EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program
Virginia Beach, Virginia
EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Virginia Beach, Virginia, founded in 1989. It is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center offering therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy and related programs. It serves children and adults with special needs, active-duty service members, veterans and first responders across Hampton Roads.
- Therapeutic riding (mounted lessons)
- Therapeutic horsemanship (unmounted lessons)
- Hippotherapy (physical, occupational and speech therapy) with licensed clinicians
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy with a licensed therapist
- Equine-assisted learning
- EQUI-VETS and EQUI-HEROES programs
- School partnership and job coaching
- Inclusion camps and Horse Camp
- Children with special needs
- Adults with special needs
- Active-duty service members
- Veterans
- First responders
- Students through a Virginia Beach City Public Schools partnership
More about this center
About the Program
According to its website, EQUI-KIDS serves participants from age 5 to seniors in their 90s, with more than 150 recorded diagnoses and more than 800 participants a year. The center began with one horse and four riders.
Therapeutic riding and horsemanship lessons run year-round in six-week sessions, with one lesson a week. In hippotherapy, licensed physical, occupational and speech therapy clinicians use the horse's movement as part of treatment. Equine-assisted psychotherapy follows the Eagala model, with a licensed therapist and an equine specialist. It is ground-based and needs no riding or horse experience.
Veterans and First Responders
EQUI-VETS, launched in 2010, offers therapeutic riding, horse care and outdoor activities for active-duty and retired service members. EQUI-HEROES serves first responders. Both are offered at no cost to participants. Read more about equine therapy for veterans.
The Farm, Horses and Staff
The program is based on a 92-acre, ADA-compliant property off Sandbridge Road with more than 50 acres of wooded riding trails. The center's annual report lists 20 therapy horses.
Marni Caruana Yeates is the executive director and Kathy Chitwood is the program director. The staff includes a speech therapist, and new riders are assessed by a PATH-registered instructor.
Volunteering
Volunteers are a large part of daily operations, with several hundred volunteers giving more than 14,000 hours a year. No experience is needed. Volunteers must be 14 or older (21 or older for the veterans program) and attend an orientation, held monthly. To sign up, call 757-721-7350 or email volunteer@equikids.org.
Location
EQUI-KIDS is at 2626 Heritage Park Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, on 92 acres off Sandbridge Road. It serves Virginia Beach and the wider Hampton Roads region.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I enroll a rider?
Call 757-721-7350 or email information@equikids.org with the person's age, diagnosis and physical limitations. The program director reviews the information, then schedules an assessment with a PATH-registered instructor and a facility tour, where families receive a registration packet that includes a physician statement.
How long does it take to start lessons?
The center says the average time from first contact to a first lesson is about two months. If no openings are available, riders are placed on a waitlist.
How much do lessons cost?
Therapeutic riding lessons are $35 to $65 per lesson and unmounted horsemanship lessons are $25 to $45, depending on group size. The center says it never turns away a participant because of cost, and scholarships from program sponsors are available. EQUI-VETS, EQUI-HEROES and the school partnership program are free.
What do hippotherapy and psychotherapy cost?
Call program director Kathy Chitwood at 757-721-7350 or email kathy.chitwood@equikids.org for current rates.
Location
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.