Equinovate Therapy Services

Afraid of Horses, Until Her Son Found His Words

Sara never expected horses to become such an important part of her life or career. In fact, growing up, she was terrified of them.

Years later, a friend invited Sara and her family to spend time with a horse she was selling. They began taking riding lessons, and Sara noticed something remarkable happening with her youngest son, who has apraxia of speech.

From the saddle, he began using words to give the horse simple commands such as “go” and “stop.”

Watching her son communicate through his connection with the horse changed Sara’s perspective completely. She pursued specialized training and certification in hippotherapy, eventually incorporating it into her work with children.

To this day, she considers her son one of the biggest reasons she does what she does.

Families, Not Numbers

Sara has worked in pediatric therapy for more than 13 years. Over time, she became increasingly aware of how easily healthcare can become focused on productivity, numbers, and paperwork instead of the individual child and family behind them.

She wanted something different.

About three years ago, Sara began building Equinovate Therapy Services while continuing to work her regular job. Then, about a year and a half ago, she took what she describes as one of the biggest (and scariest) leaps of her life and devoted herself to Equinovate full time.

But Equinovate wasn’t the only part of Sara’s life growing during those years.

While building the company, Sara also married her husband, Matthew Kirchner, who became part of the Equinovate story in a special way. Matthew is the person behind the company’s logo, creating the design that would become the visual representation of everything Sara was working to build.

In many ways, Equinovate grew alongside their family. What began as Sara’s dream became something the people closest to her helped support, encourage, and bring to life.

Through every uncertain moment, one belief continued to ground her:

“God always provides.”

Sara believes in Proverbs 31:25 so much that Equinovate therapists proudly wear the verse on their work shirts as an outward reminder of their faith.

That faith remains at the center of Equinovate today.

As the company has grown, Sara has worked intentionally to preserve the personal relationships that inspired her to start it. The goal isn’t simply to know a child’s diagnosis or treatment plan. It’s to know the child, their parents, their siblings, and the life happening outside of therapy.

Even Sara’s dad is part of the Equinovate family, working part time as the company’s office manager.

Equinovate is built on faith, trust, compassion, and family, with the goal of reflecting Christ in the way every child, parent, employee, and community partner is treated.

Horses With a Story

The horses used in Equinovate’s hippotherapy program aren’t polished show horses, and that’s intentional.

Jackson, affectionately known as the group’s “hat thief,” came from a shelter and carries a scar on his leg. Another horse ran through a fence before joining the family and still bears scars across his back. For some of the youngest children, there’s Bubbles, a miniature pony.

Sara believes there’s something powerful about children connecting with animals that aren’t perfect either.

“We want all of our horses to have a story, because all of our kids have a story.”

Those connections can extend far beyond traditional therapy goals.

One teenager in foster care arrived for her first session so upset she refused to get on the horse. Little by little, she earned more time with the horses and built trust with them. Today, she rides throughout the property. Even after moving to a new foster home, she continues to return to visit the horses she connected with.

Sara leads hippotherapy sessions at her Bauxite farm, and the program has a waitlist.

Meeting Children Where They Are

Equinovate’s work extends far beyond the farm.

Therapists travel throughout the community to provide services in schools, childcare centers, homes, and other natural environments, allowing children to receive therapy where they spend their everyday lives.

Sara is also a Certified Autism Specialist, and working with children on the autism spectrum is one of the areas she is most passionate about.

Sensory integration is an important part of that work.

Some children constantly seek movement and sensory input, while others may become overwhelmed and withdraw from it. Rather than viewing those responses simply as behavior problems, Equinovate’s therapists work to understand what each child’s nervous system needs.

For a child seeking sensory input, strategies may include deep pressure, weighted items, movement, or the steady rhythm of a horse. For a child who avoids sensory experiences, therapists may carefully introduce movement, textures, and activities to help build tolerance and engagement.

The goal is simple: meet the child where they are and help them move forward from there.

Feeding Therapy With a Personal Connection

Feeding therapy is another area close to Sara’s heart.

Her oldest son required feeding therapy as a baby, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges families can face when eating becomes stressful or overwhelming.

Today, Equinovate has two therapists with specialized training in feeding therapy.

It’s an example of the individualized, child-centered approach Equinovate strives to bring to every session.

No Child Should Go Without Therapy

Sara believes finances should never be the reason a child goes without needed therapy.

Equinovate sponsors care for several children whose services aren’t covered by insurance. Team members also have the opportunity to voluntarily donate a portion of their paychecks to a fund dedicated to helping local families.

That fund has done more than pay for therapy. It has helped families with bills and purchased new school shoes for children who needed them.

The company’s giving also extends beyond its own patients.

Equinovate recently prepared and distributed more than 90 food bags throughout Saline County for individuals and families who may need a little extra help. The team also brings food bags to community and vendor events so they are readily available to anyone who needs one.

The message is intentionally simple:

If you need one, take one.

No questions. No judgment. Just neighbors helping neighbors.

A New Home for Equinovate

Although Equinovate has primarily operated as a mobile therapy company, Sara has dreamed of giving families a place they can call home.

That dream becomes a reality in December 2026, when Equinovate opens its new clinic on Kenwood Road in Benton, near the Tinseltown theater.

The new location will provide another option for families who prefer clinic-based services while Equinovate continues its community-based work.

Plans are underway for a Christmas-themed grand opening, complete with a ribbon cutting and a special visit from Santa. (She also says to look for the butterflies throughout the new clinic in remembrance of her mom.)

Still Showing Up

The story behind Equinovate isn’t only one of growth. It’s also a story of continuing forward through seasons Sara never imagined she would face.

In February 2026, Sara lost one of the biggest supporters of her life: her mom.

Her mom wasn’t simply someone watching from the sidelines. She was one of Sara’s biggest fans, someone who believed in her, encouraged her, and cheered her on as she worked toward the life and career she wanted to build.

Losing her left an absence that can never truly be filled. But the love, encouragement, and strength her mom gave her continue to be part of the person (and business owner) Sara is today.

Then came another chapter she never expected: a rare form of breast cancer.

Sara is currently running Equinovate while undergoing cancer treatment. At first, she didn’t want anyone to know. Eventually, she realized that cancer, like grief, had become part of her story, but neither had to define the rest of it.

Through loss, treatment, difficult days, and uncertainty, Equinovate has continued to grow. Children are still receiving therapy. Families are still being supported. A new clinic is preparing to open. And Sara continues building the dream that so many people she loves have helped her believe in.

She continues to show up.

Her husband and family continue to stand beside her.

Her team continues to show up.

And somewhere in everything Equinovate continues to become is the influence of the mom who was one of Sara’s biggest fans.

The mission remains the same: to serve children and families with compassion, faith, and the belief that every person who walks through Equinovate’s doors (or meets one of its therapists in the community) is far more than a number.