Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center

An equine oasis tucked away in Guyton is Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center. Founded in 2006, Faith Equestrian provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons and activities for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional challenges. Students learn how to ride but also develop relationships with the horses, while being guided by PATH-certified staff and trained volunteers. Faith Equestrian’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with special needs through the power of the horse.

There are four women that see that Faith Equestrian runs smoothly and provide students with an enriching, educational experience.

Aidan Actis
Barn Manager

Aidan was raised in Gilbert, Arizona and found her love for horses there. She has been in the horse world since she was five years old, working at different rescue barns and show barns. She moved to Savannah in 2020 and now lives on the farm with her fiancé and three dogs.

Dana Starr
Volunteer Coordinator

Dana Starr grew up in Atlanta. She has logged numerous hours of volunteer work ranging from being a Battalion Family Readiness Group Leader with the U.S. Army to assisting with PTA/PTO programs in schools. Helping those in need, either emotionally or physically, has always been a passion of hers. She moved to Effingham County in 2016 and lives in Guyton with three sons and Edgar, their Staffordshire terrier.

Erin Sullivan
Program Director

Erin is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and now calls South Carolina home. She has been involved in many aspects of the horse industry, including showing, teaching, training, breeding farms and equine program management. She has been an assistant-trainer for an all-around Quarter Horse trainer coaching youth and amateur riders. In 1999, Erin became the Equestrian Director for a YMCA Camp. She was the Head Instructor at Wish Upon a Horse Therapeutic Riding Center located in Hilton Head South Carolina. She holds PATH certifications as a Certified Instructor and a Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.

Barbara Thomas
Chief Executive Officer

Barbara has many years of experience working for nonprofits and serving on numerous boards of directors. She is the former Executive Director of the Low Country Habitat for Humanity and currently leads annual Global Village trips for Habitat for Humanity International. She resides in Beaufort, SC, and has two children and three grandchildren all living in Washington, DC.

Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center offers two primary programs: Therapeutic Riding and Equine Facilitative Learning (EFL). Therapeutic Riding focuses on goals and needs specific to each individual rider with a focus on developing social skills, confidence and of course, riding skills. EFL serves six schools in Effingham County. Most of the students in this program cannot participate in traditional sports, so this activity gives them an outlet they can enjoy regardless of their physical abilities. Each school class comes to the Center with a teacher and participates in an eight-week curriculum. Classroom work is conducted indoors, and riding activities are performed under a covered arena outdoors. Students, assessed at the first and final weeks of the sessions, can see significant improvement in vocabulary, posture and core strength.

Faith Equestrian also holds special events, field trips for groups and summer camps for youth. Throughout the experiences at the Center, children and adults can enjoy animal interactions, grooming experience, crafts and other fun activities.

Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center also offers summer horseback riding instruction for kids May through July. Please check the website for details!

(912) 728-3728 | www.faithetc.org

243 Appaloosa Way, Guyton, GA