrol, George was donated to Equi-librium by the Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police. Prior to his retirement from police work, George made a name for himself patrolling the city of Bethlehem, including the Historic Downtown and Southside Arts Districts. When George retired and came to Equi-librium, George’s large size, exceptional training, work ethic, and panache for public service quickly set him apart as an asset for taller adult participants.
Many of his old friends continued to support him in his new career, including Jolene Vitalos, who had begun volunteering with George in 2018 and now volunteers at Equi-librium, as well. “The first time I saw him working, this ‘retired-teacher’ heart of mine was bursting,” says Jolene. “George was all business; happy to execute the objectives of the lesson. As the days turned into more 10-week sessions with participants of different backgrounds, mobility challenges, and ages, I was convinced he found his new calling at Equi-librium.”
ASHLEY AND GEORGE: March 2024-present
When Ashley came to Equi-librium, she was quickly paired with George and therapeutic riding instructor, Joan Glass. “Joan immediately made me feel like I knew what I was doing, while challenging me at every lesson,” says Ashley. “We have worked together to find ways that I can use other senses to access parts of the riding program that are typically used with sight, allowing me to learn to ride without a lead.” One way that Joan has made independent riding accessible is by using a metronome so that Ashley can hear how close she is to the rail. Ashley is now riding about 90% off -lead, learning the length of George’s strides to navigate the arena independently.
“George is amazing!” says Ashley. “He is sassy and smart and I love every minute with him.” Ashley says that when she first started, George seemed to favor mounted work over snuggling and getting pets. However, as the two have formed a bond, their connection has deepened both in and out of the saddle. “George and I have a ‘moment’ after every lesson, when I dismount,” says Ashley. “He gets a few treats, and then he’ll put his snout in my chest, give it a little shake, and then put his head on my shoulder to take a minute with me. This connection with him is something that I never thought I would feel with such a large creature.”
Ashley’s instructor, Joan, believes their bond benefits George as well. Together, they have learned that because Ashley cannot hear well or see at all, she is more in tune to how George feels, picking up on even very subtle cues that aren’t yet visible. During one lesson, George had a problem with one of his horseshoes. Before the issue was visible to anyone on the ground, Ashley could feel that something was off and alerted her instructor.
“The most rewarding part of teaching Ashley is experiencing the joy that horseback riding brings her, especially as she masters new skills despite being a rider without sight,” says Joan. “Rather than relying on sight, Ashley connects with George by tuning into his body movements. She feels every footfall, the bend of his body, and even his facial expressions as he relaxes or becomes fussy during a lesson.” Joan explains that while many riders hope to one day develop that kind of connection with their horse, for Ashley, it is the foundation of her riding and horsemanship experience.
“The instructors, Joan, Pam, Christina, and the leaders that I have worked with have all been amazing,” Ashley says about her experience at Equi-librium. Joan has figured out how to work with my needs both hearing-wise and visually to make riding accessible. I feel so free and independent on top of George, and my instructor has helped with that.”
When you make a donation to Equi-librium, your gift helps to partially subsize program costs for every single participant in order to help keep our programs accessible. Donations assist in maintaining the care and keeping of horses like George, acquiring accessible equipment and tack, and providing continuing education and certifications to our instructors to best meet the needs of our community.
