Whispering Manes

What Whispering Manes does

Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 and formally opened on January 23, 2012, in Miami, Florida. It delivers Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, as well as to veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. The center's core offerings include Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Therapeutic Horsemanship, a Veterans Program, the Manes and Tales Literacy Program (using mini horses for struggling readers), Summer Camp, and Field Trips. Programs are delivered at a custom-designed, ADA-compliant facility on a 5-acre property in Miami-Dade County, supported by a dedicated herd of 141 horses and overseen by PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructors. The organization has held PATH International Premier Accredited Center status since 2017.

The business model is nonprofit fundraising-based rather than commercial. Revenue is generated through charitable donations, foundation grants, a Blue Ribbon Circle monthly giving program, annual fundraising events (The Mane Event, Bonanza at Whispering Ranch, Autism Ride, Ride for the Roses), third-party ticket promotions (Miami Dolphins/Marlins), Amazon Smile, designated purpose funds (Spirit's Fund, Fill the Barn with Hay), and in-memory donations. Services are provided primarily through scholarships; individual lesson pricing is not publicly disclosed, and veterans are served at no charge. Go-to-market is community-led via 100+ volunteers, 20+ community partnerships, and referral relationships with schools, healthcare providers, disability organizations, and the Miami VA. The organization currently serves up to 80 riders per week, 150+ annually, with over 5,000 cumulative service hours delivered and 2,901 clients served.

Name

Whispering Manes

Legal name

Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center

Website

https://whisperingmanes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whispering Manes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit equine therapy center in Miami-Dade County delivering therapeutic horseback riding, horsemanship, and literacy programs to children and adults with disabilities and to veterans, funded through donations, grants, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Includes $25,000 from Coral Gables Trust/Holloway Family Trust Foundation for scholarships and facility improvements
2. Monthly Giving Program: Blue Ribbon Circle monthly giving program providing sustainable financial resources
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue from annual events including Bonanza at Whispering Ranch ($200 individual tickets, $1,800 table of 10), Autism Ride ($25 suggested donation), and other fundraising activities
4. Third-Party Promotions: Ticket sales for Miami Dolphins and Marlins games with portion donated to the organization
5. Amazon Smile: Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the organization
6. Special Purpose Funds: Designated funds including Spirit's Fund for equine welfare, Fill the Barn with Hay, and in-memory donations

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Whispering Manes is a nonprofit therapeutic riding center that delivers Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Programs include mounted Therapeutic Horseback Riding, unmounted Therapeutic Horsemanship, a Veterans Program, Summer Camp, the Manes and Tales Literacy Program, and Field Trips. All services are delivered at a PATH International Premier Accredited facility in Miami using 141 specialized therapeutic horses and PATH certified instructors.

Product overview

Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center offers Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) through a portfolio of six core therapeutic programs designed for individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. The primary offerings include Therapeutic Horseback Riding (mounted instruction for independent riding skills), Therapeutic Horsemanship (unmounted equine activities), a Veterans Program, Summer Camp, the Manes and Tales Literacy Program, and Field Trips. The organization also hosts annual fundraising events including the Ride for the Roses Student Horse Show, Autism Ride, Bonanza at Whispering Ranch, and The Mane Event. All programs are delivered by PATH certified professionals at their ADA-compliant facility in Miami-Dade County, with over 150 people enrolled annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Horseback Riding
• Therapeutic Horsemanship
• Veteran's Program
• Summer Camp
• Manes and Tales Literacy Program
• Field Trips

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves up to 80 riders per week with 150+ enrolled annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIU School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing nursing students opportunities for community service and experiential learning while supporting the therapeutic riding programs
• FIU School of Occupational TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for occupational therapy student involvement and research opportunities in equine-assisted activities
• FIU Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated program providing therapeutic riding services to veteran students at FIU
• Down Syndrome Association of MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular participants in therapeutic riding programs from this disability advocacy organization
• Easter Seals SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership providing therapeutic riding opportunities for Easter Seals students
• Crystal AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool for children with autism participating in therapeutic horse interactions
• South Florida Trail RidersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosting Autism Ride 2026 event with trail riding activities
• Special Olympics FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting Special Olympics Area 11 Equestrian Games; provides competitive riding opportunities for athletes
• The Mission ContinuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans organization partnering to support veteran participation in therapeutic programs
• Veteran Affairs ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVA services referring and supporting veterans in therapeutic riding programs
• City of Hialeah Special PopulationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partnership providing therapeutic services to special populations residents
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce/Leadership MiamiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber partnership providing networking and community leadership opportunities
• Atlantis L.I.F.E. ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife skills program participants engaging in therapeutic horsemanship activities
• Best BuddiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriendship Circle and Best Buddies programs providing social inclusion opportunities
• Villa LyancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst school partner to join the program, offering therapeutic riding for their students
• Junior League MiamiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer organization that created therapeutic tools and materials for the program
• PATH InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association providing certification and accreditation for therapeutic riding standards

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Washington State serving people with disabilities. Comparable scale, programmatic offerings, and operational model anchored by a dedicated horse herd.
• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH International Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Michigan serving children and adults with disabilities. Directly comparable as a nonprofit equine-assisted activities organization with similar programmatic scope and donor-funded model.
• Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR): Long-standing PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Tennessee. Comparable as a well-established equine-assisted activities nonprofit serving children and adults with disabilities through donor and volunteer support.
• Mane Stream: PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit in New Jersey providing equine-assisted services for individuals with disabilities, including veterans and special education populations. Closely comparable in programming, accreditation, and community partnership strategy.
• Equi-librium: PATH International Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Pennsylvania providing equine-assisted activities for individuals with special needs. Comparable programmatic model and donor-supported structure.
• Field of Dreams: PATH-accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding program in Ohio serving riders with disabilities. Comparable equine-assisted activities programming for similar participant populations.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center in Illinois serving children and adults with disabilities including veterans. Comparable scope, accreditation, and large-herd operating approach.
• High Horses: PATH International Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Vermont serving children and adults with disabilities. Comparable mission, programmatic structure, and donor-supported operating model.
• Hearts & Horses: PATH-accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Colorado offering equine-assisted activities for people with disabilities and veterans. Comparable mission, accreditation status, and donor-supported operating model.

Broad incumbents

• PATH International: The professional association that sets safety, accreditation, and instructor certification standards for the therapeutic horsemanship industry. Not a direct competitor but a structural peer as the governing body for the sector in which Whispering Manes operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/whisperingmanes
• Instagraminstagram.com/whisperingmanes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whispering-manes-therapeutic-riding-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Whispering Manes