Funding will support equine-assisted programs for children and enhance facilities.
DALLAS, TX – Equest is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $1,102,446 in grant funding from The Crystal Charity Ball to support and expand its equine-facilitated programs serving children over the next two years. Equest was one of eight Dallas County nonprofits selected to receive funding this year.
The funding will provide essential program and operating support while enabling Equest to enhance its therapy horse resources and infrastructure. Planned investments include the purchase of five additional therapy horses, including two miniature horses, a customized conversion van designed to transport up to four miniature horses, and the construction of a dedicated miniature horse barn to support the organization’s growing Mini Ambassador program.
The Equest Mini Ambassador program was developed to help individuals experience and learn about the unique healing bond between humans and horses. In addition to providing therapeutic horsemanship at Equest, the specially trained miniature therapy horses, each around three feet tall, visit libraries, schools, community events, and local VA hospitals, extending the human-horse connection to even more individuals, including veterans. Most recently, the Mini Ambassadors have played a leading role in Equest’s Literacy Program designed to help first-grade students in Dallas schools build confidence and improve reading skills.
“This extraordinary funding expands what’s possible for the children we serve—more access, more resources, and more opportunities for growth,” said Eric Lindh, CEO of Equest. “We are grateful for this support and excited to reach more families and deepen the impact of the programs we offer.”
Since 1952, Crystal Charity has distributed more than $198 million to the children of Dallas County. Each year funds raised benefit children through programs and services provided by our Beneficiaries.
For more information visit equest.org.
About Equest
Founded in 1981, Equest provides equine facilitated activities, therapies and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities and veterans with adjustment challenges. The services provided include physical and occupational therapy, equine facilitated counseling and learning, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship and competition. In 2025, with 30 therapy horses and a dedicated team of professionals, Equest impacted 727 individuals through direct services and reached an additional 1,511 through outreach and education. 431 veterans were served through the Hooves for Heroes program. Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas and remains one of the largest in the country.
