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Equine Spirit Sanctuary

EIN 20-3373965 · Rnch De Taos, NM

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EQUINE SPIRIT SANCTUARY (ESS) IS A VOLUNTEER-BASED HEALING CENTER THAT BELIEVES IN RESPONSIBLE HORSE OWNERSHIP. ESS IS DEDICATED TO THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ALL EQUINES AND THROUGH A PROGRAM OF RESCUE, REHABILITATION, RELOCATION, PERMANENT RETIREMENT, AND EDUCATION AND SERVES TO ESTABLISH A CONNECTION BETWEEN EQUINES AND HUMANS.

Income
$165,629
Spending
$169,736
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Highest pay
$33,000, executive di

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $169,736 spent. ESS IS A LICENSED HORSE RESCUE WITH THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WITH OUR GOAL TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HORSES THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS OF HORSE RESCUE AND REHAB AND EDUCATION. HORSE RESCUE AND REHAB: SINCE THE START OF ESS IN 2005, ESS HAS RESCUED OVER 100 HORSES AND DONKEYS THAT WERE UNWANTED, IN ABUSIVE SITUATIONS, STARVING, INJURED, NEGLECTED, OR OTHERWISE IN NEED OF RESCUE. ESS TAKES IN AN AVERAGE OF 2 TO 4 EQUINES PER YEAR AND ADOPTS OUT AN AVERAGE OF 2 PER YEAR. THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES PROGRAMS: PATH, INTL. BASED PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS OF ALL AGES WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, LEARNING DISABILITIES. MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, LEARNING DISABILITIES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ESS OFFERS LESSONS AND CLINICS TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT RESPONSIBLE HORSE CARE, COMPASSIONATE TRAINING AND HANDLING, AND HOLISTIC HORSEMANSHIP. ESS HAS HOSTED CLINICS WITH FARRIER PETE RAMEY, HORSE TRAINER MARK RASHID, RIDING INSTRUCTOR LINDA BENEDIK, VETERINARIAN DR. TOMAS TESKEY AND MANY OTHERS. OUTREACH WORK INCLUDES: ASSISTING LOCAL HORSE OWNERS SECURE HAY AND VETERINARY CARE FOR THEIR HORSES IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2021 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2021.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.