Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center

Name

Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center

Legal name

Hearts & Horses, Inc.

Website

https://heartsandhorses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a PATH Intl. premier-accredited equine-assisted therapy program in Loveland, Colorado, serving 670 children, adults, seniors, and veterans annually across four Northern Colorado counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine-Assisted Therapy Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Rehabilitation, Layup & Retirement Facilities (AFAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Therapeutic riding services
• Hippotherapy programs
• Adaptive horseback riding
• Equine-assisted learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Loveland

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for therapeutic riding and therapy services provided to participants. The organization states they underwrite 61% of the cost of all services and never turn participants away due to inability to pay.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors supporting the nonprofit mission.
3. Lucky Hearts Gala Revenue: Annual fundraising gala featuring live and silent auctions, casino games, and sponsorships. Named NOCO Style's Best Non-Profit Event two years in a row, with 700+ community supporters.
4. Equine Sponsorship: Annual sponsorship program at $5,000/year per horse, with benefits including name on equine biography, stall recognition, and gala recognition.
5. Tack Shoppe Sales: Retail sales of donated gently used riding equipment and clothing at their physical storefront, open Fridays and Saturdays.
6. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and non-cash asset donations.
7. Educational Materials Sales: Sale of research-based program manuals including Therapeutic Horseback Riding Intervention Manual, Barn Activity Group Manual, Changing Leads Manual, and Riding in the Moment Implementation Manual.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hearts & Horses delivers equine-assisted therapeutic and educational programs at a 23-acre ranch facility, including Therapeutic Riding, Therapy Services (hippotherapy), Changing Leads, Riding in the Moment, and Hearts & Horses for Heroes. Programs serve children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, at-risk youth, individuals with dementia, and Veterans through both mounted and ground-based equine activities. The organization supplements direct services with Education Programs, Research Collaborations, fundraising events, and retail/tack shop operations.

Product overview

Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center is a premier PATH Intl. accredited therapeutic riding facility offering a portfolio of equine-assisted services including Therapeutic Riding, Therapy Services, Changing Leads, Riding in the Moment, and Hearts & Horses for Heroes programs. The organization complements its direct service programs with Education offerings (training manuals and workshops), Research collaborations with universities, and Fundraising initiatives including the Lucky Hearts Gala, Tack Shoppe retail operations, Equine Sponsorship, and Planned Giving programs. The center operates on a 23-acre ranch in Loveland, CO, with 31 equines serving 670 participants annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding
• Therapy Services
• Changing Leads
• Riding in the Moment
• Hearts & Horses for Heroes
• Education Programs
• Research Collaborations
• Lucky Hearts Gala
• Tack Shoppe
• Equine Sponsorship
• Planned Giving

Quantifiable outcome

• 670 participants served in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHearts & Horses is partnering with NIH-funded researchers at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado on a five-year National Institutes of Health funded study examining how therapeutic riding benefits children and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study measures physiological changes in participants both pre- and post-riding.
• Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on equine-assisted therapy programs for military Veterans, including studies on PTSD treatment outcomes.
• Children's Hospital ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partner in the five-year NIH-funded study on therapeutic riding benefits for youth with autism spectrum disorder.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner, notably in collaboration with Dr. Beth Fields on the Riding in the Moment program research for dementia care.
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic research partner leading the NIH-funded autism spectrum disorder study, with Dr. Robin Gabriels as Principal Investigator.
• Colorado State University - Temple Grandin Equine CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership focused on integrating education and research in equine-assisted services, studying the Riding in the Moment program for people with dementia since 2015.
• Columbia UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration partner in equine-assisted services studies.
• Baylor UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration partner in equine-assisted services studies.
• PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHearts & Horses is a premier accredited member of PATH Intl. and a highly regarded training facility for therapeutic riding instructors. The organization hosts PATH Intl. ESHML (Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning) workshops and skills tests.
• Lucky Three RanchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of the 26th Annual Lucky Hearts Gala, providing major financial support for the organization's largest fundraising event.
• Coulson Excavating, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing Sponsor at Mission level for the Lucky Hearts Gala, supporting organizational outreach and awareness.
• Embassy Suites LovelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual Lucky Hearts Gala event held at Embassy Suites in Loveland.
• Ann JudgeminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Lucky Hearts Gala emcee, who also serves as rider and trainer for Thunder, the Denver Broncos mascot since 1993.
• Points of LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification body for Service Enterprise designation, recognizing organizations in the top 11% of nonprofits for volunteer management and organizational performance.
• Candid (GuideStar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit transparency platform awarding Platinum Seal, enabling donors to access verified information about Hearts & Horses.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Equi-librium: Equi-librium offers therapeutic riding, equine-assisted mental-health services, and education. Its multiple equine programs and community-outreach orientation make it a relevant nonprofit operating peer.
• Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship: Equest is a nonprofit equine-assisted services organization combining therapeutic horsemanship, mental-health support, adaptive activities, and education. It is comparable in service breadth and nonprofit model, although it operates at a larger, multi-site scale.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: High Hopes provides therapeutic riding and equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities. It directly matches the subject's participant-centered programming, accredited nonprofit model, and community-based delivery.
• Mane in Heaven: Mane in Heaven is a nonprofit that provides adaptive riding and equine-assisted therapy to individuals with disabilities and other needs. It has similar client populations, program goals, and a volunteer-supported service model.
• National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy: NCEFT uses horses for physical, occupational, mental-health, and adaptive riding programs. Its therapeutic focus and research orientation closely parallel Hearts & Horses' service mix.
• Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center: Little Bit is a nonprofit therapeutic riding and equine-assisted therapy center serving people with disabilities through mounted and ground-based services. Its nonprofit delivery model and adaptive-riding programs closely match Hearts & Horses.
• Giant Steps Equine Assisted Therapy: Giant Steps is a therapeutic riding organization serving people with disabilities through riding and related equine activities. It is a direct peer in therapeutic horsemanship and community-based service delivery.
• Stable Strides Therapeutic Riding Center: Stable Strides is a nonprofit therapeutic riding center offering adaptive riding and related equine-assisted services. It is comparable in mission, participant profile, and regional facility-based operations.
• ROCK Ride On Center for Kids: ROCK delivers equine-assisted therapy and adaptive horsemanship to riders with disabilities. It directly overlaps with Hearts & Horses in therapeutic riding, instruction, and participant support.

Others

• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International: PATH Intl. is the professional association supporting therapeutic horsemanship centers, accreditation, and instructor credentials. It is not a service competitor, but it is a direct ecosystem comparator because Hearts & Horses is a premier accredited member and instructor-training facility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/heartsandhorsesloveland
• Instagraminstagram.com/heartsandhorses_loveland
• Xx.com/HeartsnHorses

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center