Equine Unlimited provides life lessons, new hobbies

Nestled just five miles from Highway 50 on Greenback Road in Rescue is Equine Unlimited Inc., a true horse lover’s dream. Owner Malinda Kregoski has over 30 years of experience to offer those who have the desire to ride and her full-service facility is open year-round, seven days a week, catering to all skill levels and interests.

Kregoski initially started her business from the back of her truck going to people’s homes as a travelling trainer. She eventually purchased Equine Unlimited in the year 2000, had it incorporated, and hasn’t looked back since.

“I’ve loved horses for as long as I can remember,” Kregoski said. “I bought my first pony from Animal Control when I was six, then joined 4-H and started showing. I knew I wanted to be out riding and training so I eventually made it into a full-time career.”

Equine Unlimited has a vast array of options available, covering nearly every want or need. They have private, semi-private and group riding lessons, horse boarding and training, barn and mobile horse/pony parties, horse day camps for youth, weddings and special events, horses for lease and sale, local trail rides and a professional show ring coach.

Most of the programs offered are geared toward children. Kregoski does work with Charter schools, 4-H and FFA programs, she is a merit badge counselor for boy/girl/cub scouts, she offers pony parties and is available for silent auctions and benefits raising money for schools. Kregoski also runs a summer camp program for children. The camp includes daily riding, instruction on horsemanship, crafts and swimming. It has been running for 15 years and much of its success she credits to her staff and the horses.

“It’s become really popular and it’s a really great way for learning life skills and responsibility,” she said. “The kids also gain friendships with the other kids and it’s so wonderful to see.”

This summer camp, along with all of the other programs offered, teach children lessons they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Kregoski said many children are shy or have low self-esteem when they first start coming to ride with her, and most have not yet found that special hobby they are really interested in doing. Riding changes most of these children for the better.

“I would say 70 percent of the kids come here and within a few months they are different kids,” she said. “They come in here and they are positive, confident, laughing and it’s so fun to watch their progress.”

Kregoski’s passion and enthusiasm for seeing children succeed is evident in more than just the programs offered at her facilities. She has taken on a mentor role to a few children who she sees have a truly passionate desire for riding. On weekends she allows the children to come to the ranch to help out and she gives them lessons on the side.

“The kids I mentor shadow me and they look up to me,” she said. “I try my best to help these kids who don’t have the opportunity financially.”

Kregoski teaches hundreds of children to ride every year through her camps, mentoring and other programs/lessons. Any parent interested in starting his/her child in riding is encouraged to take a handful of lessons without commitment to see if the parent and child like riding and enjoy the atmosphere.

“We are open seven days a week so that makes things really flexible,” she said. “And we’re always about safety first, which is comforting to any parent.”

The life lessons and improved sense of self that can be gained from working with horses is something that nobody can take away from a person. That is exactly what Kregoski has been offering to children, some as early as in diapers, through her own love and passion of horses. Experience the connection and magic of bonding with a horse for yourself by visiting Equine Unlimited Inc. at 3984 Green Valley Road in Rescue or by calling Malinda Kregoski and her team of qualified assistants at 916-718-8662. The Website also has an incredible amount of information about programs and services offered, just visit www.equineunl.com.