Location: Canton, Georgia, United States
Bethany’s Equine and Aquatic Therapy Services, Inc. — known as BEATS — is a nonprofit therapy organization based in Canton, Georgia, that specializes in hippotherapy and aquatic therapy for children and adults with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities.
Founded in 2003 by Bethany Nugent, a licensed physical therapist and board-certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist, BEATS has served the north metro Atlanta region for more than two decades. The organization operates at Mariposa Farms in Canton and serves over 40 clients per week.
About This Program
BEATS was built on a specific clinical insight: that hippotherapy and aquatic therapy, when delivered by skilled therapists in motivating environments, can produce outcomes that more conventional clinic-based treatment may not. Bethany Nugent developed this conviction early in her career while working at a transitional living facility in Florida that offered therapy both on horseback and in the pool. When she moved to Georgia and found limited access to these services, she founded BEATS as a vehicle to both provide and fund them.
The hippotherapy program uses the natural, three-dimensional movement of the horse as a treatment medium. Physical and occupational therapists work with each client to establish individualized goals, then design sessions that use the horse’s movement to address those specific needs.
Because the horse’s gait closely mirrors the rhythm of human walking, riders engage core muscles, develop postural control, and improve balance and coordination in ways that are difficult to replicate on a treatment table. Volunteers are trained to assist therapists during each session, ensuring safety and maximizing the therapeutic benefit of every ride.
BEATS also offers aquatic therapy, which uses the buoyancy and resistance properties of water to support movement and function in clients who may face significant challenges on land. The combination of both modalities under one program gives BEATS an unusually broad therapeutic toolkit for serving clients across a wide spectrum of needs.
The organization hosts the Cherokee County Special Olympics Equestrian team and actively works to make its services financially accessible through fundraising and reduced-fee arrangements for clients who could not otherwise afford care. BEATS also supports community education through in-services, continuing education courses, and media outreach to help clinicians, physicians, and families understand the evidence base behind hippotherapy and aquatic therapy.
Founder Bethany Nugent holds the distinction of being one of only three therapists in Georgia certified as a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist. She also founded the Georgia Hippotherapy Club, serves as Georgia’s state liaison to the American Hippotherapy Association, and has mentored physical therapy students across the country through university programs.
Services Offered
- Hippotherapy (physical and occupational therapy using horse movement)
- Adaptive riding
- Aquatic therapy
- Home health services
- Special Olympics equestrian training (Cherokee County)
- Volunteer-assisted therapy sessions
- Community education and continuing education programs
- Reduced-fee and funded therapy for qualifying clients
Who They Serve
Bethany’s Equine and Aquatic Therapy Services may be a good fit for:
- Children and adults with developmental delays
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Individuals with Down syndrome
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with ADD or other hyperactivity disorders
- Individuals with traumatic brain injury
- Individuals with spinal cord injury
- Individuals with multiple sclerosis
- Individuals with muscular dystrophy
- Individuals with spina bifida
- Individuals with sensory processing disorders
- Individuals with hearing impairment
- Individuals with speech or communication challenges
- Individuals with learning disabilities
- Individuals with emotional or behavioral conditions
- Individuals with genetic conditions or disorders
- Stroke survivors
- Special Olympics participants
Facility and Setting
BEATS operates its equine therapy program at Mariposa Farms in Canton, Georgia, in the Cherokee County area north of Atlanta. The horse herd ranges from small ponies to large draft horses, selected and continually evaluated for their suitability as therapy animals. Aquatic therapy services are provided through a separate contracted facility arrangement.
- Canton, Georgia location (Cherokee County)
- Physical address: 75 Red Gate Trail, Canton, GA 30115
- Mariposa Farms equine facility
- PATH certified instructors on staff
- Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist on staff
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Volunteer-supported program model
What Makes Them Unique
BEATS occupies a rare position in the Georgia therapeutic riding landscape. The combination of hippotherapy delivered by licensed, credentialed therapists alongside a parallel aquatic therapy program is uncommon, and having both under one organizational roof allows clients to access a more comprehensive approach to therapy than most single-modality programs can offer.
Founder Bethany Nugent’s credentials set BEATS apart further. Her status as one of very few Hippotherapy Clinical Specialists in Georgia, her role in founding the Georgia Hippotherapy Club, and her long tenure as a faculty member and mentor with the American Hippotherapy Association reflect a program built from genuine clinical expertise rather than volunteerism alone.
For families in north metro Atlanta seeking hippotherapy delivered at a high clinical standard, BEATS is one of the most credentialed options in the region.