Freedom Ride

What Freedom Ride does

Freedom Ride, Inc. is an Orlando, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1998, that provides therapeutic horseback riding and ground-based equine-facilitated learning to children and adults with disabilities, U.S. Veterans, and individuals facing mental-health challenges. The organization operates from a 25-acre lakefront property on Bay Lake Road, serves more than 80 participants annually, and maintains a herd of 11 therapy horses. It is the first Premier Accredited PATH International facility in Central Florida, with PATH-certified instructors supported by 1-3 trained volunteers per rider. Three core programs are offered: Therapeutic Horseback Riding (physical strengthening, balance, and cognitive improvement), Mental Wellness (Equine Facilitated Learning for anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance abuse), and a Veterans Program (delivered under a 2018 MOU with Orlando VA Medical Center).

Name

Freedom Ride

Legal name

Freedom Ride, Inc.

Website

https://freedomride.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom Ride is an Orlando-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing therapeutic horseback riding and equine-facilitated learning to children and adults with disabilities, U.S. Veterans, and individuals with mental-health challenges, operating from a 25-acre lakefront facility as Central Florida's first PATH Premier Accredited site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Equine Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

Keywords

• Therapeutic horseback riding
• Equine facilitated learning
• Equine assisted therapy
• Adaptive riding programs
• Veteran mental wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Riding Fees: Program fees charged to participants for therapeutic horseback riding lessons. New rider evaluation fee of $75 and group 30-minute lessons at $75 per lesson.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and organizations supporting horse care costs, barn maintenance, learning props, scholarships for riders, Veterans, and Mental Wellness program participants.
3. Event Sponsorships: Annual Jeans and Jewels fundraising event with tiered sponsorship levels (Presenting $15,000, Platinum $10,000, Diamond $5,000, Emerald $3,500, Ruby $1,000, Sapphire $500) providing recognition and benefits to sponsors.
4. Capital Campaign: Major fundraising campaign for facility expansion including barn addition and infrastructure development at the new 25-acre lakefront property, with a goal close to $4 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Freedom Ride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers therapeutic horseback riding lessons and ground-based equine-facilitated learning to children and adults with disabilities, individuals with mental health challenges, and U.S. Veterans in Central Florida. Services are taught by PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors at a 25-acre Orlando facility using 11 specially trained therapy horses, with one new-rider evaluation and group 30-minute lessons offered at $75 each.

Product overview

Freedom Ride is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering therapeutic horseback riding and equine-facilitated wellness programs in Central Florida. The core offering is Therapeutic Horseback Riding lessons taught by PATH International Certified instructors with volunteer support, supplemented by Mental Wellness (Equine Facilitated Learning) for ground-based therapeutic work and a dedicated Veterans Program for U.S. Veterans. The organization operates as a single-location facility providing in-person therapeutic services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Horseback Riding Therapeutic horseback riding lessons taught by PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors with 1-3 trained volunteers per rider, focusing on physical strengthening, cognitive improvement, and basic riding skills for children and adults with disabilities. Lessons are held Tuesday through Saturday at the Orlando facility with $75 per 30-minute group session and a $75 new-rider evaluation.
• Mental Wellness (Equine Facilitated Learning) Ground-based equine-facilitated learning program that uses horses' ability to read body language and provide honest, instant feedback to help participants break through resistance, increase motivation, and find hope in healing from life challenges including substance abuse, anxiety, depression, trauma, and human trafficking.
• Veterans Program Equine-assisted therapeutic program for U.S. Veterans that offers opportunities to interact with horses to increase self-awareness, enhance coping skills, and learn more effective ways to interact and move forward within the community and with friends and loved ones, delivered through a formal partnership with the Orlando VA Medical Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 80 children and adults with disabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AdventHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare sponsor supporting Freedom Ride programs. AdventHealth is a leading healthcare system serving Central Florida.
• Orlando HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system sponsor and partner. Orlando Health provides medical services throughout the Central Florida region.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership through VA Medical Center referral program. Serves U.S. Veterans in Central Florida through equine-assisted therapeutic activities.
• PATH IntlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship - the premier accrediting body for therapeutic riding programs. Freedom Ride is the first Premier Accredited PATH facility in Central Florida.
• SeaWorld OrlandominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Freedom Ride through donations and community engagement.
• Visit OrlandominorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism marketing organization for Orlando supporting Freedom Ride as a community partner.
• Autism SpeaksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for serving individuals with autism spectrum disorders through therapeutic riding programs.
• Canine CompanionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with another service animal organization for community collaboration.
• LexLin Gypsy RanchminorOthersGenerously donated Gravity, a Gypsy Vanner gelding, to Freedom Ride's therapy horse herd.
• Florida TRAC (Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care)minorOthersSouth Florida organization that helps place off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Billy was acquired through this organization.
• Orange CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner supporting Freedom Ride's community programs.
• LifeSkillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for serving individuals with disabilities.
• Nathaniels HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization serving children with special needs - collaboration partner.
• Down Syndrome Assoc of Ctl FlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional organization supporting individuals with Down syndrome - collaboration partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Horse Boy Foundation: Therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted learning organization primarily serving children with autism and veterans. Smaller, more autism-specialized peer with comparable equine-facilitated learning methodology.

Direct peers

• Ride On St. Louis: Nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center serving individuals with disabilities in the St. Louis region, with programs for veterans and adaptive riding. Comparable in mission, accreditation, and program structure.
• Green Chimneys: Nonprofit in Brewster, NY operating therapeutic equine-assisted services among broader special education and mental health programming for children with disabilities and trauma. Comparable in equine therapy and special needs service delivery.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding: Nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted services organization in Illinois serving riders with disabilities and military veterans. Comparable as a multi-program equine therapy nonprofit with formal veteran program offerings.
• Equi-Librium: PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Perkiomenville, PA serving individuals with disabilities and veterans. Direct comparable in accreditation, programming, and nonprofit operating model.
• Mane Stream: PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit in Gladstone, NJ providing therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and equine-facilitated learning for individuals with disabilities and veterans. Direct comparable in service mix and accreditation tier.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: Nonprofit PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center in Old Lyme, CT serving individuals with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. Comparable in program breadth, instructor certification, and reliance on donations plus program fees.
• National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy: PATH-accredited equine therapy center in Woodside, CA serving children, adults, and veterans with disabilities, mental health challenges, and PTSD. Direct comparable in veterans and mental wellness programming.
• Pathways Therapeutic Riding Center: Nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding organization serving children and adults with disabilities through PATH-certified instruction. Comparable in mission, target population, and volunteer-driven service delivery.
• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic horseback riding center in Augusta, MI serving children and adults with disabilities and veterans. Direct comparable in mission, accreditation status, programming mix (therapeutic riding, mental wellness, veterans), and nonprofit funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/freedom.ride.inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freedom-ride

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Freedom Ride