Learn about Community Partners – Equul Access
A great piece of the McLeod For Tomorrow leadership program is learning about the assets that exist in our community. Equul Access is one of those gems that provides such a needed service for our area. With a mission of partnering humans and horses to improve lives, they do their part to give others equal access to horses.
While once a necessity, some may now consider equine partnership to be a luxury. Although the transportation need for horses has diminished, the therapeutic benefits of partnering humans to horses is backed by statistics. The executive director, founder, and instructor at Equul Access has spent most of her adult life researching evidence based practices to create effective opportunities for the clients they serve.
Throughout the world, horseback riding benefits the bodies, minds, and spirits of individuals with physical, cognitive and /or emotional needs. A horse’s gait, similar to the human walk, helps strengthen spine and pelvic muscles, which improves posture, muscle tone, balance, coordination, and increases joint mobility. Along with the physical benefits, horseback riding gives individuals a feeling of control and freedom that promotes confidence and increased self-esteem. Additionally, it also helps motivate thinking and concentration, required skills needed to master riding and/or relationship building with the horses.
Benefits of Partnering with Horses
Educational, psychological, physical and emotional benefits can be found by introducing horses to people with physical, cognitive and/or emotional needs. The organization can utilize programming to fit any or all of these needs into the therapies given. Therapeutic services are available to anyone who is aged 4 or older and has a need for equine assisted therapies.
Equul Access provides quality horsemanship by certified professionals with accredited therapeutic programs. Services include Social, emotional development, leadership and team building, therapeutic horsemanship, character building and anti-bullying, and caregiver support programs. The individuals and groups that can benefit from the services offered are left up to the confinement of imagination.
To learn more about the services offered by Equul Access, click here.
Celebrating 20 Years Serving the Community
Operating solely off of volunteers and four-legged staff, Marsha Anderson founded Equul Access 20 years ago. The kinds of services offered have evolved and expanded over the years, the purpose of the organization continues to ring true. Originally, the intention was to help individuals with disabilities. This quickly transformed to serving all abilities and needs.
September is the official 20th anniversary for Equul Access. To celebrate, they are having an event on Saturday the 24th. Learn more about the event, how to attend, and how to support their initiatives here.
Our Connection
Marsha Anderson, the founder of Equul Access, is a graduate of the 2021-2022 Mcleod For Tomorrow program. Throughout the year, we learned about the work that they do and her passion for helping others. This brought us to tour the farm and experience it first-hand. Many of our participants had never been around horses in their entire lives prior to touring Equul Access. Some found working with them to be really enjoyable. We all left energized and fulfilled.
A component to working with four legged animals is that it pushes some people outside of their standard comfort zone. All services are based off of the individual goals and bring different experiences to work through than clinical settings might.
The work done at Equul Access generates significant value for the community. We appreciate the opportunity we had to learn about them, get to know the 4-legged workers, and enjoy the farm.
