The Children's TherAplay Foundation

What The Children's TherAplay Foundation does

The Children's TherAplay Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Indiana, founded around 2000 and headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. It delivers pediatric physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy to children ages 18 months to 13 years with disabilities in Central Indiana, using hippotherapy — the controlled, rhythmic movement of a horse — as an integrated treatment tool alongside a sensory-rich clinic setting. Therapy is delivered one-on-one by licensed PTs, OTs, and SLPs (with specialized pediatric and feeding credentials), supplemented by Group Therapy and Therapeutic Animal Assisted Groundwork (TAAG) using miniature horses, with care supported by 17 therapy horses and producing more than 950 treatments per month.

The underlying service architecture combines a clinical facility (clinic plus indoor riding arena plus barn) with a credentialed clinical staff and a trained equine herd that cannot be replicated through off-the-shelf equipment. Treatment is prescription-gated, in-network with Indiana Medicaid, United Healthcare, Cigna, Medicaid entities, and most Anthem policies, with private pay and a scholarship/transportation assistance program for families. Patient intake flows through an online Jotform and a PracticePerfect EMR patient portal; HIPAA-compliant privacy practices are published.

The revenue model is a hybrid of insurance reimbursement (estimated at roughly 41% of treatments), private pay, and a heavy philanthropic overlay — approximately 59% of treatments and roughly $140 per treatment are funded by contributions. Funding sources include annual individual giving, the Hoe-Down (600+ adult attendance), Horsepower Carnival, Golf Event, Pickle for Ponies, Sibling Camp, and Horse BirthNeigh Party, plus corporate sponsorships (Tony Stewart Foundation, Ullico, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation, Kroger Rewards, Bank of America, and others), United Way partnership (top 5% of partner agencies), the Junior Board youth philanthropy program, and the Bright Futures Legacy Society planned-giving channel. A $2.0 million Community Engagement Center opened in September 2025 under the Giddy Up & Grow Capital Campaign, funded entirely through philanthropy.

Name

The Children's TherAplay Foundation

Legal name

The Children's TherAplay Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://childrenstheraplay.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Children's TherAplay Foundation is a Carmel, Indiana nonprofit that provides pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy using hippotherapy to children ages 18 months to 13 years with disabilities in Central Indiana, delivering 950+ treatments per month across a hybrid insurance-plus-philanthropy revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gait, Balance & Coordination Rehabilitation (School-Age) (EDAKAGAH), Pediatric/School-Based Occupational Therapy (OT) (EDAKAFAA), Pediatric Physical Therapy & Developmental Rehab (HSADAIAE), Direct School-Based PT Treatment (Individual & Group) (EDAKAGAC)

Keywords

• Pediatric physical therapy
• Hippotherapy services
• Occupational therapy
• Speech language therapy
• Equine-assisted therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: As a licensed medical facility, Children's TherAplay accepts third-party commercial health insurance, Indiana Medicaid, Children's Special Healthcare Services, and private pay. They are in-network with United Healthcare, Cigna, Medicaid, Medicaid Entities, and most Anthem policies.
2. Donations and Fundraising: A significant portion of each treatment ($140) is funded by donations. The organization runs multiple fundraising events including Hoe-Down, Horsepower Carnival, Golf Event, Pickle for Ponies, and the Giddy Up & Grow Capital Campaign.
3. Direct Patient Payments: Private pay option available for families not covered by insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Children's TherAplay Foundation provides individualized one-on-one physical, occupational, and speech therapy using hippotherapy (horse movement as a treatment tool) for children ages 18 months to 13 years with disabilities in Central Indiana. Licensed PTs, OTs, and SLPs combine a sensory-rich, child-centered clinic with hippotherapy delivered through 17 therapy horses in an indoor riding arena, delivering more than 950 treatments per month.

Product overview

The Children's TherAplay Foundation offers a unified pediatric therapy program centered on hippotherapy — the use of horse movement as a treatment tool — combining Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy services for children ages 18 months to 13 years with disabilities in Central Indiana. The core offering is individualized one-on-one therapy delivered in both a sensory-rich clinic setting and an indoor riding arena with 17 therapy horses. Additional services include Group Therapy and Therapeutic Animal Assisted Groundwork (TAAG) using miniature horses. The organization also runs signature fundraising events (Horsepower Carnival, Hoe-Down, Golf Event, Pickle for Ponies, Sibling Camp, Horse BirthNeigh Party), financial assistance programs (Scholarship, Transportation), a Junior Board youth leadership program, and the Bright Futures Legacy Society for planned giving. A new Community Engagement Center opened in September 2025 as part of the Giddy Up & Grow Capital Campaign.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Therapy Licensed pediatric physical therapy provided by specially trained physical therapists combining hippotherapy with clinic-based treatment for children ages 18 months to 13 years with disabilities. Focuses on gross motor skills, head control, core strength, sitting, standing, and locomotion. Delivered via physician referral/prescription.
• Occupational Therapy Licensed pediatric occupational therapy provided by specially trained occupational therapists using hippotherapy and clinic-based treatment to help children with disabilities develop skills for daily living, fine motor skills, sensory integration, and purposeful play.
• Speech Therapy Speech-language pathology services delivered by licensed SLPs using the unique environment of the barn, clinic, gym, or playground combined with hippotherapy to address articulation, social pragmatics, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and feeding/swallowing needs for children with disabilities.
• Group Therapy

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 950 treatments per month
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• 3rd Shot PickleballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Pickle for Ponies event held at their indoor facility.
• Plum Creek Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Golf Event.
• 500 FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Abby CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event for disability community resources.
• Applied Behavior Center for AutismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Carmel Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• CoasterStone | Buttons GaloreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Damar ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Down Syndrome IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Fishers FreightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Gigi's Playhouse IndianapolisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Indiana Canine Assistant NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Indiana Miss AmazingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Indianapolis IndiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Indy FuelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• MassMutual Special CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• New Hope of IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Paper PieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Portillo'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.
• Trends InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVendor at Horsepower event.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Illinois-based nonprofit providing hippotherapy and therapeutic riding to children and adults with disabilities, with licensed PT/OT/SLP staff and therapy horses. Directly comparable modality, payer mix, and mission.
• National Ability Center: Park City, Utah nonprofit delivering equine-assisted therapy, adaptive sports, and recreation for people with disabilities. Comparable hippotherapy focus, nonprofit funding model, and reliance on therapy horses and donor support.
• Mane in Heaven: Barrington, Illinois therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy center serving children and adults with special needs. Comparable clinical model combining equine movement with licensed therapy staff.
• Turning Pointe Therapeutic Riding: Nonprofit therapeutic riding center offering hippotherapy and adaptive riding to individuals with disabilities. Comparable service mix, donor-funded model, and reliance on trained therapy horses.
• Ride On St. Louis: St. Louis-area nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapies and adaptive riding for children and adults with disabilities. Comparable clinical offering, nonprofit structure, and therapy horse operations.

Regional players

• Easterseals Crossroads: Indianapolis-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, therapy, and disability services across Indiana. Comparable pediatric therapy and disability support services in the same regional footprint as Children's TherAplay.

Broad incumbents

• Riley Children's Health (Indiana University Health): Indiana's largest pediatric health system with outpatient rehabilitation including PT/OT/SLP. Comparable pediatric therapy services at much larger scale, overlapping patient population in Central Indiana.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Therapy Services: Major pediatric health system offering comprehensive outpatient PT/OT/SLP and developmental therapy. Comparable pediatric rehabilitation services, though without hippotherapy specialization.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital - Pediatric Rehabilitation: Regional pediatric health system offering outpatient PT/OT/SLP and developmental therapy programs. Comparable therapy services and patient population in the broader Midwest market.

Others

• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.): Industry credentialing body and membership organization for equine-assisted therapy centers. Comparable ecosystem context as a peer/adjacent organization rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chldrntheraplay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TherAplay
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrensTherAplay
• Instagraminstagram.com/childrenstheraplay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 The Children's TherAplay Foundation