Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

What Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center does

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center (RAD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center founded in 2014 and headquartered at Rolling Hills Boarding Stable in Poway, California. The organization delivers PATH Intl.-aligned adaptive horseback riding lessons to children and adults (ages 4 through 102+) with disabilities including autism spectrum, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, and sensory impairments, as well as to their families through a Sibling Program. Its core technical approach combines individualized lesson planning with rider-to-horse matching and a Team Approach methodology led by PATH Intl. certified instructors; the founders Allie Sarnataro and Katie Cram are also PATH Mentors qualified to train the next generation of instructors.

RAD's program is built around three monthly subscription lesson tiers: 30-minute private lessons at $230/month, 40-minute group lessons at $205/month, and 45-minute extended lessons at $265/month. Beyond tuition, the operating model depends on a diversified funding base including tax-deductible individual donations, foundation grants, corporate and foundation horse sponsorships (with preventative-maintenance underwriting of individual therapy horses), an Amazon Wishlist in-kind channel, volunteer labor, and an annual calendar of community fundraising events such as the Barn Dance, RAD Rodeo, Turkey Trot, and wine pairing dinners. The therapy herd comprises 14 horses (predominantly retired off-track Thoroughbreds plus a Haflinger, Fjord, Quarter Pony, and Pintabian), and delivery is conducted exclusively at the single Poway ranch site on a direct-to-consumer appointment basis.

Strategic differentiation rests on three pillars: (1) credentialed talent — multiple PATH-certified instructors with backgrounds in nursing, child development, psychology, and equine management; (2) third-party certifications — PATH Intl. center status, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accreditation, and GuideStar registration; and (3) program depth — a Team Approach, tailored lesson design, and a Sibling Program that extends the value proposition to the entire family unit. The organization reports no parent company, no venture or institutional investment, and no acquisition history; it operates as an independent charitable entity reliant on community support.

Name

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

Legal name

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

Website

https://radtrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Poway, California that delivers PATH Intl.-aligned adaptive horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities and their families. Operations are funded through monthly tuition, donations, foundation grants, horse sponsorships, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rehabilitation Return-to-Exercise Training (Non-Clinical) (HSADAAAK)

Keywords

• Therapeutic horseback riding
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Adaptive riding lessons
• Disability therapy services
• Nonprofit therapeutic center

Headquarters

HQ city

Poway

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. Therapeutic Riding Lessons: Monthly lesson fees for private, group, and extended therapeutic riding lessons. Lessons are billed monthly and conducted at Rolling Hills Boarding Stable. Fees vary by lesson type: private 30-minute lessons at $230/month, group 40-minute lessons at $205/month, and extended 45-minute lessons at $265/month.
2. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID #46-4773955). Also receives grants from foundations and community organizations.
3. Horse Sponsorship: Corporate and individual sponsors can sponsor horses, receiving benefits including name posted at ranch, social media recognition, quarterly updates, RAD swag, and invites to fundraisers and events.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including 8th Annual Barn Dance, RAD Rodeo, Turkey Trot competitions, photo shoots, wine pairing dinners, and Bake Sales that connect the community to the program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center delivers adaptive horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities following PATH Intl. guidelines. Lessons are offered in three formats — 30-minute private ($230/month), 40-minute group ($205/month), and 45-minute extended ($265/month) — with each lesson individually planned and each rider matched to a specific therapy horse. The center operates at Rolling Hills Boarding Stable in Poway, California, supported by a herd of 14 therapy horses.

Product overview

Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center offers a suite of therapeutic riding services centered around its core Therapeutic Riding program, which provides individualized lessons (Individual, Group, and Extended formats at 30, 40, and 45 minutes respectively) for children and adults ages 4+ with disabilities. The organization follows PATH Intl guidelines and supports riders through a Team Approach methodology. Supplementary offerings include Horse Sponsorship, Volunteer, and Donation programs, as well as the Sibling Program, Amazon Wishlist, Competitions/Shows (including RAD Rodeo and Turkey Trot), and Fundraising Events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding Program Therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults ages 4+ with disabilities, focused on achieving goals that enhance physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral, and educational skills.
• Individual (Private) Lessons

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved gait and walking ability - parent's report of son with improved gait, more stable stride, able to last longer during activities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rolling Hills Boarding StablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost facility for Ride Above Disability therapeutic riding program. Provides stable facilities, arenas, and pastures for the program. Also provides preventative maintenance sponsorship for horse named Pokey.
• Rotary Club of Scripps-PowayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides preventative maintenance sponsorship for horse named Atlas.
• Thoroughbred Aftercare AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides preventative maintenance sponsorship for horses Dr. Troutman and Mars. Supports proper retirement and transition of racehorses to therapy careers.
• El Cajon Valley Veterinary HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary care provider for RAD's equine family. Keeps horses healthy with professional care.
• Mary's Tack and FeedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorse supplies vendor providing support and opportunities to RAD.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Connecticut providing therapeutic riding to children and adults with disabilities using individualized lesson plans matched to horses. Directly comparable in program design, instructor-led methodology, and nonprofit funding model.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Illinois serving riders with disabilities through adaptive horseback riding with trained volunteers and horses. Comparable in program structure, accreditation tier, and donor-supported operating model.
• Great and Small Therapeutic Riding: PATH Intl. accredited nonprofit in Maryland providing therapeutic riding to children and adults with disabilities using individualized instruction and horse-rider matching. Directly comparable in mission, methodology, and small-team nonprofit structure.
• SPUR Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Intl. accredited therapeutic riding center in New Jersey where RAD co-founder Allie Sarnataro volunteered beginning at age 16. Highly comparable in PATH-aligned curriculum, adaptive rider focus, and instructor-volunteer operating model.
• UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center: PATH Intl. accredited nonprofit in New Hampshire providing therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with disabilities through individualized, goal-based lessons. Highly comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and PATH-aligned methodology.
• National Center for Equine Assisted Therapy: California-based equine-assisted therapy organization providing therapeutic riding and related services to individuals with disabilities. Geographic and mission-based peer operating in a comparable regulatory and donor environment.
• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Michigan offering adaptive horseback riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities. Closely comparable in mission, instructional model, and credentialing posture to RAD.
• Mane Stream: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in New Jersey offering adaptive riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services with a strong volunteer and instructor base. Comparable in scale, credentialing, and individualized lesson-planning approach.
• Hearts & Hooves: PATH Intl. affiliated therapeutic riding organization providing adaptive lessons to individuals with special needs using volunteer-driven, individualized instruction. Comparable in PATH-aligned methodology, volunteer reliance, and community-led fundraising model.

Broad incumbents

• Helen Woodward Animal Center: Large San Diego-area animal welfare and therapy organization where RAD co-founders Allie Sarnataro and Katie Cram previously worked and where the Therapeutic Riding Center concept originated. Operates a much broader portfolio of animal programs alongside therapeutic riding, making it a scaled incumbent in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rideabovedisability
• Facebookfacebook.com/radtrc
• Instagraminstagram.com/rad_therapeutic_riding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ride-above-disability-therapeutic-riding-center

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center