2004  |  Program Conception

The first several years of EquiCenter’s operation focused on meeting the unique needs of our Adaptive Riding Program participants. What started with an idea around a kitchen table became a small-scale therapeutic service for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Joe Best became our first student and he went on to save his money to buy and donate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, our first horse. Sara McLaughlin later became our first employee and now runs all EquiCenter's programs, which has evolved into one of EquiCenter’s flagship programs and offers 7,000 lessons per year to hundreds of participants.  

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2008  |  Veteran Programs

Our equestrian offerings continued to evolve in 2008, when we welcomed our first veteran rider to EquiCenter. Since then, we have developed a full range of specialized equestrian and horticultural experiences that are customized to meet the needs of our veteran participants.

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2009  |  The Move

With our continued growth, a need for more space became obvious and critical. In 2009, thanks to a generous donation from William and Mildred Levine, we moved to our current location on Rush Mendon Road in Honeoye Falls, enabling us to help exponentially more people.

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2015  |  Horticulture and Equine Active Learning (HEAL)

The other important motivation for starting our horticulture offerings was integrating horticulture lessons and outdoor education into our group programs. Primarily working with school groups, but also serving veteran groups, elder-care facilities, and other cohorts, we launched our Horticulture and Equine Active Learning (HEAL) Program in 2015. Since launching these two programs, the Farm at EquiCenter has grown into a multifaceted department that supports several arms of EquiCenter’s mission and features several standalone initiatives focusing on education, food security, and community development.

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2016  |  Cooking with Heroes

Cooking with Heroes began in 2016 sparked by a simple, lighthearted question from one of our Air Force veterans while harvesting patty pan squash: “What is this and how would I cook it?” That moment planted the seed for a program that would grow into something much more. Rooted in whole food, plant-based cooking, Cooking with Heroes emphasizes fresh, seasonal produce grown here on the EquiCenter farm. Our mission is to empower participants with healthy cooking techniques while inspiring confidence and creativity in the kitchen.

 

While many embrace the farm to table movement, our motto says it best: “Our table is at the farm.” By teaching how to turn wholesome ingredients into delicious, nourishing meals, we promote not just better eating, but a stronger connection to the land, our health, and each other.

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2018  |  Therapeutic Horticulture

EquiCenter's commitment to supporting Veteran holistic health began in 2018 with the launch of our Therapeutic Horticulture Program. This innovative initiative was made possible through a congressional appropriation for Veteran programs, administered by the Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health, and developed in collaboration with the Canandaigua VA Medical Center. Although this initial funding concluded in 2023, the program's success and the valuable refinements made over the subsequent six years have solidified its place as an indispensable tool in our approach to Veteran wellness.

 

The Veteran Farm and Wellness Program offers a cohesive year-round experience, both onsite and virtually, integrating therapeutic horticulture with culinary education to holistically support Veterans' physical, educational, social, and mental well-being. Participants actively engage in hands-on farming activities at the EquiCenter Teaching Farm, directly contributing to our growing operations from planting to harvest. 

 

This cycle of service, from cultivation to contribution, effectively leverages the Veterans' inherent drive for purpose, positively impacting their mental, emotional and physical well-being by allowing them to see and experience the direct benefits of their efforts.

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2018  |  Social Squad

Two mothers who were part of our staff saw a need for their sons for social interactions where connections could be made and friendships formed. Social Squad is a welcoming, social group for young adults 18 years and older of all abilities. We provide themed events offering guided activities to help support meaningful conversations on social interaction, handling differences, friendships, communication, and more.​

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2024  |  The Mustangs

Just a few years after we planted our first seeds at the Farm, another exciting program took root at EquiCenter. In 2018, we began our Mission Mustang® Program in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. This program empowers veterans to better manage the difficult consequences of combat and military service as they help to gentle and train wild mustangs that are adjusting to life in captivity. This program has grown to the point that it now accommodates more than 55 veteran participants and hosts more than 1,200 one-on-one lessons each year. In 2024, EquiCenter formally added First Responders to those with access to the program.

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2025  |  New Arena

EquiCenter dedicated its new, state-of-the-art arena to John and Josephine Ingle, longtime champions of the organization, during a ceremony with participants, families, employees, supporters, and local officials.

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The new arena is a significant addition to EquiCenter that provides a vital space specifically designed to better meet the needs of its participants. The quiet and climate-controlled environment will offer an optimal setting for therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning, and other crucial programs.

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In addition, the new arena also allows EquiCenter to better serve the community’s growing need for alternative therapeutic programs as it celebrates its 21st year of operation. The new building facilitates the expansion of EquiCenter’s mounted lesson program and will reduce the current waiting list, enabling more individuals to benefit from its life-changing services.
 

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