Special Equestrians
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Special Equestrians provides therapeutic riding programs to individuals with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
- Income
- $958,146
- Spending
- $648,643
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 220
- Highest pay
- $69,000, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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)
- $522,610 spent. Special Equestrians equine-assisted therapies and learning programs use the powerful healing properties of therapeutic riding and unmounted groundwork to help individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities develop new skills and reach higher levels of functioning. SE is a Premier Accredited PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International Center; our facility, staff, and programming meet all relevant PATH Intl. Certification standards. We are committed to serving anyone who can benefit from our services, regardless of their ability to pay. If families cannot afford to pay our low fees, they can apply for additional financial assistance. We provide scholarships for roughly 30 percent of our riders.We work successfully with riders who meet criteria for more than 60 different disabling diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, brain injuries, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition, we have group programs for children and youth at risk for school failure; children and young adults enrolled in Autism intensive support classrooms and day programs; women and girls recovering from domestic trauma and personal health challenges; seniors with age-related disabilities; children grieving the loss of a family member, and those affected by a relative living with cancer. Representing diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, 80 percent of our riders were 18 or younger.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.