Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center

What Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center does

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered on a 12-acre campus leased from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the Tewksbury State Hospital grounds, with access to an additional 450 acres of adjacent conservation land. The organization delivers equine-assisted services (EAS) to individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral needs, operating a herd of 16 specially-trained horses (including miniature, draft, and sport horses) and a facility that comprises an indoor arena (Perley Arena, completed 2020), outdoor riding ring, sensory trail, and paddocks. Programs are developed and led by PATH International-certified and Commonwealth of Massachusetts-licensed instructors, several of whom hold additional credentials in physical therapy, expressive arts therapy, special education, mental health counseling, and rehabilitation counseling.

The core service portfolio includes therapeutic riding, Equine-Assisted Learning, and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, delivered through individual private or group lessons, group programs for businesses/schools/organizations, and verticalized programs for military veterans, seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia, and individuals with substance use disorders. Strongwater holds PATH Intl. Premier Center accreditation—one of only two such centers in northeast Massachusetts—and operates a Special Olympics equestrian program in affiliation with Special Olympics Massachusetts. Strategic partners include the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Administration Hospital, Lowell Vet Center, Fairview Senior Living, and Hidden Battles.

Revenue mechanics reflect a classic nonprofit community-funded model. Program tuition (group lessons $672 per 8-week session; private lessons $880 per 8-week session, effective January 1, 2026) covers approximately one-third of actual program cost, with donors subsidizing the remaining two-thirds. The organization runs five annual fundraising events—the Gala, Golf Tournament, Hoedown, Winter Wonderland, and Music Bingo—with sponsorship tiers ranging from $3,000 to $25,000. Additional support comes from individual and corporate donations, including restricted funds such as the Dave Wahr Memorial Fund (scholarships) and Lt. Col. Rhea McCarthy Veterans Fund, as well as foundation grants (notably $25,000 from the Butler Foundation and $15,000 from the Tower Foundation in 2024). Distribution is primarily regional—Northeast Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area—delivered on-site at Tewksbury and off-site through partner organizations.

Name

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Legal name

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center Inc.

Website

https://strongwaterfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering equine-assisted therapeutic riding, learning, and psychotherapy to individuals with physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges across Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Equestrian Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian & Horse Trekking Centers (THAAAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations (AFAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Therapeutic riding instruction
• Adaptive equestrian programs
• Veterans equine services
• Nonprofit therapeutic services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tewksbury

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition Fees: Client fees for therapeutic riding lessons and equine-assisted services. Group lessons cost $84/lesson ($672/8-week session), private lessons $110/lesson ($880/8-week session). Clients pay approximately one-third of actual program cost with donors subsidizing the remaining two-thirds.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations supporting general operations, specific programs (Veterans, Special Needs Youth, Horses), and scholarship funds including the Dave Wahr Memorial Fund and Lt. Col. Rhea McCarthy Veterans Fund.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue from events including Annual Gala ($250/ticket), Golf Tournament ($175/person), Music Bingo ($30/ticket), Winter Wonderland ($30/family), and Hoedown. Sponsorships range from $3,000 to $25,000.
4. Vocational Services: Fee-based vocational partnerships with schools and organizations providing employment skills training through hands-on barn and farm experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center delivers equine-assisted services (EAS), including therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy, using a herd of specially-trained horses at its Tewksbury, MA facility. Programs serve individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges, as well as veterans, seniors with dementia, at-risk youth, and partner organizations such as schools and veteran hospitals. Services are led by PATH International-certified instructors and delivered through individual lessons, group sessions, and customized organizational programming.

Product overview

Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a nonprofit service organization (not a technology product company) that provides equine-assisted services (EAS) through a unified program model. The core offerings include therapeutic riding lessons, Equine-Assisted Learning, and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy delivered by PATH-certified instructors. Programs are offered across multiple formats: Group Programs for Businesses, Schools & Organizations; Individual Lessons in Private or Group Settings; Veterans Services; Programs for Seniors with Alzheimer's & Dementia; and Substance Use Disorder Programs. The organization also operates a Volunteer & Vocational Services program. Fundraising events including the Annual Gala, Annual Hoedown, Music Bingo for a Cause, Winter Wonderland, and Golf Tournament support operations. The therapeutic services are delivered using the organization's herd of specially-trained horses at their Tewksbury, MA facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dave Wahr Memorial Fund: A scholarship fund dedicated to supporting clients who could not otherwise afford equine therapy services
• Lt. Col. Rhea McCarthy Veterans Fund

Products and services

• Group Programs for Businesses, Schools & Organizations

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,200 service hours delivered to 600+ clients in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, supporting, major and core.

• Lightship Wealth StrategiesflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 December 2023Named Strongwater's inaugural Pegasus Partner for 2024 after raising $15,000 through a volunteer day and fundraising campaign. Pegasus Partner is the highest partnership level demonstrating profound dedication to supporting Strongwater's mission.
• Liv CommunitiessupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 September 2023Corporate volunteer team contributed landscaping, weed eating, and grounds maintenance to support farm operations.
• Lowell FivemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 September 2023Lasso Legend Partner in Rising Strongwater 2023 campaign to raise $85,000 for flood recovery. Longstanding community partner providing financial and community support.
• NE ARCsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Participated in Disabilities Resource Fair hosted by NE ARC, exploring collaboration opportunities to increase awareness of therapeutic programs.
• Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Administration (VA) HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrongwater partners with the VA Hospital in Bedford, MA and the VA's program for formerly homeless veterans to provide equine-assisted services for veterans suffering from PTSD, trauma, and substance abuse.
• Lowell Vet CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Serving Those Who Sacrifice initiative providing equine-assisted services to veterans, first responders, and their families.
• Hidden BattlescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting veterans through equine-assisted services focused on healing and resilience.
• Fairview Senior LivingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrongwater regularly hosts seniors from Fairview Senior Living in Hudson, NH for grooming, petting, and horse interaction activities benefiting those with Alzheimer's and dementia.
• Run for the TroopsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Swing with a Purpose Golf Tournament raising funds for Veterans and First Responders programming.
• Vesper Country ClubsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGala venue partner hosting 25th Anniversary celebration event in Tyngsboro, MA.
• Special Olympics MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with Special Olympics MA, providing competitive equestrian opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• High Hopes Equestrian Center: Nonprofit therapeutic equestrian center serving individuals with disabilities through equine-assisted activities. Strongwater team members reference High Hopes in their training credentials, and the two operate comparable PATH-affiliated nonprofit models serving similar populations in New England.
• Terra Equine Therapy Center: Nonprofit equine therapy center in New Hampshire that appears in Strongwater team volunteer histories. Comparable PATH-aligned nonprofit offering therapeutic riding to special needs populations.
• Mane Gait: Nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship center serving veterans, at-risk youth, and individuals with disabilities. Comparable program mix and veteran-services focus with similar grant-funded operating model.
• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center serving children and adults with disabilities in Michigan. Comparable operating model, accreditation tier, and program mix (therapeutic riding, mental health, vocational services).
• Lovelane Special Needs Therapeutic Riding: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing therapeutic horseback riding to children with special needs. Lovelane appears directly in Strongwater team member volunteer histories, indicating overlapping regional mission, client base, and instructor pipeline.

Emerging players

• The Equus Effect: Nonprofit equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning organization. Strongwater instructor Ellie Coolidge-Behrstock is a Certified Facilitator of The Equus Effect, indicating direct programmatic and methodological overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics Massachusetts: State-level affiliate of Special Olympics and a direct Strongwater partner providing competitive equestrian programming for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Operates a much broader multisport portfolio but overlaps meaningfully on equestrian inclusion.
• PATH International: The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International is the industry body that accredits Strongwater as a Premier Center. It is the broader umbrella and standards-setting incumbent for the entire EAS category.

Others

• Edith Nourse Rogers VA Hospital: Federal VA Medical Center that is Strongwater's largest institutional partner for veteran equine-assisted services. As a federal healthcare provider, it functions as a referral channel and indirect program funder rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Braveheims Therapeutic Riding: Regional nonprofit equine-assisted therapy organization. Comparable nonprofit service model and target populations, with overlapping New England footprint and PATH affiliation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@StrongwaterFarmYT
• Facebookfacebook.com/strongwaterfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/strongwater-farm-therapeutic-equestrian-center-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/strongwaterfarmtherapeutic
• TikToktiktok.com/@strongwaterfarm?_t=8rgyGAQY6BO&_r=1

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center