Restoration Ranch

What Restoration Ranch does

Restoration Ranch, operating under the legal entity The Joyful Horse Project, is a 501(c)-style Texas nonprofit founded in 2012 and headquartered on a rural ranch at 172A Hills Prairie Road, Bastrop, Texas. The organization delivers free equine-assisted learning programs to military veterans, their caregivers, and family members, using a herd of more than 15 rescued and rehabilitated "second-chance" horses as the therapeutic medium. Core program architecture consists of: a twice-monthly group Veterans Equine Partnership Workshop (VEP) as the entry-level offering; a multi-tiered private Horsemanship Program progressing from groundwork to riding for graduates; quarterly Caregiver Workshops providing respite; a Women Veterans Only Equine Partnership offered in a single-gender format; a Mounted Color Guard Team for ceremonial engagements; and adjunctive Demonstration Clinics and a community Volunteer Program. Delivery occurs entirely on-site at the Bastrop property, supplemented by outreach visits to Rock Springs behavioral health hospital, nursing homes, and veteran hospitals.

The organization's underlying "technology" is experiential and human-led rather than digital: EAGALA-certified equine specialists, Army veteran peer coaches (including a Sergeant First Class with three Iraq tours), and licensed clinicians from partner organizations co-facilitate sessions. The website (Wix-based) and an online RSVP/booking calendar provide scheduling; social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube) and earned media from KXAN, Fox 7 Austin, and Spectrum News support awareness; no proprietary software, mobile app, or API is in use. Operational staffing is small (roughly 5-8 paid personnel) anchored by President Beth Rand (founder), and supported by a 9-person volunteer board.

The revenue model is donation-driven and event-driven rather than transactional. Programs are provided at zero cost to veterans, funded by a combination of individual donations (claimed 88% pass-through ratio), corporate sponsorships structured into Bronze ($250) through Diamond ($5,000+, multi-year) tiers (claimed 97% pass-through ratio), restricted grants from foundations including Joy & Hank Kuchta Foundation, Lakeside Foundation, and Austin Community Foundation, and event revenue from benefit concerts (e.g., the Madam Radar Benefit Concert at $25-$45 tickets) and galas (Heroes & Horseshoes, Spring Fling). The organization's beneficiary base has scaled to 2,645 veteran families cumulatively since inception, with 650+ sessions and 145 veterans/family members served in 2025, representing a 50%+ year-over-year increase in participation.

Name

Restoration Ranch

Legal name

Joyful Horse Project

Website

https://restorationranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Restoration Ranch is a Bastrop, Texas nonprofit (operating as The Joyful Horse Project) that delivers free equine-assisted learning programs to military veterans, their caregivers, and family members using rescued second-chance horses as the therapeutic medium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Equine-Assisted Therapy Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEAGAJ

Equine Rehabilitation, Layup & Retirement Facilities

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Equine (Horse) Breeding & Operations

SECONDARYAFAEAGAG

Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Equine (Horse) Breeding & Operations

SECONDARYBPAGAIAH

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Veteran support services
• Therapeutic horsemanship
• Caregiver respite programs
• Ranch rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bastrop

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Restoration Ranch relies on private donations from individuals to continue offering equine learning programs free of charge to military veterans and their families. Donors can contribute at various levels with 88% of donations going directly back to the organization.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate donation packages ranging from Bronze ($250) to Platinum ($2,500+) and Diamond ($5,000+) tiers. Sponsors receive logo placement, social media recognition, event banners, and private ranch tours. 97% of donations go directly back to Restoration Ranch.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from benefit concerts and events such as the Madam Radar Benefit Concert ($25-$45 tickets) featuring live music, raffles, and auctions to support PTSD awareness and veteran programs.
4. Grant Funding: Funding from grant-giving organizations including foundations such as the Joy & Hank Kuchta Foundation and Lakeside Foundation to support equine care, veteran therapy sessions, facility improvements, and community outreach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Restoration Ranch provides free equine-assisted learning programs that pair military veterans and their caregivers with rescued second-chance horses at its Bastrop, Texas ranch. Core offerings include twice-monthly Veterans Equine Partnership Workshops, private multi-tiered Horsemanship sessions, quarterly Caregiver Workshops, and Women-Veteran-only equine partnership sessions designed to support emotional healing, physical rejuvenation, and community reintegration. All programs are delivered at no cost to participants and are funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Restoration Ranch operates as a unified program offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings center on equine-assisted learning programs for veterans and their families, primarily consisting of the Veterans Equine Partnership Workshops (VEP) as the foundational group program, supplemented by the private Horsemanship Program for deeper skill development. Additional programs include Caregiver Workshops providing respite for military caregivers, Women's Veteran Equine Partnership Workshops for women-only sessions, and the Mounted Color Guard Team for ceremonial opportunities. The Volunteer Program enables community participation in ranch operations. All programs are offered free of charge to veterans and their families, delivered at the ranch's Bastrop, Texas location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterans Equine Partnership Workshops (VEP) Free twice-monthly equine-assisted learning workshops for military veterans and their family members that teach horsemanship skills designed to benefit both people and horses through interactive equine partnership activities.
• Horsemanship Program Private weekly sessions for veterans who have completed group VEP workshops, providing multi-tiered horsemanship progression from groundwork through horse management to riding, with individual horses matched to each veteran.
• Caregiver Workshops Quarterly workshops providing military caregivers with respite, food, fellowship, activities, and quality time with horses in a peaceful rural setting away from 24/7 caregiving demands.
• Women's Veteran Equine Partnership Workshops Women-only equine partnership workshops providing a dedicated supportive environment for women veterans to connect with horses and one another through grooming and groundwork activities facilitated by a Woman-Centered Equine Team.
• Mounted Color Guard Team Opportunity for veterans to participate in ceremonial mounted color guard duties, combining horsemanship skills with patriotic service at community events and observances.
• Demonstration Clinic with Eileen Depew Educational demonstration clinic hosted by equine professional Eileen Depew, offering hands-on learning and horsemanship instruction for participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving more than 2,645 veteran families since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bastrop Area CruisersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization supporting Restoration Ranch as a Diamond/Platinum donor.
• Lost Pines Bible ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal faith-based organization providing support as a Diamond/Platinum donor to Restoration Ranch.
• Samaritan CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Texas nonprofit providing professional counseling, integrative medicine, and wellness education. Board member Jack Crownover serves on their Board of Trustees.
• Texas Horse Racing Museum and Hall of FameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric organization supporting Restoration Ranch as a Diamond/Platinum donor.
• American Made HeroesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting military veterans featured as a Diamond/Platinum donor on the Partners & Sponsors page.
• Perisso VineyardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal vineyard supporting Restoration Ranch as a Lakeside Foundation donor.
• Tahitian VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization supporting Restoration Ranch as a donor.
• Travis County Sheriff's DepartmentminorOthersTravis County Sheriff's Department referred rescued miniature horses including Maximus to Restoration Ranch for rehabilitation and training.
• Rock SpringsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health hospital that receives visits from Restoration Ranch horses as part of the ranch's community outreach program.
• Edwards Performance SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an Intercities sponsor supporting Restoration Ranch's mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding: Mahomet, Illinois-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy and horsemanship programs for military veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities. Direct peer due to near-identical mission of pairing rescued/second-chance horses with veterans for therapeutic outcomes.
• Habitat for Horses: Texas-based equine rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes neglected, abused, and abandoned horses. Comparable as a Texas-based nonprofit focused on second-chance horse welfare with similar equine rehabilitation and rehoming activities.
• Strides to Success: Indiana-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted learning and therapy programs for veterans, youth, and individuals with disabilities. Direct peer with similar veteran-inclusive mission and reliance on volunteers, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
• Gallop NYC: New York City-based nonprofit providing therapeutic horsemanship to veterans, at-risk youth, and people with disabilities. Directly comparable therapeutic horsemanship nonprofit with similar programming, donor-funded model, and outcomes measurement emphasis.
• Mane Stream: New Jersey-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted services to individuals with special needs, veterans, and at-risk youth. Directly comparable as a therapeutic riding center with similar program structure, donor-supported operations, and rural facility model.
• Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center: Boulder, Colorado-based therapeutic riding nonprofit serving people with disabilities, youth at risk, and military veterans through equine-assisted programs. Directly comparable as a nonprofit ranch-based equine therapy operation with similar therapeutic and community-building objectives.
• Victory Therapeutic Horsemanship: Oklahoma-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy specifically for veterans and first responders with PTSD, TBI, and other service-related challenges. Direct peer due to shared veteran-focused equine therapy mission and free-to-participant program model.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with physical and mental injuries through programs, services, and advocacy. Adjacent broader veteran-services incumbent that competes for similar donors and federal funding despite operating at much larger scale.
• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.): National nonprofit that accredits and represents equine-assisted services centers across the U.S., including many veteran-serving programs. Broader industry umbrella organization providing certification, standards, and resources to organizations like Restoration Ranch.

Regional players

• Equest: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas-based equine therapy nonprofit serving veterans, individuals with disabilities, and youth through therapeutic horsemanship. Geographic peer operating in the same state with overlapping programs and donor pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLm-miG30REqSo3x-yDm-MpUJ5mh9JG7Wf
• Facebookfacebook.com/veterans4equinetherapy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/restoration-ranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Restoration Ranch