Horses For Healing Therap

What Horses For Healing Therap does

Horses for Healing, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Norma Harris and Judy Gerhard in Placer County, California, that provides therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities including Multiple Sclerosis, autism, and cerebral palsy. The core service uses trained therapy horses whose three-dimensional gait simulates human walking to deliver physical benefits (improved muscle tone, strength, posture, flexibility, balance, and reduced spasticity) and psychological benefits (improved self-esteem, self-awareness, and social skills). Sessions are delivered directly at the Center Stage Ranch facility in Auburn, California, on a limited weekly schedule (Tuesday afternoons 2:00–5:00 PM and Friday mornings 9:00 AM–12:00 PM), with a registered Riding Center address at 1255 Monument Pl, Newcastle, CA 95658. The program is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International and led by Certified PATH Instructor Marcy Schaffer-Egot.

The organization is 100% volunteer-run with no paid staff and ~12 employees per firmographics, relying entirely on donations and fundraising events for revenue rather than fees for service. Monetization occurs through individual donations (channeled entirely to program support), the Judy Gerhard Memorial Scholarship Program which subsidizes low-income participants at no cost, and recurring community fundraising events including the annual Spaghetti & Meatball Bash (tickets $15–$50) and 18-Hole Golf Tournament (single player $65–$125; foursome $240–$400). Marketing is community-led, leveraging a Facebook page, the horsesforhealing.org website, earned media (KCRA 3 News), local press (Parents' Resource Guide), and partnerships with sponsors such as JMC Homes, Chipotle, Western Health Advantage, Lincoln Hills Golf Club, and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation's Big Day of Giving. The organization serves the Placer County region exclusively and has no disclosed technology platform, API, mobile app, or AI/ML components.

Name

Horses For Healing Therap

Legal name

Horses for Healing, Inc.

Website

https://horsesforhealing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Horses for Healing is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 in Placer County, California, providing PATH-accredited therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with special needs at Center Stage Ranch in Auburn, funded by donations and community fundraisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG)

Keywords

• Therapeutic riding services
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Adaptive horseback riding
• Disability therapy programs
• Nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: 100% of donations go to support the therapeutic riding program for children and adults with special needs.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including Spaghetti & Meatball Bash, Golf Tournaments, Benefit Concerts, and Chipotle Fundraisers. Ticket sales and sponsorships generate revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Horses for Healing provides therapeutic horseback riding sessions for children and adults with special needs, including individuals with Multiple Sclerosis, autism, cerebral palsy, and other physical or developmental disabilities. Sessions are conducted at Center Stage Ranch in Auburn, CA by PATH International certified instructors using therapy-trained horses, and target physical benefits such as improved muscle tone, balance, posture, and core strength, as well as emotional and social benefits including self-esteem, self-awareness, and social skill development.

Product overview

Horses for Healing is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with special needs since 1997. The organization operates as a volunteer-run program and is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) Accredited Center. The core service is therapeutic riding, supplemented by a scholarship program for low-income participants and success story testimonials. The program takes place at Center Stage Ranch and operates on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved muscle tone, strength, posture, flexibility, and balance through repetitive horse gait movement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PATH InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International accreditation. Horses for Healing is a PATH Accredited Center, and their lead instructor Marcy Schaffer-Egot is a Certified PATH Instructor. This accreditation ensures quality standards in therapeutic horsemanship.
• KCRA 3 NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television news station produced a segment featuring Horses for Healing clients and volunteers, highlighting the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and the special relationships formed with therapy horses.
• ChipotleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChipotle fundraiser event where 50% of proceeds from customer visits during specified hours were donated to Horses for Healing.
• Western Health AdvantageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for the Sacramento Region Community Foundation's Big Day of Giving annual giving challenge, helping nonprofits raise funds.
• Sacramento Region Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizes the Big Day of Giving, an annual 24-hour giving challenge supporting local nonprofits including Horses for Healing.
• JMC HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor for the 2018 Horses for Healing Golf Tournament, providing financial support for the therapeutic riding program.
• Parents' Resource GuideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublished an article by Marcy Schaffer-Egot, Certified PATH Instructor, about Horses for Healing services in the 2015 Spring edition.
• Lincoln Hills Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for the 2026 Horses for Healing 18-Hole Golf Tournament, providing facility for annual fundraising event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PATH International: Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International — the industry body that accredits Horses for Healing's center and certifies its instructors. Relevant as the governing/credentialing incumbent across the entire therapeutic riding category.

Direct peers

• Mane Stream: New Jersey-based PATH Premier Accredited Center offering therapeutic riding and equine-assisted services to individuals with disabilities. Matches Horses for Healing as a nonprofit therapeutic riding operator with certified instructors and a similar mission.
• GallopNYC: New York City nonprofit providing therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities. Comparable nonprofit model delivering PATH-aligned therapeutic riding services to special needs populations.
• Pony Power Therapies: New Jersey-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy and therapeutic riding for individuals with special needs. Closely parallel to Horses for Healing in mission, target population, and nonprofit operating model.
• Strides to Success: Indiana-based nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship program serving individuals with disabilities. Directly comparable as a PATH-affiliated nonprofit offering equine-assisted services to special needs populations through volunteer-driven delivery.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Illinois-based nonprofit therapeutic riding and equine-assisted services organization for individuals with disabilities and veterans. Matches Horses for Healing as a donor-supported PATH-affiliated riding program serving a similar target population.
• High Horses Therapeutic Riding: New Hampshire-based nonprofit therapeutic riding program serving children and adults with disabilities. Directly comparable as a regional, donation-supported equestrian therapy center with PATH-accredited instruction.

Regional players

• TRAC (Therapeutic Riding Association of Canada): Canadian therapeutic riding association and accredited center network offering equine-assisted therapy for individuals with disabilities. Comparable service offering to Horses for Healing, but operating primarily in Canada rather than the U.S.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/horsesforhealing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horses-for-healing-therap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Horses For Healing Therap