Sonshine Equine facilitates healing of body, mind and soul with horses.
"Where the LOVE of CHRIST Shines"
Sonshine Equine Pavilion is coming together
Thank you to all who made this building a possibility
Thank you to our supportive community and FACES (Freeman Assists
Communities with Extra Support) for your donation to help us complete the projects.
Support our Mission
Sonshine Equine is a non-profit center. Your support and contributions will enable us to sponsor riders and meet our centers goals.
When using PayPal please select that the donation is for family and friend.
Welcome
Sonshine Equine Horsemanship and Therapeutic Riding Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) teaching center located in Sussex County Delaware. Its faith-based orientation promotes a caring and loving environment necessary for healing of children and adults in our community.
The mission of Sonshine Equine is to help facilitate the healing of body, mind and soul though professionally designed and structured equine activities. These activities positively effect the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of anyone that chose to be around horses.
The facility is a professional member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH).
At our center, we individually design a teaching profile for each rider or non-rider that addresses the specific needs and goals of each person.
Benefits of riding horses
- Builds assertiveness/problem solving, Develops empathy/compassion,Increases emotional awareness, understanding and stability, Enables people to pick up social cues, Teaches tolerance and patience, Encourages self-regard/self-respect, Demands muscle flexibility and strength, Improves fine and gross motor skills including balance and endurance, Reduces stress/anxiety, Body awareness, Coordination
- Animals create special relationships with humans and this is especially true with horses. The nonverbal communication between a human and horse strengthens the emotional bond that is shared. Therefore, words aren’t needed for human and horse to be perfectly in tune with each others emotions and the relationship between them creates love and understanding that is often indescribable.
Non riding activities
We also offer non riding activities for anyone interested in learning to care for a horse on the ground. Those activities may include grooming and bonding with the horses.
Donations and Scholarships
Sonshine Equine relies primarily on private donations in order to provide scholarships to those who would not otherwise be able to participate. You can make a donation by clicking on the link above, going to Facebook and click on donate now or send via mail.
Lessons and Camp
Lessons:
If you are interested in scheduling a lesson please call to set up a meet and greet. The meet and greet is designed for you to tour the center, meet the horses and volunteers. All lessons are scheduled in 5 week blocks on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Lesson are for anyone from the age of 5 years old and up. If you have a horse enthusiasts under the age of 5 years, reach out to us.
Sonshine Equine offers foundational horsemanship training and riding lessons for all ages. The riders will learn to work with horses on the ground and in the saddle, if desired. You do not have to ride a horse to benefit from working with horses. We design a teaching plan based on the goals that are set for the rider. The rider is encouraged, empowered and supported by the loving volunteers at Sonshine.
Summer Camp: ALL CAMPS FOR 2022 ARE FULL
We have 5 Summer camps for 2022. The camps are for kids ages 5 years to 13. The camp is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am until 2pm. The kids learn all things horses to include:
How to handle a horse on the ground and in the saddle
How to care for the daily needs of the horse
How to groom properly and why grooming is important
How to tack up a horse
How to ask a horse to walk up, whoa, turn using your hands and body
We do crafts
Play games
Give horses a bubble bath and more
Home School Groups
We welcome home school groups that want to come visit and learn more about horses. This is an educational experience for all. Please call for more information.
Community Service Opportunities
Sonshine has a Community Service program that allows individuals to receive hours for school credit by helping at the center. It is a wonderful way to teach our young adults about volunteering and giving back to the community.
Summer Camp Vaulting lesson
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Thank you to all that have donated and continue to support Sonshine Equine. We have received riding helmets, saddles, barn equipment and financial donations. You are all a true blessing!
Our new building fundraiser is underway and we would appreciate any support.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
* Donations of any amount to sponsor a rider for the 2022 season
* Sponsor a horse for a month
* Support us by shopping on smile.amazon.com and select Sonshine Equine as your non profit organization to support. When you shop on Amazon Sonshine will get a percentage.
* Volunteer weekly
* Share our mission
*Amazon wish list
*Gift cards to Tractor Supply and Southern States
FINANCIAL DONATION
Your financial donation allows us to set up scholarships to sponsor a rider to ride for free. We currently have 5 riders on the wait list for scholarships.
Sponsor a horse
You may sponsor a horse with your donation as well. When you sponsor a horse you will receive a photo of the horse and profile. You may also schedule a time to come visit the horse and groom them. Bring carrots because they all love them.
FAQs
if I want to sponsor a child to ride how does that work? We offer a 5 week Riding session. The sponsored rider will come 1 day a week for 5 weeks to learn about horses and ride if that is their goal.
If I know a child that you think would benefit from coming to Sonshine Equine, can I sponsor them? of course, with the parent or legal guardians consent.
Can I bring a group of people to meet and learn about the horses? Yes, we have groups that come and enjoy the experience of being around horse. We are open to school field trips, private groups, church groups, business, or any group that wants to learn horsemanship.
Do you teach adults to ride? Yes, we teach to all ages.
About Us
The mission of Sonshine Equine is to enhance the development and quality of life for children and adults with everyday challenges. We focus on providing skill based instruction in a safe, nurturing and loving environment.
"Horses mend hearts and souls.
Jan Baldt and Dr. Christopher Baldt are the founders of Sonshine Equine. Jan is a Delaware native and has been teaching in children’s ministry for 15 years. She has over 20 years of riding and horsemanship experience. She has owned and operated the daily responsibilities of a barn that offered horse boarding, riding programs, camps, pastu
Jan Baldt and Dr. Christopher Baldt are the founders of Sonshine Equine. Jan is a Delaware native and has been teaching in children’s ministry for 15 years. She has over 20 years of riding and horsemanship experience. She has owned and operated the daily responsibilities of a barn that offered horse boarding, riding programs, camps, pasture management and equine nutrition.
Dr. Baldt is a local, Human, dog and equine chiropractor who has been in private practice for over 30 years and is involved in our mission at Sonshine Equine. He treats humans and dogs in his practice in Long Neck, De. You can find more information by going to www.drbaldt.com
Come meet our miniature donkeys at Sonshine Equine...Wilma and Pebbles. Wilma is the mother and Pebbles is the daughter. Some days Pebbles thinks she is the boss! They love horse cookies and getting groomed or any attention they can get. They will put a huge smile on your face and give you tons of love.