CHATS

CHATS CHATS is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit horse therapy center located in Yorktown, Virginia. We provide servi My name is Dr. Megan B. It was devastating to say the least.

McGavern, DO, MS, FACP....but more importantly, I am Cole's mother. Let me start out by saying it's been a long road!! At times so difficult, frustrating and isolating, I have not known how I was going to survive another minute....but then there have been days so beautiful, and breakthroughs so amazing, it has taken my breath away. Our son Cole was diagnosed with autism at age 4. A few days of sa

dness and disbelief then led to unending research and "warrior mode" on how I could heal my child. Along the way, I read a book titled "The Horse Boy", written by Rupert Isaacson. It changed our lives forever. We took Cole out of public school, created a homeschooling Movement Method (MM) program in 2017 and a Horseboy Method (HBM) program in 2018. In 2019, my husband and I bought almost 18 acres in Yorktown, to create what I have called a "Horse Boy masterpiece". We transitioned to the land in April 2020 with Majana and Diego. Our third Horse Boy horse, Neron, arrived from Germany in May of 2021 after 18 months of intense training. My son is not "neurotypical" by any means at this point, but we have gone from 10 words in a day to 300 plus words in an hour on the horse. We have gone from driving him to a feeding clinic in Richmond for 2 years, to him being above 90th percentile in weight. We have gone from not being able to go to the beach because he couldn't bear to step on sand, to it is now one of his most beloved places. We have gone from lugging a bike to OT for years trying to get him to be able to ride to he now can ride a bike scooter, and hover board all by himself!! We are grateful to have been able to do such a far-fetched thing and hope to be able to share this with those in the community who are going through similar struggles. Here's to strength, hope, community, peace and faith! CHATS does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color,
national origin, disability, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment.

12/17/2024

Our magical morning with Santa!

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅

We will be hosting Movement Method 1 & 2 Certification courses on January 19th, 2025 from 10-2pm!!Movement Method is des...
12/16/2024

We will be hosting Movement Method 1 & 2 Certification courses on January 19th, 2025 from 10-2pm!!
Movement Method is designed to show parents, teachers, therapists, and equine allies, how to help children with autism and other similar special needs, learn more effectively by creating an environment in which they can thrive and teaching them through their passions and motivations.
These programs are aimed at teaching perspective taking, social skills, life skills and academics that can work for any kid, special needs or not.

email: [email protected] to register OR for more information!

Pretty epic to wake up to this news Sunday morning!!!I am SOOOOOO proud of Highlander and SO grateful for Equestrian Cha...
12/15/2024

Pretty epic to wake up to this news Sunday morning!!!

I am SOOOOOO proud of Highlander and SO grateful for Equestrian Chaos who is training him to be such an amazing horse to serve the Hampton Roads community and beyond.

Even more excited to announce I will be going to the Brevard Renaissance Festival in Florida to visit him Feb 2025!!

He is in this news article below:

https://www.thehendersonnews.com/lifestyles/to-valhalla-viking-hordes-converge-on-east-texas-as-yule-festival-returns/article_57f5d878-b731-11ef-8b1c-3b8ff7c0176e.html

Get some Highlander!! Ya boyyyyyy!!!


We definitely experienced the "most wonderful time of the year" today at CHATS Christmas Sensory Saturday!!While Coconut...
12/15/2024

We definitely experienced the "most wonderful time of the year" today at CHATS Christmas Sensory Saturday!!

While Coconut was celebrating his 1 year anniversary debuting his signature "Coco sleigh rides", the rest of CHATS magic filled the air spreading Christmas cheer to the children and their families. We are so grateful to provide this opportunity to families.

We had an amazing turnout with just as many old faces as new. 💪

Thank you to the volunteers, to Santa Claus and to Coco who really showed up today!!

Enjoy the photos and videos 🎅🐎🎅🐎🎅

Horse stable gingerbread house from Tractor Supply...could NOT pass it up lolol!!
12/13/2024

Horse stable gingerbread house from Tractor Supply...could NOT pass it up lolol!!

And this photo came from a news article about the festival he is rocking out at in TX with Equestrian Chaos !! SOOOOOOOO...
12/13/2024

And this photo came from a news article about the festival he is rocking out at in TX with Equestrian Chaos !! SOOOOOOOO COOL!!

It takes a tribe! Throwback to December 2018 when we were still boarding Majana at a local barn and seeing all the amazi...
12/11/2024

It takes a tribe! Throwback to December 2018 when we were still boarding Majana at a local barn and seeing all the amazing changes in Cole....which, with God leading my actions and ideas, led me to a much bigger idea now called CHATS!!

This is the LAST week to sign up for Sensory day!email us at explorewithchats@yahoo.com to register!*REMINDER* This even...
12/09/2024

This is the LAST week to sign up for Sensory day!

email us at [email protected] to register!

*REMINDER* This event is scheduled for 1pm-3pm!!!!!!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Join us on Saturday December 14th from *1-3pm* to celebrate the holidays the CHATS way!

email us at [email protected] to sign up by 12/12!!

Highlander is getting ready to debut his performance tomorrow with Equestrian Chaos !!! He is doing AMAZING!!
12/06/2024

Highlander is getting ready to debut his performance tomorrow with Equestrian Chaos !!! He is doing AMAZING!!

Libertado stylin' his new winter blanket. Geez it's cold outside!!!
12/04/2024

Libertado stylin' his new winter blanket. Geez it's cold outside!!!

12/02/2024

For this years Giving Tuesday, C.H.A.T.S would like to take a moment to thank all our employees, volunteers, sponsors & donors.
This year CHATS has, again, received blessing after blessing.
The support shown has allowed us to grow even more than we thought possible in just one short year.
We appreciate any donations as they allow us to continue to make a difference in the lives of special needs children and their families in our community through Horse Boy Method and Movement Method.
From our family to yours, Thank you!

We are SO pumped to show you Highlander's "inner viking" as he just got to Texas with Equestrian Chaos for a big show th...
12/02/2024

We are SO pumped to show you Highlander's "inner viking" as he just got to Texas with Equestrian Chaos for a big show they are doing there!!! That's our boy!! CAN NOT WAIT to share his performances in the upcoming days!!

🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎
11/28/2024

🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎🦃🐎

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at CHATS!We hope you have a special day with family and friends. 🦃🐎
11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at CHATS!
We hope you have a special day with family and friends. 🦃🐎

11/24/2024

I GOT IT ON VIDEO!!! Halloween 2023 when we all dressed up as the Peanuts gang, one night at bed while putting on his Charlie Brown socks, he out of nowhere said "good grief!". We had been in complete silence and both tired/ready for bed. I heard the thoughts in his head that are mostly silent and was ecstatic to hear his humor!
Well as you can imagine, I am a Peanuts fan through all the holidays. We were sitting at the table just now doing this sticker by number Peanuts Christmas book that he thoroughly enjoys. When he finished the page he said "good grief"! I didn't catch that one but then he came back over after seeing my excitement of hearing what is in his head and kept saying it until I said it - that I caught on camera!

Tado came to check out what was more important than riding on him first this afternoon lololol.....why it was a puzzle T...
11/23/2024

Tado came to check out what was more important than riding on him first this afternoon lololol.....why it was a puzzle Tado! Happy Friday!

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100 Old Pond Road
Arlington, VA
23692

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Videos

Our magical morning with Santa! 🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅

Merry Christmas from all of us at CHATS !! #movementmethod #horseboymethod #equinetherapy #naturelovers

Look at our boy Highlander with some figure 8 flying lead changes!💪🐎 Equestrian Chaos #therapyhorseintraining #medicinehathealer

For this years Giving Tuesday, C.H.A.T.S would like to take a moment to thank all our employees, volunteers, sponsors & donors. This year CHATS has, again, received blessing after blessing. The support shown has allowed us to grow even more than we thought possible in just one short year. We appreciate any donations as they allow us to continue to make a difference in the lives of special needs children and their families in our community through Horse Boy Method and Movement Method. From our family to yours, Thank you!

I GOT IT ON VIDEO!!! Halloween 2023 when we all dressed up as the Peanuts gang, one night at bed while putting on his Charlie Brown socks, he out of nowhere said "good grief!". We had been in complete silence and both tired/ready for bed. I heard the thoughts in his head that are mostly silent and was ecstatic to hear his humor! Well as you can imagine, I am a Peanuts fan through all the holidays. We were sitting at the table just now doing this sticker by number Peanuts Christmas book that he thoroughly enjoys. When he finished the page he said "good grief"! I didn't catch that one but then he came back over after seeing my excitement of hearing what is in his head and kept saying it until I said it - that I caught on camera! #GoodGriefCharlieBrown

We have had a beautiful fall full of play dates with old and new friends! We work on academic, social and emotional goals...verbal communication, core strengthening, fine motor skills....we work on plain old fun where the kids can be in am environment where they are happy, free and free of being told "no" over and over! #movementmethod #horseboymethod #equinetherapy #specialneeds #specialneedseducation #autismsupport #HopeLivesHere

Happy rolls! Tado is home!

We have another anniversary to celebrate this week!! Two years ago, we adopted Coconut, our mini horse, from Colby's Crew in Charlottesville, VA! We first got him as a companion for Neron and had no idea how precious and able he was to offer love to all our horses and children. He had been given to the slaughter house at the age of 5 likely because he has a hay allergy(easily fixed with a daily antihistamine). Coco has become a favorite of the children that come to CHATS. He offers Santa sleigh rides, dresses up as Cupid on Valentine's Day, and helps children who are initially afraid of the bigger horses, realize it is not so scary! Coconut - we love you and are so grateful for you. #minipony #rescue #movementmethod #horseboymethod #grateful

Cole got to start jumping again today!! It's been so long as Diego was our main jumper and he retied last summer. I have about 20 of these videos and in every one, he is posting (awesomeness) and giggling. #happy #movementmethod #horseboymethod

💙💙💙💙💙💙NOAH💙💙💙💙💙💙 #movementmethod #horseboymethod

Unstoppable giggles and excitement cantering on Libertado🐎💙 #movementmethod #horseboymethod #tribevibes

Cole has been asking to go over the bridge with Tado since last week. Today we did it! #movementmethod #horseboymethod

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