Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida

Mission:

Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida is dedicated to providing therapeutic riding and equine-activities to children and adults with special needs so that they may improve physically, mentally and emotionally.

Vision:

We envision a place where abilities are strengthened, where activities lead to self-confidence, and each person can experience life without limits.

Horses lend us the wings we lack. ~ Pam Brown

History:

Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida, Inc. was founded in 1982 by Soroptimist International of Boca Raton and the Kiwanis Club of Boca Raton.  The organization began as a community project of the Soroptimist women, soon developing into a fully functioning program with the help of the Kiwanis Club of Boca and several other members of the local community.  The program began by serving 6 children with special needs on 6 borrowed horses in a public field in Palm Beach County.   

Beginning as Horses and the Handicapped of South Palm Beach County in 1982, the organization and its stewards have remained vigilant to the ever-changing special needs community and societal changes.  Today, Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida offer four different programs and has grown to serve more than 135 children and adults with special needs annually through four programs, including: Therapeutic Riding, Hippotherapy, Equine-Facilitated Learning and Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy.

We manage a 5.25-acre campus within Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek that is home to a 12-stall barn, covered riding arena, grazing paddocks and a therapeutic learning center. Our equine programs are executed with the aid of 11 specially trained therapy horses and assisted by more than 300 volunteers, donating more than 10,000 hours of their time and talents. In October 2017, EATSF earned renewal as a Premier Accredited Center from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, placing the organization within the top 25% of therapeutic riding centers around the world.

By looking back, we are proud to move forward, envisioning a place where abilities are strengthened, where activities lead to self-confidence, and each person can experience life without limits.

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