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.

08/26/2025

Somebody had fun at his play date today!!! Check out our story board to see who!! 🐎💙

Come take a swing in our new hammock overlooking the paddocks and barn at a play date or upcoming event. Boy, does that...
08/25/2025

Come take a swing in our new hammock overlooking the paddocks and barn at a play date or upcoming event. Boy, does that look relaxing!!

A beautiful write up below on Tribe Day by Joell Dunlap of Square Peg Foundation (where Libertado came from). It was gr...
08/18/2025

A beautiful write up below on Tribe Day by Joell Dunlap of Square Peg Foundation (where Libertado came from).

It was great to see you Joell 💙.

I didn’t grow up in a family with access to horses.

08/17/2025

Extra full time job getting ready for school!! At the least the ponies are chillin' and happy!

Great day at the ocean front! Thanks Markley for manning our table!
08/16/2025

Great day at the ocean front! Thanks Markley for manning our table!

Come visit our table this Saturday at the Surfer's Healing event brought to you by the Autism Society Tidewater Virginia...
08/14/2025

Come visit our table this Saturday at the Surfer's Healing event brought to you by the Autism Society Tidewater Virginia!!! We look forward to seeing you and helping support your family! 🏖🌴💙

07/30/2025

THANK YOU York County Volunteer Association (Bargain Box) FOR ACCEPTING OUR GRANT REQUEST AGAIN THIS YEAR!!!

We are so grateful!!!

**York County and Poquoson residents - we have tons of sponsorships available for your child to come for weekly playdates because of YCVA!**
Please reach out to [email protected] and get yourselves on the schedule during the upcoming school year!!

07/28/2025

Thank you very much Yorktown VA Rotary Club for your continued support of the work we do at CHATS !! This is our 3rd year receiving an annual donation!!

SENSORY SATURDAY LUAU is upon us! this is the last week to sign up!We are excited to be partnering again with Meadows Cu...
07/28/2025

SENSORY SATURDAY LUAU is upon us! this is the last week to sign up!

We are excited to be partnering again with Meadows Custard to have a delicious frozen treat available to all our families!

email us at [email protected] to register by 7/31

MESSAGE OF HOPE!Another "breakthrough" has happened in the past 2 weeks with Cole! We have gone from he could wear regul...
07/26/2025

MESSAGE OF HOPE!
Another "breakthrough" has happened in the past 2 weeks with Cole! We have gone from he could wear regular boy's swimming trunks when he was under 5 to he would constantly take them off while in any body of water for MANY YEARS and we have had to do the walk of shame a time or two because they are free floating somehwere in the ocean (we have even had the police called on us once in PA when visiting family because despite me putting them back on 50 times he kept taking them off and the neighbors never cared to ask us what was going on they just called the police - good times), to we had to buy the tight racing ones that go down to his knees and tie them super tight so he wouldn't take them off to NOW IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS HE CAN WEAR AND TOLERATE regular swim trunks again!!!! May not sound like much, but it is big for us!!!

This boy today at VA Beach in his amazon bought tiki men's swim trunks! Ooooohhhhh yaaaaaaaaa!

07/24/2025

LOOK AT OUR HIGHLANDERRRRRR!!! LOOK AT HIM!!! This is a french dressage rider enjoying an awesome trail ride on Highlander through the water in the state of Washington!!!
Thank you Equestrian Chaos for all you have done for him!!!

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Arlington, VA

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