Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy

What Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy does

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 and headquartered on a 30-acre equestrian facility in Collierville, Tennessee, in the Memphis metropolitan area. The organization delivers equine-assisted services — including adaptive horseback riding, occupational therapy incorporating hippotherapy, mental health services, work-based learning, and early-childhood education — to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities across 39 municipalities and 19 counties in Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi. As of recent reporting, the organization serves 80 weekly program participants representing 26 diagnoses, has reached 1,800+ cumulative participants since inception, and operates with 11 trained therapy horses that undergo a 60-90 day assessment and onboarding protocol. It is the only PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in greater Memphis and one of three in Tennessee, with all instruction delivered by PATH Intl. certified riding instructors, AHA certified therapists, and licensed mental health professionals.

The underlying service model is operational and clinical rather than technological: programs rely on the rhythmic movement of horses to deliver therapeutic outcomes, structured curricula such as the 9-week HorsePOWER work-based learning program and the TEACH early-childhood literacy curriculum (aligned with Tennessee Academic Standards), and integrated mental health services delivered on-site in partnership with Memphis Art Therapy and Behavior Services of the Mid-South. A network of 13+ institutional partnerships — including the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Rhodes College, Concorde Career College, University of Memphis TigerLIFE, Memphis VA Medical Center, Youth Villages, and Perea Preschool — drives both participant referrals and a clinical training pipeline.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic and event channels rather than commercial sales. The two flagship annual events — the Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party ($460K+ in 2026, 850+ attendees) and Southern Supper ($92K+ in 2025, 200+ guests) — together account for approximately 50% of annual funding. The remaining 50% is sourced from individual donations (including tiered monthly giving through the Guardian Angel Horse Fund), corporate and foundation grants, program fees, planned giving/legacy gifts, in-kind donations, and an Amazon Wish List for operational supplies. Scholarships (327 awarded since 2015) and a $2,500/semester HorsePOWER program sponsorship model extend program access to financially constrained families. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Courtney Smith, with Jill Haag as Executive Director, Sara Zurenko as Program Director and Head Instructor, and Kimberly Douglas as Director of Development.

Name

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy

Legal name

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy

Website

https://southernreins.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers PATH Intl. accredited equine-assisted services — adaptive riding, hippotherapy, mental health, and workforce programs — to children and adults with disabilities across the Mid-South from a 30-acre facility in Collierville, Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine-Assisted Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian & Horse Trekking Centers (THAAAKAL)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Collierville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Fundraising: Major annual events including the Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party and Southern Supper generate approximately 50% of annual funding. Events include silent/live auctions, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
2. Individual Donations: Recurring donations from individuals including monthly giving programs, one-time gifts, and tribute/memorial donations. Strong base of dedicated donors who have supported since inception.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from businesses, foundations, and organizations including event sponsorships, program sponsorships (e.g., HorsePOWER sponsorship at $2,500/semester), and general operating grants.
4. Program Fees: Fees for participation in equine-assisted programs, with scholarship assistance available for families with financial hardship. Approximately 327 scholarship awards have been provided since 2015.
5. In-Kind Donations: Donations of supplies, equipment, and services including horse sponsorship, hay donations, and professional services that reduce operational costs.
6. Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Charitable bequests through wills, trusts, gift annuities, beneficiary designations, and real estate donations providing sustainable long-term funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy provides equine-assisted activities and therapies for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Programs include adaptive horseback riding, occupational therapy incorporating hippotherapy, mental health services, work-based learning, and specialized programs for veterans and preschoolers, all delivered at a 30-acre facility by PATH Intl. certified instructors and AHA certified therapists.

Product overview

Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy operates as a unified platform of equine-assisted service programs rather than a traditional software product. The core offering consists of therapeutic programs built around human-horse interactions, including Adaptive Horseback Riding, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy, Equine Services for Heroes, and Mental Health Services. Supporting programs include TEACH Program for early childhood learning, Pony Pals community outreach, Beyond the Saddle unmounted activities, HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning for employment skills, Making Strides Recreation Therapy, HorseSense Equine-Assisted Learning, Adaptive Discovery Summer Camp, and Silver Stirrups for senior living residents. Additional modules include Program Scholarships for financial assistance and Horse Sponsorship for donor engagement. All programs are delivered by PATH Intl. certified instructors and AHA certified therapists at the organization's 30-acre Collierville, Tennessee facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adaptive Horseback Riding
• Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy
• Equine Services for Heroes
• Making Strides Recreation Therapy
• TEACH Program (Therapy and Education Activities for Children with Horses)
• Pony Pals
• Beyond the Saddle Unmounted Activities
• Mental Health Services
• HorsePOWER Work-Based Learning
• Adaptive Discovery Summer Camp
• HorseSense Equine-Assisted Learning
• Silver Stirrups

Quantifiable outcome

• 183 volunteers contributed 9,854 hours of service in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Tennessee Health Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Reins serves as a continuing-education fieldwork site for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, providing hands-on training opportunities for health science students.
• Rhodes CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRhodes College students complete internships at Southern Reins as part of their educational programs in therapeutic horsemanship and related fields.
• Concorde Career College Occupational Therapy Assistant ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcorde Career College students complete internships at Southern Reins as part of their Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, gaining practical experience in hippotherapy.
• Youth VillagescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Villages partners with Southern Reins to provide therapeutic programs for children and families throughout the Mid-South, with Youth Villages staff attending events as sponsors.
• University of Memphis TigerLIFE ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Memphis TigerLIFE Program (college program for students with intellectual disabilities) partners with Southern Reins for experiential learning and skill development.
• Memphis VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemphis VA Medical Center partners with Southern Reins to refer veterans to the PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes Program for therapeutic services addressing physical and emotional trauma.
• Perea Preschool / Perea SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerea Preschool in the Klondike neighborhood in North Memphis partners with Southern Reins for the TEACH Program pilot, with 40 students participating in equine-facilitated learning aligned with Tennessee Academic Standards.
• Collierville High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal high school partnering with Southern Reins for student involvement and educational programs.
• Memphis Art TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemphis Art Therapy provides mental health services at Southern Reins' facility, including Art Therapy and Art & Equine Workshops conducted by Kerry Curtis, LMFT, ATR-BC.
• Behavior Services of the Mid-SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavior Services of the Mid-South collaborates with Southern Reins to provide behavioral therapy services at the farm.
• EQUUS FoundationcoreOthersEQUUS Foundation is the only national animal welfare organization in the United States 100% dedicated to protecting America's horses and strengthening the bond between horses and people. Southern Reins is recognized as an EQUUS Foundation Guardian and Mentor organization.
• PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)coreOthersPATH Intl. is the certifying body that provides Premier Accredited Center status to Southern Reins. PATH Intl. certification ensures instructors meet industry standards for safety and program quality in therapeutic horsemanship.
• Volunteer OdysseyminorOthersSouthern Reins is a proud partner of Volunteer Odyssey, connecting volunteers with meaningful service opportunities at the equestrian therapy center.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mane in Heaven: PATH Intl. member center in Arizona offering equine-assisted therapy to children and adults with disabilities, including veterans. Comparable nonprofit therapeutic riding model and participant segments.
• Strides Toronto: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Toronto, Canada offering therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy. Comparable accredited nonprofit model with similar therapeutic riding methodology.
• Hearts & Hooves: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Boise, ID offering therapeutic riding and equine-assisted learning for individuals with disabilities. Comparable nonprofit operating model and program structure.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Education Center: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Harvard, IL providing therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted services to individuals with disabilities and veterans. Comparable scale, mission, and program portfolio.
• Chastain Horse Park: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Atlanta, GA offering adaptive horseback riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted therapy programs. Closely comparable operating model, accreditation status, and program mix to Southern Reins.
• High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Sharon, CT serving children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapy. Comparable size, accreditation level, and program offerings.
• Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Rehoboth, MA providing adaptive horseback riding and equine-assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. Comparable accredited nonprofit model.
• Stable Hands: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Houston, TX providing equine-assisted therapy to people with disabilities and veterans. Comparable geographic-region nonprofit operating model and program mix.

Others

• EQUUS Foundation: National animal welfare organization that recognizes Southern Reins as a Guardian and Mentor organization. Industry-adjacent enabler governing equine welfare standards across the therapeutic riding sector.
• PATH International: Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International — the certifying body that grants Southern Reins its Premier Accredited Center status. Industry association governing safety and program quality standards for the sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/southernreins
• Facebookfacebook.com/southernreins
• Instagraminstagram.com/southern.reins.equine.therapy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-reins-center-for-equine-therapy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy