In Step With Horses

What In Step With Horses does

In Step With Horses is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN #82-1696050) founded in 2017 and headquartered in Chesterland, Ohio, delivering equine-assisted mental health services to individuals, families, and institutional partners across Northeast Ohio. Its core service portfolio comprises Individual & Family Counseling, Custom Programs for Professionals, Equine Encounters, Groups for Kids & Teens (including Hoofbeats & HeART and the Rainbow Herd LGBTQIA2S+ youth program), free Military/Veterans/First Responders programming, and 45-minute Riding Lessons. The therapeutic model combines evidence-based psychological frameworks — DBT, CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, and trauma processing — with ground-based and mounted interactions involving carefully selected therapy horses in a nature-based setting, delivered by a team certified through PATH Intl, HERD Institute, and EAGALA training models.

The organization's revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: (1) session-based client fees including individual/family counseling and riding lessons priced at $60 per lesson or $450 per 8-week session as of June 2023; (2) donations from individuals, corporations, donor-advised funds, securities, qualified charitable distributions, and company matching programs; (3) grants, including finalist status for the Nutrena Feeds Feed It Forward grant; and (4) earned revenue through events such as the Spread the Love fundraiser. Some psychotherapy providers accept insurance for counseling services, and the organization provides free services to military members, veterans, first responders, and immediate family members.

The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, targeting referrals from healthcare providers, first responder departments, schools, and community organizations including Cleveland Police Foundation, NAMI, Case Western Reserve University, and Leadership Geauga. Distribution is entirely facility-based at the Chesterland property (7212 Wilson Mills Rd) with intake via Google Forms, email, and phone; marketing runs through Facebook, Instagram, a website blog, and local earned media (News-Herald, WKYC Channel 3). The organization is 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, holds a Candid Transparency Seal, and was named 2020 Nonprofit of the Year by the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Name

In Step With Horses

Legal name

In Step With Horses

Website

https://instepwithhorses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

In Step With Horses is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Chesterland, Ohio delivering equine-assisted mental health services — including individual/family counseling, youth groups, and free programming for military, veterans, and first responders — using evidence-based therapies like DBT, CBT, and trauma processing integrated with horse-human interaction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterland

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Client Service Fees: Fees for individual and family counseling, riding lessons, and equine encounters. Some providers accept insurance for psychotherapy services. Session-based pricing with financial assistance available.
2. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) charitable organization relying on individual, corporate, and foundation contributions. Accepts donor advised funds, securities donations, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, and company matching programs. Nutrena Feeds Feed It Forward grant finalist.
3. Riding Lessons: 8-week session courses at $450 per session, individual lessons at $60/lesson as of June 2023. New students complete psychosocial assessment prior to sessions.
4. Free Services for Military/Veterans/First Responders: Programming provided free of charge for military members, veterans, first responders, and immediate family members. Funded through donations and grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

In Step With Horses delivers equine-assisted mental health services at its Chesterland, Ohio facility, including individual and family counseling, custom programs for professionals, equine encounters, youth groups (Hoofbeats & HeART, Rainbow Herd), free programming for military/veterans/first responders, and riding lessons. Services combine licensed mental health clinicians and equine specialists using evidence-based modalities (DBT, CBT, ACT, trauma processing) in a trauma-informed, nature-based setting.

Product overview

In Step With Horses offers a portfolio of equine-assisted mental health services centered around evidence-based therapeutic experiences with horses. The core service offerings include Individual & Family Counseling, Custom Programs for Professionals, Equine Encounters, Groups For Kids & Teens (including Hoofbeats & HeART and Rainbow Herd programs), Military/Veterans/First Responders programming, and Riding Lessons. The organization also operates a retail store selling merchandise including The Star Horse book and accepts client fees. Services are tailored through initial psychosocial assessments and incorporate various therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free services to military, veterans, and first responders while offering financial assistance for other clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual & Family Counseling Personalized therapy sessions incorporating horses or nature-based environments, delivered by licensed mental health professionals to help clients rediscover strengths and build balanced lives.
• Custom Programs for Professionals Tailored equine-assisted therapy programs for therapists, counselors, and healthcare providers to reinvigorate client sessions, unlock trauma held within the body, and provide additional support for clients.
• Equine Encounters Affordable one-day experiences for schools, organizations, and families to work with therapy horses, designed to address specific challenges, ongoing conflict, or connect with animals and nature.
• Groups For Kids & Teens Group programming for youth ages 6-18 including Hoofbeats & HeART (an 8-week group focused on feelings and friendships) and Rainbow Herd (LGBTQIA2S+ youth ages 10-18), offering mindfulness and learning activities.
• Military, Veterans & First Responders Program Free programming for military members, first responders, and their families including counseling, horsemanship skills, riding, volunteering, and mindfulness workshops specifically designed to reduce trauma-related symptoms.
• Riding Lessons 45-minute riding lessons for beginners through intermediate riders (children and adults) with experienced instructors, including time for grooming and caring for horses before and after the ride.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped hundreds of veterans and first responders reduce stress, process trauma, and build resilience

Named customers4 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cleveland Police FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2023Cleveland Police Foundation supports equine-assisted therapy programming for Cleveland police officers. The program has been piloted successfully over 5 years with officers attending mindfulness workshops and therapy sessions at the facility.
• Case Western Reserve University Interprofessional Education ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2022Graduate students from nursing, medicine, dentistry, and social work collaborate on projects to improve trauma-informed care at the facility. Students complete anonymous surveys of staff and clients to develop blueprints for trauma-informed care.
• PATH Intl (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)coreOthersProfessional membership organization for therapeutic horsemanship. Organization displays PATH Center Member logo indicating certification standards met.
• HERD Institute (Human Equine Relational Development)coreOthersTraining and certification organization for equine-assisted services. Staff members are part of the HERD Institute for professional development and model adherence.
• WKYC Channel 3 - ClevelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television station that produced coverage of Cleveland police training program and facility programs, helping spread mission awareness.
• Leadership GeaugaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity leadership organization that conducts annual Day of Service at the facility, bringing volunteers for beautification projects and community engagement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy): Nebraska-based PATH Intl Premier Accredited Center providing equine-assisted therapy, mental health services, and veteran programs. Comparable in size, nonprofit status, and breadth of clinical and adaptive riding offerings.
• BraveHearts: Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing equine-assisted services and therapeutic horsemanship to veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities. Most directly comparable peer due to overlapping mission, similar nonprofit structure, and shared focus on military and first responder programming.
• Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center: Washington-state PATH Intl Premier Accredited Center offering equine-assisted therapy and therapeutic riding. Closely comparable peer because of similar portfolio of mental health, adaptive riding, and youth programming delivered through a single nonprofit center.
• Strides: Oregon-based nonprofit providing therapeutic horsemanship, equine-assisted mental health services, and adaptive riding. Comparable peer in mission, program mix, and reliance on a stable of therapy horses.
• Mane Stream: New Jersey-based PATH Intl Premier Accredited Center offering equine-assisted services for individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, and veterans. Comparable peer in service breadth, accreditation status, and nonprofit structure.
• Ride On: California-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy, adaptive riding, and veteran services. Comparable peer due to shared mission across mental health, youth, and military populations and similar nonprofit operating model.
• Hearts & Horses: Colorado-based 501(c)(3) offering therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning, and mental health services including veteran programming. Directly comparable nonprofit peer serving similar populations through a single-site equine center.

Broad incumbents

• Green Chimneys: Large, established New York-based nonprofit operating animal-assisted therapy, residential education, and mental health programs on a working farm. Broader incumbent offering overlapping equine and mental health services as part of a much wider portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InStepwithHorses
• Instagraminstagram.com/Instepwithhorses
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/in-step-with-horses

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 In Step With Horses