Windhorse Equine Learning
Windhorse Equine Learning is a Bozeman, Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers equine-assisted learning programs — including an 8-level curriculum, summer camps, mindfulness, and reading programs — to youth in grades 3-12 in Gallatin and Park Counties to build social and emotional skills.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBozeman, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Windhorse Equine Learning does
Windhorse Equine Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 and headquartered at a leased 10.5-acre ranch facility in Bozeman, Montana. It delivers equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs to youth in grades 3 through 12 residing in Gallatin and Park Counties, with a focus on building social and emotional competencies such as partnership, responsibility, trust, empathy, resilience, and self-awareness through structured interaction with horses. The core program architecture is an eight-level progressive curriculum (Leadership through Connection), complemented by summer camps, a six-week Practicing Mindfulness with Horses course combining yoga and mindfulness with equine work, the trademarked Horse Powered Reading program integrating five reading skills with equine partnership, and three-hour school field trips. Program outcomes have been documented through a research collaboration with Montana State University, including statistically significant cortisol reduction and 79% anxiety / 91.5% depression symptom reduction in a 2020-2021 study.
The organization's revenue model is diversified across program fees, individual donations (one-time and recurring), business partnerships structured in tiered sponsorship levels ($500-$10,000), foundation grants, ticket and auction revenue from signature events such as the Cowpokes & Cocktails annual gala, a Montana-sponsored license plate program, and branded merchandise sales. Since 2013, Windhorse has served 850 youth cumulatively, including 143 individuals in 2025, and has provided over $54,500 in needs-based scholarships to 315 children. The organization operates with a small paid staff (1-10 employees) supplemented by 60+ active volunteers, and is currently conducting a capital campaign that has raised over $892,000 toward purchasing its leased ranch property and enabling future expansion with an indoor arena.
Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, school partnerships, community giving days (Give Big Gallatin Valley), and signature events for both recruitment and fundraising. Programs are delivered exclusively at the Bozeman ranch, with no remote or digital distribution. Recent strategic expansion has included the first Spanish-language camp in partnership with HRDC, a documentary screening collaboration with Upper Canyon Outreach, and broadened program offerings targeting underserved populations including active military and Veterans.
Windhorse Equine Learning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Windhorse Equine Learning
- Legal name
- Windhorse Equine Learning
- Website
- https://windhorseequinelearning.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Windhorse Equine Learning is a Bozeman, Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers equine-assisted learning programs — including an 8-level curriculum, summer camps, mindfulness, and reading programs — to youth in grades 3-12 in Gallatin and Park Counties to build social and emotional skills.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Windhorse Equine Learning industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Equine-Assisted Learning Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equine Care & Stable Management (EDAOAOAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)
Keywords
Where Windhorse Equine Learning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bozeman
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Windhorse Equine Learning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Fees charged for classes, camps, and specialized programs. Need-based scholarships provided to all qualifying families, with some scholarships fully covering costs.
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring charitable contributions from individuals. Monthly recurring donation option available. Donors can designate gifts to general operations, scholarships, horse herd care, or capital campaign.
- Capital Campaign Donations: Major fundraising campaign to purchase the 10.5-acre ranch property currently leased. Has raised over $892,000 toward goal of approximately $1.748 million.
- Business Partnerships: Local business sponsorships at various levels (Presenting Partner $10,000, Premium Partner $5,000, Prime Partner $2,500, Sustaining Partner $1,000, Supporting Partner $500). Partners receive year-round exposure through social media, emails, website, and event visibility.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling Windhorse branded merchandise including shirts, jackets, hats, hoodies.
- License Plate Sales: Montana-sponsored license plate program. $30 from each license plate sold supports equine-assisted learning programs.
- Event Revenue: Ticket sales and auction proceeds from signature events like Cowpokes & Cocktails annual gala.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 7-week Classes - $450 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 5-day Summer Camps - $450 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mindfulness with Horses - $450 (6-week) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Horse Powered Reading - $75/session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School Field Trips - $30/child |
| Other | Monthly | Donation Tiers |
| Other | Annual | Business Partnership Levels |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Cowpokes & Cocktails Event |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Windhorse Equine Learning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Windhorse Equine Learning delivers equine-assisted learning programs for youth in grades 3 through 12 at its Bozeman, Montana farm facility. Core offerings include a progressive 8-level class curriculum, summer camps, a mindfulness-with-horses course, and Horse Powered Reading® sessions, all designed to build social-emotional competencies like leadership, partnership, responsibility, trust, empathy, and resilience through hands-on work with horses. Programs are paired with needs-based scholarships to ensure access for low-income families.
Product overview
Windhorse Equine Learning is a values-based educational nonprofit offering a unified program of equine-assisted learning that teaches social and emotional competencies to youth through the horse/human bond. The core offering consists of an 8-level progressive class curriculum, summer camps, specialized mindfulness and reading programs, and school field trips—all centered on hands-on work with horses to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and develop life skills. Supporting services include needs-based scholarships and an online merchandise store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Classes (8-Level Program) Seven-week equestrian classes taught in two sessions throughout the year (spring and fall), progressing through eight levels: Leadership (Level 1, no riding), Partnership (Level 2, beginning riding), Responsibility (Level 3), Trust (Level 4), Empathy (Level 5), Resilience (Level 6), Awareness/Attunement (Level 7), and Connection (Level 8). Classes are two hours per week, taught at the Windhorse facility, serving youth from third grade through high school.
- Summer Camps Five-day, three-hours-per-day summer camp programs for grades 3-8 covering beginner and intermediate riding skills, horsemanship, and social-emotional learning with horses. Intermediate camps are by invitation only.
- Practicing Mindfulness with Horses Six-week course for middle and high school students combining yoga and mindfulness practices with experiential equine-assisted learning to reduce anxiety and build emotional regulation skills. Horses serve as calming partners, with their lower heart rates helping students lower energy and anxiety levels.
- Horse Powered Reading® One-hour reading instruction sessions integrating horses with social-emotional learning, focusing on five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The horse creates immediate feedback and experiential learning opportunities.
- School Field Trips Three-hour experiential sessions for school groups of up to 10 students (grades 3-8) learning leadership skills, horse safety, herd dynamics, horse body language, and grooming/leading through hands-on activities with horses. Offered in spring and fall seasons.
- Windhorse Online Store E-commerce store selling branded Windhorse merchandise including shirts, jackets, hats, hoodies, and other apparel items.
- Windhorse License Plate Montana-sponsored license plate featuring equine artwork by DG House, with $30 from each plate sold supporting Windhorse equine-assisted learning programs for kids.
Quantifiable outcome
- 79% of students experienced significant reductions in anxiety; 91.5% showed reductions in depression (average across three Practicing Mindfulness with Horses classes)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Windhorse Equine Learning
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Windhorse Equine Learning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Windhorse Equine Learning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Upper Canyon OutreachcoreMontana-based nonprofit providing psychological tools and horsemanship skills to support active military and Veterans. Partnered with Windhorse to co-host 'Rescued Hearts' documentary film screening event, bringing together organizations doing horse-human connection work in the community.
- Four Horses for WholenessminorSponsor of 'Rescued Hearts' documentary screening event. Retreat organization offering group programs focused on healing and wholeness.
- HRDC (Human Resource Development Council)corePartnership to deliver first-ever Spanish-language camp at Windhorse in 2025, expanding access to underserved communities in Gallatin County.
- Montana State University Department of EducationcoreResearch collaboration with MSU faculty to study effectiveness of Practicing Mindfulness with Horses classes. Published research paper 'Fight, Flight, or Freeze?: Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) as a Means to Explore Anxiety, Self-Efficacy, and Agency in Rural Youth during Covid-19' in 2020-2021.
- Montana Mindfulness ProjectminorPartnership to conduct Practicing Mindfulness with Horses classes, combining equine-assisted learning with mindfulness practices.
- DG HousecoreCherokee artist who created unique equine art specifically for Windhorse's Montana-sponsored license plate. Art generates $30 per plate sold for Windhorse programs.
- Bridger Animal NutritionmajorPrime Partner business sponsor in 2026. Local business providing animal nutrition products.
- Miller Roodell ArchitectsmajorPresenting Partner of first annual Windhorse Summer Saddle-Up riding challenge. Architectural firm supporting youth programs.
- Ressler MotorsmajorPresenting Partner of first annual Windhorse Summer Saddle-Up riding challenge.
- One Valley Community FoundationmajorProduces Give Big Gallatin Valley 24-hour giving day, the annual community giving event that Windhorse participates in.
- The Kiln (Bozeman venue)minorBozeman venue hosting 'Rescued Hearts' documentary screening event with Windhorse and Upper Canyon Outreach.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Windhorse Equine Learning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hearts and Horses: Colorado-based PATH-accredited therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities nonprofit. Directly comparable as a similar nonprofit offering equine-assisted learning and therapy programs, with comparable scale and program mix. Notably referenced via Windhorse board member Michelle Griffith who previously served on Hearts and Horses' board.
- Eagle Mount: Bozeman, Montana-based nonprofit providing therapeutic horsemanship and adaptive riding to individuals with disabilities and youth. Direct peer given shared geography and overlapping equine-assisted programming, with Windhorse board member Maggee Harrison previously serving as Eagle Mount's Adaptive Horsemanship Program Director from 2009-2022.
Others
- PATH International: Professional association that sets the credentialing standards (Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator) referenced throughout Windhorse's staff bios. The industry body that governs and certifies the type of equine-assisted services Windhorse delivers.
Peers
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Windhorse Equine Learning social profiles
Digital presenceWindhorse Equine Learning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Windhorse Equine Learning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Windhorse Equine Learning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Windhorse Equine Learning M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Windhorse Equine Learning
What does Windhorse Equine Learning do?
Windhorse Equine Learning delivers equine-assisted learning programs for youth in grades 3 through 12 at its Bozeman, Montana farm facility. Core offerings include a progressive 8-level class curriculum, summer camps, a mindfulness-with-horses course, and Horse Powered Reading® sessions, all designed to build social-emotional competencies like leadership, partnership, responsibility, trust, empathy, and resilience through hands-on work with horses. Programs are paired with needs-based scholarships to ensure access for low-income families.
Is Windhorse Equine Learning a public or private company?
Windhorse Equine Learning is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Windhorse Equine Learning founded?
Windhorse Equine Learning was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Windhorse Equine Learning based?
Windhorse Equine Learning is headquartered in Bozeman, United States, in the North America region.
How does Windhorse Equine Learning make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, capital Campaign Donations, business Partnerships, merchandise Sales, license Plate Sales and event Revenue.
Who are Windhorse Equine Learning's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hearts and Horses and Eagle Mount. PATH International is listed as an others. EAGALA is listed as a peer.
Does Windhorse Equine Learning have an API?
No public API is recorded for Windhorse Equine Learning.
What industry is Windhorse Equine Learning in?
Windhorse Equine Learning's product category is Equine-Assisted Learning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAOAE, Equine Care & Stable Management, with a secondary code of AFAEAGAF, Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs. Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8200.