High Hopes Therapeutic Riding

What High Hopes Therapeutic Riding does

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 in Old Lyme, Connecticut, that delivers equine-assisted services (EAS) to individuals with physical, cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and sensory disabilities. The organization operates a 120+ acre campus with 17 program horses, 21 stalls, indoor and outdoor arenas, and year-round programming that served 106 participants weekly (282 unduplicated in 2024) across 46 disability categories, with ages ranging from 3 to 70+. Service lines are organized around three core programs — Therapeutic Riding, Horsemanship (ground-based), and Carriage Driving — supplemented by a portfolio of specialized programs including Parkinson's, Veterans with PTSD, Shared Strides (60+ wellness), Women's Wellness, Bereavement, Youth Empowerment, Summer Camps, Reading to Horses, and Minis on the Move community outreach. The technical foundation rests on an Applied Interdisciplinary Team Approach that integrates consulting physical, occupational, speech, and mental-health practitioners into lesson design, supported by a purpose-trained herd and PATH Intl.-certified staff.

The business model is philanthropy-dominant, with 85% of operating costs covered by philanthropy and only ~9% from earned revenue. The funding mix is 41% individual contributions, 37% foundation grants (across multiple regional and national funders including Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Middlesex County, Greater New Haven, and Equus Foundation), and 13% corporate support. Earned-revenue lines include participant fees (80% subsidized), community riding lessons ($80-$90/lesson), Minis on the Move visits (starting at $300/visit), PATH Intl. instructor certification courses (one of only ~6 U.S. centers approved to teach), ESMHL workshops, a webinar series, consulting services for other therapeutic riding centers, and book sales of the Reading Reins literacy curriculum ($75/book). Professional staff of 25 paid employees (12 full-time) are augmented by 224+ active volunteers donating 7,921 hours annually, with a 17-member all-volunteer Board of Trustees providing governance. High Hopes holds PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center status, Candid/GuideStar Platinum Seal transparency recognition, Equus Foundation Guardian and Mentor designations, and Charity Navigator 3-Star rating.

Name

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding

Legal name

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

Website

https://highhopestr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers equine-assisted therapeutic riding, horsemanship, and carriage driving programs to individuals with disabilities across 46 conditions at a 120-acre Old Lyme, Connecticut campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Rehabilitation Return-to-Exercise Training (Non-Clinical) (HSADAAAK)

Keywords

• Therapeutic riding services
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Therapeutic horsemanship
• Adaptive riding programs
• PATH Intl. accredited center

Headquarters

HQ city

Old Lyme

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees for therapeutic riding lessons, horsemanship programs, carriage driving, community lessons, and specialty programs. Subsidized by philanthropy (80% subsidized for therapeutic programs).
2. Philanthropy/Donations: Individual contributions (41% of revenue), foundation support (37%), and corporate support (13%). Includes annual fund drive, special events, and planned giving.
3. Training & Education Services: Revenue from PATH Intl. instructor certification courses, professional workshops, webinars, consulting services, and the Reading Reins curriculum book sales ($75/book).
4. Community Riding Lessons: Private lessons at $90 and group lessons at $80 for local riders, directly supporting therapeutic programs.
5. Minis on the Move: Community visits by miniature horses to hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, schools starting at $300 per visit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is a nonprofit organization that provides equine-assisted therapeutic services to individuals with disabilities through three core programs: Therapeutic Riding, Horsemanship (ground-based), and Carriage Driving. The organization also offers specialized programs for Parkinson's patients, veterans with PTSD, seniors, youth, and children with reading challenges, alongside professional training and certification for therapeutic riding instructors through PATH Intl. approved courses.

Product overview

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is a nonprofit therapeutic riding center offering a comprehensive suite of equine-assisted services centered around three core programs: Therapeutic Riding, Horsemanship (ground-based), and Carriage Driving. The organization operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture, with 14+ specialized programs built upon these core offerings including Parkinson's, Veterans, Shared Strides, Youth Empowerment, Summer Camps, Minis on the Move, and Community Lessons. Educational products include the Reading Reins literacy curriculum, PATH Intl. instructor training, ESMHL workshops, webinar series, and consulting services for other centers. Programs are delivered year-round at the 120+ acre Old Lyme campus by PATH Intl. certified instructors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding Program
• Horsemanship Program
• Carriage Driving Program
• Parkinson's Program
• Veterans Program
• Shared Strides
• Minis on the Move
• Community Lessons
• PATH Intl. Instructor Training Certification
• ESMHL Workshop
• Webinar Series
• Consulting Services
• Reading Reins Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• 282 participants served in 2024 with 1,847 people impacted through community outreach
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Equus FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit dedicated to equine welfare and promoting horse-powered healing. Provides Guardian and Mentor designations to High Hopes. Joint advocacy for therapeutic riding programs.
• PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry governing body providing instructor certification and center accreditation. High Hopes is one of only 5 PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Centers and approved to teach instructor training courses. Curriculum development collaboration for certification exams.
• Lands' EndminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBranded merchandise partnership selling High Hopes logo apparel through Lands' End business store
• Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquine industry accreditation and certification body for instructors and facilities
• HETI (Therapeutic Riding Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation for therapeutic riding organizations providing standards and best practices

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/highhopestr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJrABVuv35oLZCcMhJgwfUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/highhopestr
• Instagraminstagram.com/highhopestr
• Pinterestpinterest.com/highhopestr

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 High Hopes Therapeutic Riding