ROCK (Ride on Center for Kids)

What ROCK (Ride on Center for Kids) does

ROCK (Ride On Center for Kids) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Georgetown, Texas, on a 60+ acre campus. The organization provides equine-assisted services — including Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) for physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy goals, Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA) for therapeutic horsemanship, and Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL) — to children, adults, and veterans with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. The core therapeutic technology leverages the dynamic movement of the horse, which simulates human walking and delivers up to 160 bilateral, symmetrical, rhythmical impacts per minute, providing biofeedback to the neuromuscular system. Specialized programs include ROCK On Veterans (ROV) for active-duty service members and veterans, Hoof Prints In Time for memory care and hospice populations, ROCK On Competitions for competitive riding, and summer camps (Camp Bright Side and Camp Courage). ROCK also manages the TAMU Courtney Cares Equine Therapeutic Program at Texas A&M University in College Station and supports H.O.P.E. in Beijing, China.

ROCK's business model is a hybrid of participant program fees and charitable fundraising. Program fees are nominal or waived: Camp Bright Side costs $300 per session, while Camp Courage and the Veterans program are free, with financial assistance available across all programs. The majority of revenue is derived from donations, foundation grants (Texas Veterans Commission, Wounded Warrior Project, Georgetown Health Foundation, Chisholm Trail and Central Texas Community Foundations), event fundraising (Barn Dance, Cowgirl Bruncheon, Carriage Rides), horse sponsorships (Horseshoe Club), and monthly donor programs (Boots in the Dirt, Legacy of Hope). The organization claims 78 cents of every dollar goes directly to programs and services, and volunteers (ROCKateers) constitute 91% of the workforce, providing $900,000+ in annual volunteer value.

ROCK is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center and serves 400+ participants annually across Central Texas. The organization maintains 20+ research collaborations with universities including Baylor University and Texas A&M, with 3 peer-reviewed publications, and has experienced steady facility expansion through the Miracles in the Dirt capital campaign, including the Sports Clips Heroes Arena (operational 2022) and the Patti Colbert Learning Center expansion (2024).

Name

ROCK (Ride on Center for Kids)

Legal name

ROCK Ride On Center for Kids

Website

https://rockride.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ROCK (Ride On Center for Kids) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 in Georgetown, Texas, providing equine-assisted therapy, activities, and learning programs to children, adults, and veterans with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges across Central Texas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine-Assisted Therapy and Therapeutic Horsemanship Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO), Equine Working Ranch & Trail Operations (non-tourism) (AFAEAGAL), Equine Rehabilitation, Layup & Retirement Facilities (AFAEAGAJ), Equine Care & Stable Management (EDAOAOAE)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Therapeutic horsemanship
• Hippotherapy services
• Veteran rehabilitation programs
• Adaptive riding instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ROCK is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. EIN 74-2917659. Donors can contribute through direct donations, Amazon Smile, stock donations, and in-kind gifts.
2. Participant Program Fees: Fees for therapeutic programs and services. Summer camp costs $300 per session for Camp Bright Side. Financial assistance is available through a Financial Assistance Application.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including Barn Dance, Cowgirl Bruncheon, and Carriage Rides generate fundraising revenue through ticket sales, auction donations, and sponsorships.
4. Horseshoe Club Sponsorships: Monthly or annual sponsorship of horses through the Horseshoe Club provides care and feeding for ROCK therapy horses.
5. Carriage Ride Fees: Community event generating revenue through carriage ride tickets: $100 per time slot for Family Carriage, $25 per seat for Wagonette Carriage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ROCK is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers equine-assisted therapy, equine-assisted activities (therapeutic horsemanship), and equine-facilitated learning to children, adults, and veterans with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Services are provided through trained therapists and PATH Intl. certified riding instructors using the dynamic movement of therapy horses to produce therapeutic outcomes in muscle tone, balance, communication, behavior, and emotional regulation. Programs are delivered on-site at the Georgetown, Texas facility, at the TAMU Courtney Cares program, and through school-based and veteran-specific program tracks.

Product overview

ROCK (Ride On Center for Kids) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing equine-assisted services. The organization operates as a single unified therapeutic services offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product portfolio consists of Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) for physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy, Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA) for therapeutic horsemanship, and Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL) for educational purposes. These core services are supplemented by specialized programs including ROCK On Veterans (ROV) for military veterans and active-duty service members, CTRI Mentorship for instructor certification, School Programs for educational partnerships, Summer Camps for children (including Camp Bright Side inclusion camp and Camp Courage for military families), Hoof Prints In Time for memory care, and ROCK On Competitions (ROC) for competitive riding. ROCK also manages the TAMU Courtney Cares Equine Therapeutic Program at Texas A&M University and supports H.O.P.E. in Beijing, China. As a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center serving Central Texas since 1998, ROCK offers these programs from its 60+ acre facility in Georgetown, Texas, with an average of over 400 participants annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Courtney Cares: Texas A&M University therapeutic riding program managed by ROCK, established in 2012 in partnership with TAMU Corps of Cadets Parsons Mounted Cavalry
• ROCK On Veterans (ROV)
• STAR (STAR Instructor in Training Program)
• Boots in the Dirt
• Legacy of Hope
• Horseshoe Club

Products and services

• Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) Physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes the dynamic movement of the horse to achieve therapy goals. The rhythmic movement of the horse simulates human walking and provides up to 160 bilateral, symmetrical, rhythmical impacts per minute as biofeedback to the neuromuscular system. Effective for individuals with amputation, brain injury, cerebral palsy, muscular weakness, speech/language impairment, spinal cord injury, stroke, and visual impairment.
• Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA) / Therapeutic Horsemanship Equine-Assisted Activities program that teaches horsemanship and riding skills to individuals with special needs (including autism, ADD, developmental delay, Down syndrome, hearing/vision impairment, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy) with the goal of increasing functional life skills. Taught by PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructors.
• Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL) An educational approach that incorporates equine-facilitated activities using the experience of equine/human interaction in an environment of learning and self-discovery.
• ROCK On Veterans (ROV) Therapeutic horsemanship program for active-duty service members and veterans partnering with horses and veteran volunteers, helping servicemen and women adjust physically and emotionally from injuries incurred in the line of duty. Includes co-ed, women-only, and family program tracks. Cost is 100% covered through fundraising efforts and grants.
• CTRI Mentorship Program A Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) mentorship opportunity for individuals seeking to become certified therapeutic riding instructors under PATH International standards.
• School Programs (EAL) Equine-Assisted Learning programs offered in collaboration with nearby Central Texas school districts, fostering connections with horses to promote learning among a range of students.
• Summer Camps (Camp Bright Side and Camp Courage) Equine-assisted learning summer camps for children ages 8-15 during June. Camp Bright Side is an inclusion camp for more independent riders at $300 per session. Camp Courage is a free leadership horsemanship camp for children of military service members/veterans or fallen service members/veterans.
• Hoof Prints In Time An equine-assisted ground program designed to support individuals with memory loss, neurological conditions, brain injuries, and those receiving hospice care through meaningful interactions with horses. Partners with memory care, brain and spinal cord injury, and hospice facilities.
• ROCK On Competitions (ROC) Competition and horse show program allowing participants to showcase skills at events including Area and State Equestrian Competition for Special Olympics, Rodeo Austin, Gold Stirrup Horse Show, Chisholm Challenge, Top Hands, and Born to Be Virtual Horse Show.
• TAMU Courtney Cares Equine Therapeutic Program A PATH Intl. Premier Accredited program staffed and managed by ROCK at the Texas A&M University System campus in College Station, Texas. Began serving children, adults, and veterans in 2012. Horses are leased from Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Parsons Mounted Cavalry. Cultivates future leaders through education and service learning opportunities.
• H.O.P.E. (Horses Offering People Enrichment) Educational and intern support program serving children with special needs in Beijing, China, founded by Dr. Priscilla Lightsey. ROCK provides educational and intern support to this nonprofit EAAT program.
• Family and Wagonette Carriage Rides Community carriage ride events held on the Georgetown Square, priced at $100 per time slot for Family Carriage (accommodates 4 adults and 2 lap children) and $25 per seat for Wagonette Carriage (accommodates 10 people). Proceeds support ROCK's mission.
• Horseshoe Club Sponsorship Monthly or annual sponsorship of individual ROCK therapy horses through the Horseshoe Club to fund horse care and feeding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 160 bilateral, symmetrical, rhythmical impacts per minute during riding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas A&M University SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012ROCK was contacted by TAMUS to start an equine-assisted activities and therapy center. The Courtney Grimshaw Equine Therapeutic Program (Courtney Cares) began in 2012 at Texas A&M University in College Station. ROCK provides staff, knowledge, and expertise. Horses are leased from TAMU Corps of Cadets Parsons Mounted Cavalry.
• Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012ROCK oversees a college credit course in Biomedical Science entitled 'Equine Assisted Activities & Therapy' at TAMU VMBS. Dr. Nancy Krenek is an adjunct professor there.
• PATH InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. ROCK is a Premier Accredited Center and follows PATH Intl. standards and practices.
• American Hippotherapy AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHA member organization. ROCK therapists are AHA members and some hold Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist credentials.
• City of GeorgetownminorOthersLocal city partner and supporter.
• Williamson CountyminorOthersCounty partner and supporter.
• Chamber of Commerce - Georgetown and Round RockminorOthersChamber membership and community support.
• H.O.P.E. BeijingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorses Offering People Enrichment - nonprofit EAAT program in Beijing, China founded by Dr. Priscilla Lightsey. ROCK provides educational and intern support.
• Baylor UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner with 3 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Collaborates on documenting the effectiveness of equine-assisted activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mane Stream: New Jersey-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center providing equine-assisted therapy, horsemanship, and competition programs for individuals with disabilities. Similar service breadth including therapy, adaptive riding, and competition programs directly parallel to ROCK's offerings.
• Northwest Therapeutic Riding Center: Washington State-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center offering equine-assisted therapy and learning for individuals with disabilities. Comparable in mission, accreditation level, and service delivery model to ROCK with similar veteran and youth programs.
• BINA Farm Center: Massachusetts-based nonprofit equine-assisted therapy center serving children, adults, and veterans with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. PATH Intl. accredited with hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and mental health programs - directly comparable to ROCK's three-pillar service architecture.
• Equest: Texas-based 501(c)(3) providing equine-assisted therapy and hippotherapy serving children and adults with disabilities. Operates a large facility in Wylie, TX with PATH Intl. accreditation, multiple programs including therapeutic riding and horsemanship, and serves as the most directly comparable Central/South Texas peer (some ROCK staff including Joan Cutler have worked at Equest).
• Cheff Center for the Handicapped: Michigan-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center serving individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Founded in 1970 and one of the oldest centers in the US, the Cheff Center is the model referenced by ROCK staff member Lauren Crabb who began her journey there and represents a direct operational peer in therapeutic riding instruction.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: Connecticut-based nonprofit offering therapeutic horsemanship programs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center with research collaborations, horses, and structured programs directly comparable to ROCK's service model and target population.
• Children's TherAplay: Indiana-based nonprofit providing pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy using hippotherapy. Directly comparable to ROCK's hippotherapy clinical service with a similar pediatric focus on disabilities; ROCK's Joan Cutler previously worked at Children's TherAplay.
• Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center: Colorado-based 501(c)(3) providing equine-assisted activities and therapy to individuals with disabilities. PATH Intl. accredited, with similar program breadth (therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, mental health), participant base, and community/volunteer-driven model directly comparable to ROCK.
• Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Center: New York-based PATH Intl. Premier Accredited therapeutic riding center serving people with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. Combines equine-assisted therapy with vocational and life-skills programming, paralleling ROCK's therapeutic horsemanship and life-skills approach.
• Stable Days Therapeutic Riding: Texas-based PATH Intl. accredited nonprofit providing equine-assisted services to individuals with disabilities. Shares geographic market (Texas) and similar participant base, representing a regional peer within the same state regulatory and donor environment as ROCK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTuberockride.org/latest-videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ROCKRideOnCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/rockrideoncenter
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ROCKRideOnCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rock-ride-on-center-for-kids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 ROCK (Ride on Center for Kids)