Freedom Farm

What Freedom Farm does

Freedom Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic riding center founded in 2000 by Susie Bjorklund, operating on a 20-acre facility in Waverly, Minnesota with 12 specialized horses and a staff of approximately 49. The organization delivers equine-assisted therapy to four primary populations: individuals with physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities (Adaptive Riding); adults and teens with mental health needs (Hope & Healing with Horses, a six-week program at $570 per student); military veterans (Mount Up~Walk On, provided at no cost); and veterans, first responders, and at-risk youth (Walking in Freedom). The underlying "technology" is the therapeutic pairing of trained horses with PATH-certified instructors — including founder Bjorklund, who holds 41 years of riding instruction experience and dual PATH certifications in therapeutic riding and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning — supported by 84+ trained volunteers per session.

The business model is a hybrid donation-plus-program-fee nonprofit: program fees contribute modestly ($95/individual lesson, $570/six-week session, free for veterans), while the organization states 80% of costs must be met through fundraising events, grants, and individual/corporate giving. Major annual fundraising events (Derby Day BBQ at $95K-$120K; Polo Event at $106K) anchor revenue, supplemented by tiered horse sponsorships ($2K-$6K annually), corporate grants (e.g., Cargill $13K), and an Annual Appeal ($77K-$85K). Distribution is direct on-site services at the Waverly facility, with top-of-funnel acquisition driven by VA referrals, school district partnerships (Southwest Metro Intermediate District, Watertown-Mayer District 111), word-of-mouth, and community events. Freedom Academy, an accredited high school program that previously partnered with two school districts, was closed in 2021.

Name

Freedom Farm

Legal name

Freedom Farm

Website

https://freedomfarmmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom Farm is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic riding center operating a 20-acre facility with 12 horses, delivering equine-assisted therapy to individuals with disabilities, military veterans, first responders, and at-risk youth through PATH-certified instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equine Care & Stable Management (EDAOAOAE)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Therapeutic riding programs
• Adaptive horseback riding
• Veteran equine therapy
• Special needs riding

Headquarters

HQ city

Waverly

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for therapeutic riding programs including Hope & Healing with Horses ($570 per student for six-week session) and individual adaptive riding lessons ($95 per person).
2. Individual Donations: General donations and specific giving campaigns including Horse Sponsorships ($1,800-$8,500 per horse annually), Circle of Friends donations, and scholarship contributions.
3. Fundraising Events: Major annual events including Derby Day BBQ, Polo Event, and Annual Appeal that raise significant funds. Derby Day 2022 raised $120,000, Derby Day 2023 raised $95,000, Polo Event 2020 raised $106,300.
4. Grants: Corporate grants such as $13,000 from Cargill for fencing project. Relies on grants and individual/corporate giving to meet 80% of costs.
5. Horse Sponsorship Program: Annual sponsorship tiers for horses: Platinum ($6,000), Gold ($4,000), Silver ($2,000). Includes partial sponsorships. Specific amounts needed per horse range from $1,800 to $8,500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Freedom Farm is a therapeutic riding center that delivers equine-assisted therapy programs at its 20-acre facility in Waverly, Minnesota. The center offers Adaptive Riding for individuals with special needs, Hope & Healing with Horses for adults and teens, Mount Up~Walk On for veterans, and Walking in Freedom for veterans, first responders, and youth. Services are delivered through PATH-certified instructors working with 12 horses to address physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.

Product overview

Freedom Farm is a therapeutic riding center offering multiple interconnected equine-assisted programs. The core offerings include Adaptive Riding for individuals with special needs, Hope & Healing with Horses for adults and teens, Mount Up~Walk On for military veterans, and Walking in Freedom for veterans, first responders, and youth. The organization previously operated Freedom Academy, an accredited high school program that combined education with equestrian therapy. Supporting services include horse sponsorship programs and comprehensive equine care. The center maintains 12 horses on a 20-acre facility in Waverly, Minnesota, and relies heavily on volunteers for program delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Freedom Academy: An accredited public high school program that combined academics with horse therapy. The program has now closed.
• Adaptive Riding
• Hope & Healing with Horses
• Mount Up~Walk On
• Walking in Freedom

Products and services

• Adaptive Riding Therapeutic horseback riding lessons for individuals with special needs, focusing on building confidence, improving posture and coordination, strengthening muscles, and enhancing balance and body awareness. Individual lessons are priced at $95 per person.
• Hope & Healing with Horses A program for adults and teens that focuses on developing trust, finding success, and building confidence through horsemanship experiences that improve mindfulness, reduce anxiety, and enhance communication. The six-week program costs $570 per student.
• Mount Up~Walk On A veterans program offering camaraderie, horsemanship skills training, and community for military veterans at no cost. Veterans work with horses for healing and personal growth, with services provided through partnership with the local VA.
• Walking in Freedom Program for Veterans, First Responders, and youth ages 15-18 (9-12th grade) providing therapeutic equestrian experiences for healing and personal development.

Quantifiable outcome

• After just 3 riding lessons he was no longer stuttering, is well spoken and has gained self-esteem
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wild Horse StudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Wild Horse Studio creates beautiful horseshoe sculptures and generously donates 25% of each sculpture sale to Freedom Farm. Contact: [email protected] or 612-709-5599.
• Southwest Metro Intermediate DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Academy partnered with Southwest Metro Intermediate District to provide accredited high school education combined with equine therapy.
• Watertown-Mayer District 111coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Academy partnered with Watertown-Mayer District 111 to provide accredited high school education combined with equine therapy.
• Delano American Legion Post 377minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommander Paul Hoiland and the Honor Guard from Delano American Legion Post 377 participate in memorial services and ceremonies at Freedom Farm for veterans.
• BlackBerg RanchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackBerg Ranch hosts the annual Polo Event fundraiser for Freedom Farm. Property owner has been involved from the fundraiser's inception as host and party planner.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mane Stream: PATH Premier Accredited Center in New Jersey providing equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding to individuals with disabilities and veterans. Directly comparable in mission, accreditation status, and program structure (adaptive riding plus mental health/veteran tracks).
• STRIDES Therapeutic Riding: PATH Intl. member center offering equine-assisted therapy to people with disabilities and veterans in the Twin Cities/Minnesota region. Highly comparable because it operates the same therapeutic riding model with PATH-certified instructors serving overlapping special needs and veteran populations in the same geography.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: PATH Premier Accredited Center in Illinois serving veterans, children, and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted services. Comparable in scale, program mix (veteran + adaptive riding), nonprofit funding model, and reliance on volunteer and donor support.
• Saratoga WarHorse: New York-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy specifically to military veterans with PTSD. Comparable as a peer in the Mount Up~Walk On and Walking in Freedom program segments, sharing the veteran-mental-health equine therapy niche.
• We Can Ride: Minnesota-based PATH member center providing therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities. Directly comparable as a regional PATH-accredited nonprofit running adaptive riding, volunteer-supported lessons, and horse sponsorship programs in the same Upper Midwest market.
• National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT): California-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding to children, adults, and veterans with special needs. Comparable as a multi-program PATH-aligned therapeutic riding center with similar donor and volunteer-driven operating model.
• GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship: PATH member center in Arkansas providing equine-assisted services to individuals with disabilities. Comparable as a regional PATH-accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit of similar scale and program focus.

Emerging players

• Truhaven Ranch Equine Rescue: Minnesota equine rescue organization with a board member overlap (Cynthia Bellairs served on Truhaven's board). Adjacent in equine welfare and Minnesota geography; comparable in the long-term horse care operating layer that underpins Freedom Farm's therapy herd.
• Hope in the Saddle: Veteran-focused equine therapy programs operating in the Midwest. Comparable in the veteran PTSD/trauma segment served by Freedom Farm's Mount Up~Walk On program, though more regional/program-specific in scope.

Others

• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.): The credentialing and member-body association for therapeutic riding centers, of which Freedom Farm is a member. Relevant as an ecosystem participant that defines the standards, instructor certifications, and donor credibility framework Freedom Farm relies on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freedom-farm

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Freedom Farm