During the fall of 2007 Equest participated for the second time in a voluntary accreditation process through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), the national organization with whom we have been affiliated since 1998. Equest was successfully accredited for its first 5-year term in 2002. Since this term had expired we invited NARHA to review us again.

Two NARHA representatives spent a day at Equest reviewing files, touring the facilities, observing lessons, interviewing staff, students, and volunteers, and conducting a comprehensive examination of all programming, administrative, and facility particulars. We are delighted to report that thanks to a huge effort by staff and volunteers, Equest passed this accreditation process with a perfect score on over 100 standards, and will continue to bear the seal of Premier Accredited NARHA Center. Equest is one of two accredited NARHA centers in York County, and one of five such centers in the state of Maine. Of the 700 NARHA Operating Centers nationwide, only 25% are accredited.

Equest was approved for three categories of therapeutic riding: General Therapeutic Riding, representing 57% of our programming, Hippotherapy, which is direct treatment by a PT, OT, or Speech Therapist, using horses as a movement tool, represents 40% (the largest program of its kind in Maine), and our growing Therapeutic Carriage Driving Program representing 3% of Equest’s programming. We are pleased with this achievement and plan to continue developing our programs to meet the broad needs and diverse interests of our expanding community.