Star Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding

What Star Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding does

Star Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR), legally Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding and operating under the DBA 'STAR', is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 by Lynn Klimas Petr as her Master's thesis project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Headquartered on a 63-acre campus at 11800 Hwy 11E in Lenoir City, Tennessee, STAR delivers equine-assisted therapeutic services to individuals with physical, cognitive, neurological, and emotional disabilities across East Tennessee. Core programs include Therapeutic Riding for individuals aged 4 and up with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, brain injuries, and developmental disabilities; Heroes & Horses for veterans with TBI, PTSD, amputation, and sensory loss; STRIDES (with sub-programs Changing STRIDES, Stable Friends, and Aligning STRIDES) for at-risk youth aged 10-17, teens with anxiety or depression, and adults in addiction recovery; Minis in Motion and Reflections for Alzheimer's patients, memory care residents, and their caregivers; and Equine Assisted Learning field trips for schools, homeschool groups, day programs, and scouts. The contracted-services arm also delivers psychotherapy incorporating equines through a licensed clinical social worker. All instructors hold PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor credentials, and STAR operates under PATH Intl. governing standards.

STAR's service platform combines a 25+ horse, pony, and miniature horse herd with two arenas (Robbie Nutt Indoor Arena, Cowan Rodgers III Outdoor Arena) and the Lucille S. Thompson Family Foundation Stables plus the West Wing Stables added in 2024. The underlying 'technology' is the certified therapeutic riding methodology itself, delivered through structured weekly sessions of mounted and ground work, with curriculum frameworks such as the proprietary STRIDES 'STRIDES to Success' values system (Safety, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, Excellence, Sensitivity). In 2024, STAR served 1,639 individuals and currently maintains a waitlist of over 100 potential participants, signaling capacity-constrained demand.

STAR's revenue model is hybrid and donor-dependent. Service revenue comes from $45 per group therapeutic riding lesson (with financial assistance and sponsorship programs available), $1,800 annual horse sponsorships covering grain, farrier, veterinary, and supplement costs, and contract fees for psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning field trips. The majority of operating revenue is sourced from individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (notably from East Tennessee Foundation's CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund and Youth Endowment Fund), recurring corporate sponsorships from regional banks and law firms (Southeast Bank, Home Federal Bank, Regions Bank, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Enrichment FCU, Garza Law Firm, Swaggerty's Farm), and annual fundraising events including Bridles and Blue Jeans (the largest fundraiser), Annual Horse Show (35th annual in 2026), Songwriters in the Round, Craft & Tack Sale, and Barn Party. STAR is also pursuing a Tennessee 'Horse Country' specialty license plate initiative launched in 2025, requiring 1,000 pre-orders by June 15, 2027, with STAR receiving $30.75 per plate sold. The participant waitlist drives program capacity expansion, with Spring 2024 marking a doubling of lesson slots through simultaneous arena operation.

Name

Star Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding

Legal name

Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding

Website

https://rideatstar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 in Lenoir City, Tennessee, delivering equine-assisted therapeutic riding and learning services to individuals with disabilities, veterans, at-risk youth, Alzheimer's patients, and schools across East Tennessee through PATH Intl.-certified instructors and a 63-acre facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurologic Rehabilitation (Stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s, MS) (HSADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Memory Care Adult Day Programs (Dementia/Alzheimer’s) (HSABANAC), Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO)

Keywords

• Therapeutic riding services
• Equine assisted learning
• Disability therapy programs
• Veteran equine therapy
• Nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenoir City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lesson Fees: Participants pay $45 per group lesson for therapeutic riding services. Financial assistance and sponsorship opportunities are available for families unable to pay full cost.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support operations. Annual fundraising events include Bridles and Blue Jeans, Horse Show, Songwriters in the Round, and Craft & Tack Sale.
3. Horse Sponsorship: Annual horse sponsorship program requiring $1,800 commitment per year, covering grain, farrier, veterinary expenses, supplements. Sponsors receive recognition on stall doors, website, and newsletter.
4. Specialty License Plate Sales: Tennessee Horse Country specialty license plate benefiting STAR. STAR receives $30.75 of each plate sold. Requires 1,000 pre-orders to begin production.
5. Event Revenue: Annual Horse Show features participants demonstrating skills learned. Vendor fees from Craft & Tack Sale ($35-$50 per booth). Event sponsorships at various levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

STAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers therapeutic riding lessons and equine-assisted learning programs to children and adults with disabilities or special challenges. Core offerings include weekly group therapeutic riding sessions ($45 per lesson), the Heroes & Horses program for veterans with TBI/PTSD, STRIDES equine-assisted learning for at-risk youth and adults in recovery, Minis in Motion visits to memory care facilities, the Reflections Alzheimer's program, and contracted psychotherapy incorporating equines.

Product overview

Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) is a non-profit therapeutic riding organization offering a portfolio of equine-assisted services. The core offerings include Therapeutic Riding for individuals ages 4+ with disabilities, Heroes & Horses for veterans, Minis in Motion & Reflections for Alzheimer's patients and memory care, STRIDES programs for at-risk youth and adults in recovery, Equine Assisted Learning field trips, and Contracted Services including psychotherapy with equines. Supporting programs include horse sponsorship, volunteer opportunities, internship and CTRI mentorship programs. Annual fundraising events include Craft & Tack Sale, Annual Horse Show, Songwriters in the Round, and Bridles and Blue Jeans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding
• Heroes & Horses
• Minis in Motion & Reflections
• STRIDES
• Equine Assisted Learning
• Contracted Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 1,639 individuals through equine-assisted services in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTAR operates under PATH Intl. certification standards. All instructors are PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors (CTRIs). Lynn Klimas Petr sits on PATH Intl. Board of Trustees. STAR also hosts PATH Intl. Region 5 Conference annually.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Illinois-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center serving children, adults, and veterans with disabilities — directly comparable mission, programs, and PATH certification model to STAR.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: Connecticut-based PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit offering therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning, and veterans programs — closely mirrors STAR's multi-vertical service model and nonprofit funding structure.
• Mane Stream: New Jersey PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center providing therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services to individuals with disabilities — directly comparable service portfolio and target population.
• Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center: Washington-state PATH Intl. Premier Accredited nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy to children and adults with disabilities, including veterans — comparable scope, certification profile, and nonprofit governance.
• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: Michigan-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center serving people with disabilities through equine-assisted activities — directly comparable nonprofit mission and program structure.
• Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center: Colorado nonprofit therapeutic riding center offering equine-assisted services for people with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities — comparable population mix and lesson-based nonprofit model.
• National Center for Equine-Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT): California-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center providing equine-facilitated therapy and learning programs to individuals with special needs — directly aligned mission and certification-driven operations.
• Reins of Life: Indiana-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited therapeutic horsemanship center serving children and adults with disabilities — closely comparable nonprofit equine-therapy model and regional service footprint.

Broad incumbents

• PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International): Industry governing body that sets certification standards (CTRI, ESMHL) and accredits centers including STAR — represents the broader industry framework in which STAR operates and competes for instructor talent and donor mindshare.
• Easter Seals: National nonprofit providing disability services including therapy, rehabilitation, and community programs — competes for the same donor pool and serves overlapping populations, though not equine-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rideatstar
• Facebookfacebook.com/RIDEATSTAR

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding