SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS’ OUTREACH PROGRAM CHANGING LIVES
Written by: Amy Oxendine
Sometimes, the best therapy has four hooves and a heart full of understanding.” At Special Equestrians in Fort Myers, Florida, this truth is felt every day. The local therapeutic riding center has been a lifeline for individuals with physical, emotional, and developmental challenges. In addition to therapeutic riding, therapeutic driving, therapeutic grooming, veterans’ programs, and hippotherapy, one of its most impactful groups is the Pony Pals Outreach Program, which brings the therapeutic benefits of horses to children and adults who may not otherwise have access to equine-assisted activities.
With its inception in 2012, Special Equestrians’ outreach program was associated with Pet Partners. All the horse/ handler teams went through an extensive Pet Partner certification and evaluation process. The evaluation included on-site testing for each team to demonstrate they could remain calm away from the comforts of their own property, with loud noises and voices, sudden movements, crowds of people, narrow walkways, being petted by strangers, reaction to distractions, standing still, and other elements to show the strength of the team.
As the program evolved, it was time for SE to bring the program completely in-house, and the Pony Pals Outreach Team was created! All teams must still pass an evaluation in order to be certified to be part of the program. The rigorous Pony Pals evaluation includes 16 different skill and aptitude exercises for the equine to demonstrate with their human partner. Currently, there are five horses that make up eight horse/handler teams. Pony Pals carries their own insurance policy, which also has safety qualifications.
By bringing horses directly to schools, community centers, hospitals, and nursing homes, Special Equestrians seeks to eliminate common obstacles like transportation, cost, and allowing more people to experience the benefits of equine-assisted activities. The group sets up stations where participants walk through and experience all that Pony Pals has to offer including a grooming station, horse food and bedding station, saddle and bridle station, and everyone’s favorite—the horse station where the live horses are standing quietly waiting to be petted and brushed.
Another fun part of the Pony Pals team is the Reading Rodeo Literacy Program Option. Our team offers the
Guinness the Rescue Pony book for participants to earn and read to the horses. Guinness is a real member of the team and is a founding equine of the outreach program. He might be a miniature horse, but he is mighty in the love he shows to all his visitors.
The Pony Pals team has impressive numbers with 18 active volunteers; it is typical to have at least 10 volunteers
helping per visit. From September 2024-May 2025, 314 participants were served through 12 visits that included 130 participants as part of the literacy program. Pony Pals has made 92 visits and served 2,283 children and adults since the beginning of 2012.
If you would like to schedule a visit, please contact Special Equestrians at (239) 226-1221. Each of the horses and
volunteers love meeting new friends and bringing the joy of the horse-human connection to our community. FCM
