Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship

What Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship does

Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship is a non-profit horse rescue and equestrian facility founded in 2004 and headquartered at 1439 92nd Street, Franksville, Wisconsin. Operating as a 501(c)-style organization under a Board of Directors and led by founder/executive director Lia Sader, the organization delivers equine-assisted coaching, riding lessons, and summer camps to children, adults, at-risk youth, veterans, and community groups across Southeast Wisconsin. Its programming combines traditional horsemanship instruction with experiential learning methods grounded in E3A and EAGALA-certified facilitation, including Equine Assisted Coaching, Equine Assisted Learning, the Women Taking the Reins retreat, Girl Scout sessions, and small-group programs for schools, churches, and at-risk populations.

The underlying methodology is co-facilitated by humans and horses through ground activities (brushing, haltering, leading) followed by debriefing conversations, with the horse acting as an unbiased mirror for participant behavior. Staffing includes EAGALA-certified specialists (Lia Sader, Lisa Engel) and a retired special education teacher (Mary Monfre). The organization's infrastructure consists of a single on-site farm facility, services delivered by appointment only, and a small employee base (1-10) supported by volunteers.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model of one-time and recurring donations (processed via PayPal and credit card), tiered horse sponsorship subscriptions ($5,100/year individual, $2,550/year co-sponsor, $7,500/year corporate), a monthly Support a Senior Horse (SASH) program at $10-$100+/month, program fees for lessons and camps, event-based fundraising (Milwaukee Milkmen Fundraiser, Fall Open House), and an affiliate partnership with Goodshop. Operational cost economics center on program horse care, which the organization states exceeds $5,100 per horse per year for feed, veterinary care, and medical expenses. Marketing relies almost entirely on word-of-mouth, community volunteers, the organization's website (steppingstonefarms.org), email outreach to executive director Lia Sader, and event-based engagement rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship

Legal name

Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship

Website

https://steppingstonefarms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stepping Stone Farms is a non-profit horse rescue and equestrian facility in Franksville, Wisconsin, founded in 2004. It provides EAGALA/E3A-certified equine-assisted coaching, riding lessons, summer camps, and therapeutic programs for at-risk youth, adults, veterans, and community groups across Southeast Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Horses and Other Equine Production (112920)

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

Keywords

• Equestrian riding lessons
• Horse rescue services
• Equine-assisted learning
• Youth horsemanship camps
• Therapeutic riding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Buckingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: One-time and scheduled monthly donations from individuals. Tax-deductible contributions processed via PayPal or credit card. Also includes supply donations such as hay, shavings, and other horse care items.
2. Horse Sponsorship Programs: Individual full sponsorship at $5,100/year, half sponsorship at $2,550/year, and corporate sponsorship at $7,500/year. Sponsors receive certificate, horse picture, and stall nameplate. Funds exclusively for program horse care.
3. Support a Senior Horse (SASH): Monthly tax-deductible contributions of $10, $25, $50, $100 or more to support senior horses with extra feed, medicines, or supplements.
4. Program Fees: Fees for riding lessons, summer camps (Tiny Trot, Junior, Ready to Ride), Girl Scout sessions, small group programs, and Women Taking the Reins retreats. Pricing not publicly disclosed - contact farm for details.
5. Brush Up Your Inner Cowpoke: $25 donation per person for quality groundwork time with horses learning proper horsemanship techniques including grooming and horse body language.
6. Goodshop Affiliate Program: Partnership with Goodshop where a portion of each purchase made through their platform is donated back to the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship is a non-profit equine facility that provides horsemanship instruction (riding lessons), youth summer camps, and equine-assisted learning programs. The organization also operates a horse rescue and rehabilitation program, accepting surrendered, neglected, or at-risk horses and integrating them into its educational programming.

Product overview

Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship is a non-profit horse rescue and equestrian facility offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs centered on equine-assisted learning and traditional horsemanship instruction. The organization operates as a unified platform combining riding lessons (small group and private), summer camps (Tiny Trot Camp for ages 5-9, Junior Camp for ages 9-12, Ready to Ride for teens 13-18), and therapeutic programs including Equine Assisted Coaching and Equine Assisted Learning facilitated by E3A-certified professionals. Additional offerings include the Women Taking The Reins retreat program, Brush Up Your Inner Cowpoke experience, speaking services, equine end-of-life consulting, horse sponsorship, and volunteer/donation opportunities. The facility also provides Girl Scouts programming and small group experiences for diverse populations including at-risk youth, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Riding Lessons Instructional riding lessons for individuals of various skill levels, delivered on-site at the Stepping Stone Farms facility. Intended for individuals and families seeking hands-on horsemanship training.
• Summer Horsemanship Camps Seasonal youth summer camp programs focused on horsemanship, offered on-site at the Stepping Stone Farms facility. Intended for children and youth seeking hands-on equestrian enrichment during summer.
• Equine-Assisted Learning Educational programming using horses to support personal growth, skill-building, and learning objectives. Intended for participants seeking structured experiential learning with horses.
• Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Program Program accepting surrendered, neglected, or at-risk horses for rehabilitation and integration into the organization's educational programming. Supported by donations and sponsorships rather than direct fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Horses provide non-judgmental, present-moment interaction that reflects emotional states back to participants, facilitating self-awareness and personal growth

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoodshopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping fundraising partnership where Goodshop donates a portion of each purchase made through their platform back to Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship. Supports the organization's mission to foster resilience in at-risk youth through horses.
• Girl ScoutscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerApproved Girl Scout riding facility welcoming troops of all ages. Provides equestrian education including riding, horsemanship, grooming, and horse care. Not just a riding event - scouts help with feeding, turning out horses, chores, and learn horse handling.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing platform used for all monetary donations including horse sponsorship, Support a Senior Horse program, and general contributions. Handles credit card transactions via paypal.com.
• Big Bale BuddyminorOthersHalf-price pricing for rescues registered with Big Bale Buddy for their Big Bale XL product used for round bale hay feeding. Code LISOWSKI provides free shipping.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mane Stream: Nonprofit equine-assisted services center in New Jersey offering therapeutic riding, horsemanship lessons, and veteran programs. Closely comparable in certification (EAGALA/PATH) and audience mix.
• SKY Therapeutic Riding: Nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center in California serving children and adults with special needs. Comparable operating model, instructor certifications, and reliance on volunteers and donations.
• Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center: Nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Colorado providing equine-assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. Comparable PATH-member center operations and funding model.
• Promise Ranch Therapies: Nonprofit therapeutic riding facility in Colorado offering equine-assisted therapy and hippotherapy for individuals with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. Directly comparable service model and nonprofit funding structure.
• Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center: Nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Colorado offering equine-assisted activities and therapy for people with disabilities, youth at risk, and veterans. Directly comparable mission, programs, and customer base to Stepping Stone Farms.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center: Nonprofit equine-assisted services organization in Connecticut serving riders with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. Similar combination of riding lessons, therapeutic programs, and horse rescue/sponsorship.

Regional players

• Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm: Nonprofit horse rescue and retirement facility with a national following. Comparable in the horse rescue and senior horse care mission, though not focused on riding instruction.
• Chastain Horse Park: Nonprofit equestrian facility in Atlanta offering riding lessons, camps, and therapeutic programs. Comparable in lesson barn, summer camp, and community group programming model.

Emerging players

• Frontier Equestrian Center: Nonprofit riding and equine facility offering lessons and community programs in a regional market. Less mature than SSF but operating in a similar lesson barn/charitable structure.

Broad incumbents

• PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship): Industry association and broader incumbent in the equine-assisted services space, certifying centers and instructors across the U.S. Comparable in standard-setting role and program taxonomy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stepping-stone-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship