EQUATE was a pilot programme to provide employment opportunities for people with special needs.

Under the programme, persons with special needs were placed in equine-related vocations, such as stable hands, grooms, groundskeepers and maintenance crew. New employees were provided with training and support to understand their job responsibilities and to adjust to the new work environments. Trainers from APSN worked alongside job supervisors from EFS to redesign work processes and help the employees make the transition to the workplace. They were also provided with skills training through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom sessions.

As part of the pilot programme, APSN - CFA and EFS developed the training pedagogy for equine-related vocations for people with special needs.

From 2011 to 2017, EQUATE benefitted 40 trainees with special needs.