Ride On Horseback

What Ride On Horseback does

Heroes on Horseback is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic equestrian organization headquartered in Bluffton, South Carolina, delivering equine-assisted activities and therapeutic riding services to individuals with special needs, veterans, active military, emergency responders, differently abled adults, teens and tweens, and seniors. The organization operates from a single facility at 95 Stillwell Rd., Bluffton, and offers four core program lines: a general Therapeutic Riding Program, a six-week Military/Emergency Responders (MER) Program, a Special Olympics riding program delivered in partnership with SOAR Special Recreation of the Lowcountry, and an Unmounted Equine Assisted Learning & Vocational Training ground-work track for participants who do not ride. All mounted instruction is facilitated by Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) certified instructors, with curricula drawing on Natural Horsemanship techniques to deliver documented physical benefits (improved balance, coordination, and muscle tone) and psychological benefits (increased independence, motivation, and self-control).

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of subsidized participant tuition and a tiered donation program. Standard tuition is $375 per student per six-lesson session after a $400 subsidy applied against a $750 base cost, with additional tuition assistance available and a stated policy of never turning away clients for inability to pay. Donations are solicited through structured giving tiers (Donor's Circle $1,000 for six months of veteran sponsorship; Session Club $350 for a six-week disabled rider sponsorship; Carrot Club $200 for one month of horse feed; Rider Club $60 for one day of therapy; plus general contributions), supported by an Annual Appeal and a secured online credit card platform. Go-to-market is community-led: the organization relies on healthcare-therapist referrals, school partnerships, word-of-mouth, community events (e.g., Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance), and a robust volunteer network (arena assistants, sidewalkers, horse leaders, barn managers) as the operational backbone. The organization self-describes as the largest therapeutic riding program in South Carolina, holds Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, and reports tripling the number of special needs individuals served over the last decade while reducing expenses by nearly 25%.

Operationally, the organization runs with a small staff (approximately 10–20 individuals including Executive Director, Equestrian Director, Program Director/Volunteer Coordinator, PATH-certified instructors, and a horsemanship trainer) and is governed by a volunteer board (Karen Norwood, President; Nancy MacKenzie, Secretary-Treasurer; George Capuzello, Board Member). There is no venture, private equity, or institutional investment; sustainability is funded through donations, tuition, and in-kind community support. Headquartered in Bluffton with a regional Lowcountry/South Carolina service footprint, the program has expanded its equine roster (Willow joined in 2023; Miracle debuted in Fall 2024) and broadened program verticals over time.

Name

Ride On Horseback

Legal name

Heroes on Horseback

Website

https://heroesonhorseback.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Heroes on Horseback is a Bluffton, South Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers PATH-instructor-led equine-assisted therapy and therapeutic riding programs for veterans, active military, first responders, individuals with special needs, and seniors across four program lines, funded through subsidized tuition and tiered donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Therapeutic riding
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Special needs programs
• Veteran support services
• Nonprofit horsemanship

Headquarters

HQ city

Bluffton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Riding Tuition: Revenue from participant tuition for riding sessions. All participants receive a $400 subsidy toward the $750 cost, with regular tuition of $375 per student per six lesson session. Additional tuition assistance available for qualified riders.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations at various levels: Donor's Circle ($1,000 for 6-month veteran sponsorship), Session Club ($350 for 6-week disability sponsorship), Carrot Club ($200 for monthly horse feed), Rider Club ($60 for one day therapy), and general contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heroes on Horseback is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers equine-assisted activities and therapeutic riding programs at its Bluffton, South Carolina facility. Services are organized into four distinct programs — core Therapeutic Riding, a Military/Emergency Responders program, a Special Olympics riding program in partnership with SOAR Special Recreation, and Unmounted Equine Assisted Learning & Vocational Training — all facilitated by PATH-certified instructors serving veterans, differently abled adults, youth, seniors, and children.

Product overview

Heroes on Horseback operates as a single unified therapeutic riding service organized into four distinct program offerings: the Therapeutic Riding Program (core offering providing mounted instruction for physical and emotional benefits), the Military/Emergency Responders Program (specialized 6-week sessions for service members and first responders), the Special Olympics Riding Program (competition-oriented program in partnership with SOAR Special Recreation), and the Unmounted Equine Assisted Learning & Vocational Training (ground-based alternative for non-riders). All mounted programs are facilitated by PATH certified instructors and include a $400 tuition subsidy toward the $750 session cost.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Tripling in number of special needs individuals served over the last decade while reducing expenses by nearly 25%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOAR Special Recreation of the LowcountrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency administrating the Special Olympics program in the Lowcountry area. The Special Olympics riding program is specifically for regional area school students, providing modified therapeutic riding format geared toward competition at regional, state-wide, national, and international events.
• Children's Relief FundminorOthersNonprofit partner supporting the organization's mission. Listed as a partner with a logo on the homepage.
• Long Cove ClubminorOthersCommunity partner with logo displayed on the homepage.
• Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring FestivalminorOthersAutomotive and lifestyle event partner. The Executive Director serves as treasurer for the board of trustees for this event.
• The Bargain Box of Hilton HeadminorOthersCommunity thrift shop partner supporting the organization.
• St. Francis Thrift ShopminorOthersCommunity thrift shop partner supporting the organization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Augusta, Michigan serving individuals with disabilities through equine-assisted activities. Directly comparable as a similarly structured PATH-affiliated nonprofit therapeutic riding program with similar populations, certified instructors, and volunteer-driven operating model.
• BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Illinois-based nonprofit therapeutic riding center serving individuals with disabilities and veterans. Directly comparable 501(c)(3) therapeutic equestrian organization with PATH certification, similar populations served (veterans, disabled, youth), and donation-supported operating model.
• Strides Therapeutic Riding Center: Michigan-based PATH Premier Accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit serving individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Comparable as a similarly structured equine-assisted therapy nonprofit with certified instructors, volunteer workforce, and tiered donation/sponsorship programs.
• Equest: Texas-based therapeutic horsemanship nonprofit serving children and adults with disabilities, veterans, and youth through equine-assisted programs. Directly comparable as a PATH-accredited therapeutic riding nonprofit with multiple specialized programs, similar volunteer-dependent operations, and donation-driven revenue model.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: Nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center in Old Lyme, Connecticut serving people with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth. Directly comparable PATH Premier Accredited center with similar mission, programs, and donation-based revenue model serving vulnerable populations.
• Mane Stream: New Jersey-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding for individuals with disabilities and veterans. Directly comparable PATH Premier Accredited center with similar therapeutic mission, instructor certification, and community partnership-based growth strategy.
• Saratoga WarHorse: New York-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy programs specifically for veterans struggling with PTSD and other service-related challenges. Directly comparable as a therapeutic equestrian nonprofit serving a similar veterans/first responders segment with structured 6-week session-based programs.

Broad incumbents

• Easter Seals (MassMutual Special Needs): Large national nonprofit providing disability services including therapeutic recreation. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the disability services space that overlaps in serving similar differently-abled populations, though with a much wider service portfolio beyond equine therapy.
• PATH International: Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, the industry-standards and accreditation body governing therapeutic riding centers across the U.S. Comparable as the umbrella organization under which Heroes on Horseback operates and gets its instructors certified; broader incumbent setting industry standards for the entire therapeutic riding ecosystem.

Regional players

• SOAR Special Recreation of the Lowcountry: Regional special recreation nonprofit serving the Lowcountry area of South Carolina. Direct regional referral partner of Heroes on Horseback for the Special Olympics program; comparable as an organization serving similar special-needs populations in the same geography through therapeutic recreation activities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heroes-on-horseback

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Ride On Horseback