Three Gaits Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THREE GAITS, INC., IS A NONPROFIT, TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES THAT ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND/OR INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES. THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP USES EQUINE-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH PARTICIPANT'S COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, AND COMMUNICATIVE ABILITIES, AND POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM. THREE GAITS STRIVES TO SERVE INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN DANE COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
- Income
- $556,837
- Spending
- $477,284
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 174
- Highest pay
- $76,742, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
- $296,296 spent. OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPY USING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE (ALSO CALLED HIPPOTHERAPY). SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LICENSED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROFESSIONALS, FOLLOWING THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND NBCOT CRITERIA. IN INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SESSIONS, CLIENTS EXPERIENCE UNIQUELY DESIGNED ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISES ON/WITH THE HORSE TO ACHIEVE THERAPY-DRIVEN GOALS. BENEFITS INCLUDE: IMPROVEMENT IN COMPLEX MOTOR CONTROL, ENGAGEMENT OF COGNITIVE, SENSORY AND NEUROMOTOR SYSTEMS, IMPROVEMENT IN SENSORY PROCESSING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIAL AND PLAY PARTICIPATION. THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING: THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH A COGNITIVE OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM HORSEBACK RIDING IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING. TAUGHT BY PATH, INT'L (PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL) CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS, STUDENTS ACHIEVE SPECIFIC GOALS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL ABILITIES THROUGH LEARNING THE SKILLS OF HORSEBACK RIDING IN A GROUP SETTING. UNMOUNTED HORSEMANSHIP IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A COGNITIVE OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM HORSEBACK RIDING SAFELY IN ANY SETTING OR DO NOT WISH TO RIDE, BUT BENEFIT FROM BEING WITH HORSES. STUDENTS LEARN TO SAFELY GROOM, LEAD AND INTERACT WITH HORSES UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF PATH, INT'L (PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL) CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS. THEIR GOALS ALSO INCLUDE BUILDING STRENGTH AND BALANCE, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, SELF- AND SPATIAL AWARENESS, MOVEMENT COORDINATION AND FOLLOWING MULTI-STEP DIRECTIONS. OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPY USING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE (ALSO CALLED HIPPOTHERAPY). SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LICENSED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROFESSIONALS, FOLLOWING THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND NBCOT CRITERIA. IN INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SESSIONS, CLIENTS EXPERIENCE UNIQUELY DESIGNED ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISES ON/WITH THE HORSE TO ACHIEVE THERAPY-DRIVEN GOALS. BENEFITS INCLUDE: IMPROVEMENT IN COMPLEX MOTOR CONTROL, ENGAGEMENT OF COGNITIVE, SENSORY AND NEUROMOTOR SYSTEMS, IMPROVEMENT IN SENSORY PROCESSING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIAL AND PLAY PARTICIPATION. THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING: THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH A COGNITIVE OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM HORSEBACK RIDING IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING. TAUGHT BY PATH, INT'L (PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL) CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS, STUDENTS ACHIEVE SPECIFIC GOALS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL ABILITIES THROUGH LEARNING THE SKILLS OF HORSEBACK RIDING IN A GROUP SETTING. UNMOUNTED HORSEMANSHIP IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A COGNITIVE OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM HORSEBACK RIDING SAFELY IN ANY SETTING OR DO NOT WISH TO RIDE, BUT BENEFIT FROM BEING WITH HORSES. STUDENTS LEARN TO SAFELY GROOM, LEAD AND INTERACT WITH HORSES UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF PATH, INT'L (PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL) CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS. THEIR GOALS ALSO INCLUDE BUILDING STRENGTH AND BALANCE, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, SELF- AND SPATIAL AWARENESS, MOVEMENT COORDINATION AND FOLLOWING MULTI-STEP DIRECTIONS.
- $38,420 spent. BOARDING EXPENSES RELATED TO FORM 990-T.
- BOARDING EXPENSES RELATED TO FORM 990-T.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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