When people hear of Coastal Delaware, they think of surf shops, beaches, and endless restaurants. And don’t get us wrong, those things are abundant and beautiful features about our area of Coastal Delaware.
But we love when we get to shock people with some of the incredibly niche and unique small businesses that are located here in our beautiful beach towns.
Sonshine Equine is a local equine learning center on Yeshua Lane in Millsboro where kids, teens, and students can learn, grow, and build confidence through meaningful time with horses.
With programs focused on connection, responsibility, emotional growth, and hands-on learning, it has become a special place for young people and families in Coastal Delaware.
About Sonshine Equine
Jan has worked with horses and people for more than 26 years, and Dr. Baldt is a human, horse, and dog chiropractor in Millsboro.
The center’s vision is to provide a safe space where participants can experience love, hope, grace, and joy.
Its mission is to encourage and empower neurodivergent youth and female adolescents through engagement with horses.
Sonshine Equine focuses on acceptance, relationships, honesty, patience, discipline, respect, and fun.
From the first visit, participants are given hands-on experiences that help them connect with the horses while building confidence, empathy, communication, and personal growth.
The center also has interactive riding trails, ponds, a year-round pavilion for day and evening classes, and full equine equipment for safety and comfort.
The name & logo of the business came from a drawing done by her grand-daughter, inspiring her to use her horses to help people and those in the local community find a home in her barn.
Our team highly encourages everyone reading to check out their quick, intimate interview with Sonshine Equine done by WBOC – you can access the video here.
Image: Sonshine Equine
Programs, Camps, and Events
Sonshine Equine offers several programs throughout the year, with options for children, teen girls, students, riders, and non-riders.
Equine Education introduces horsemanship through horse care, groundwork, riding exercises, and horse games.
These sessions help participants build core strength, balance, coordination, concentration, problem-solving skills, confidence, and compassion.
Sessions are offered in 5-week blocks and are priced at $50 per session.
The Shine Program is designed for girls ages 12 to 17.
Participants meet in a small group setting with up to two girls, where they can talk through challenges that are common among teens while working with horses in a safe and supportive environment.
Topics include identity, purpose, goals, emotions, choices, and the desire to be seen and known.
The program runs for 12 weeks, meets once a week for 90 minutes, and costs $50 per week or $600 for the full program.
Oasis is a monthly gathering for teen girls ages 12 to 17. It is meant to feel relaxed and fun, giving girls space to spend time with the herd, enjoy pizza, talk about real life, and connect without pressure or judgment.
The gathering takes place monthly on Tuesdays from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and costs $25 per person, with a $100 group rate for 5.
Sonshine Equine also offers educational field trips specifically designed for students with diverse educational needs.
These 2-hour visits focus on experiential learning, animal care, and enrichment in a peaceful, structured, sensory-friendly environment.
Students can participate in interactive activities, learn about horses and donkeys, help with feeding and daily routines, join grooming activities, and meet miniature horses like Nazarene and donkeys.
Upcoming events and programs on the 2026 calendar include:
- Pony Camp #1 from July 7 to July 9
- Pony Camp #2 from July 21 to July 23
- Pony Camp #3 from August 4 to August 6
- Pony Camp #4 from August 18 to August 20
- Fall Shine Program from September 1 to November 17
- Equine Block #4 from September 1 to October 3
- Equine Block #5 from October 6 to November 7
- Sonshine Family Fall Festival on October 10
- Live Nativity on December 11
Summer pony camps run for 3 days each from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
This year, Sonshine Equine is also adding Chip and Momo, a miniature horse and pony, to guide pony cart sessions for both riders and non-riders.
And you may want to meet Wilma and Pebbles too. These miniature donkeys are a mother and daughter pair who love carrots, grooming, and attention.
Image: Sonshine Equine
How to Donate and Support the Mission
Ways to support include:
- Sponsoring a rider for the 2026 season
- Sponsoring a horse for a month
- Becoming a monthly donor
- Purchasing gift cards for feed and hay
- Volunteering at the center or behind the scenes
Sonshine Equine is also raising funds for the Corral, a building that will help the center reach and support the community year round.
The project has already broken ground, but the center is still in need of $150,000.
Donations by check can be made payable to Sonshine Equine, Inc. and mailed to 31688 Yeshua Lane, Millsboro, DE 19966.
Image: Sonshine Equine
Volunteering at Sonshine Equine
Volunteers are a major part of Sonshine Equine, and you do not need horse experience to help.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and new volunteers attend orientation, training, and a background check.
Help is always needed in various areas, that can range from including the following:
- Horse leaders
- Horse-side walkers
- Horse camp leaders
- Feed team
- Handyman work
- Grounds help
- Grant writing
Sonshine Equine welcomes people who have a few hours to give, a specific skill to share, or a desire to help create a positive experience for participants and horses.
Location and Contact Information
Sonshine Equine is located at 31688 Yeshua Lane in Millsboro, Delaware.
For camp and session information, contact Jan Baldt at 302-858-1275. For Shine Program information, contact Sharon Stevens at 302-236-9302.
You can also reach Sonshine Equine by email at [email protected] for more information.
Image: Sonshine Equine
Keep following the blog for more local business spotlights, community stories, and Coastal Delaware updates.
Have any questions about our blog(s), the Coastal Delaware real estate market, or local life in our beautiful beach towns? Do you think there is something we should write about? Did you see an event coming up that we should know about? Shoot us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (302) 212-0074. We would love to hear from you!
Check out this article next
