This Old Horse Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THIS OLD HORSE, INC. PROVIDES RETIREMENT, RESCUE AND REHABILITATION TO OLDER AND UNWANTED HORSES THAT HAVE HAD A CAREER TO SERVICE HUMANS. THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE AS AMBASSADORS TO THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OF 'HORSE POWER' BY FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HORSEMANSHIP AND BEGINNING RIDING SKILLS TO OLDER AND SPECIAL NEEDS RIDERS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -28.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 300
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
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 118% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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.
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)
- $1.1 million spent. THIS OLD HORSE, INC. IS A MINNESOTA-BASED 501(C)(3) EQUINE WELFARE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE RESCUE, REHABILITATION, RETIREMENT, REHOMING, AND SANCTUARY OF HORSES IN NEED. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED DIRECT CARE AND SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 200 HORSES DAILY ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, INCLUDING SANCTUARY FARMS, REHABILITATION FACILITIES, AND FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2012, THIS OLD HORSE HAS HELPED MORE THAN 1,000 HORSES REPRESENTING 60 BREEDS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO SERVE A DIVERSE POPULATION OF EQUINES, INCLUDING SENIOR HORSES, SPECIAL-NEEDS HORSES, RETIRED RACEHORSES, BROODMARES, DRAFT HORSES, MINIATURE HORSES, AND HORSES REQUIRING LIFELONG SANCTUARY. MAJOR PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED: O CONTINUED OPERATION OF RACEHORSE REIMAGINED, AN ACCREDITED AFTERCARE PROGRAM PROVIDING REHABILITATION, RETRAINING, RETIREMENT, AND REHOMING SERVICES FOR RETIRED THOROUGHBREDS, STANDARDBREDS, AND QUARTER HORSES. O EXPANSION OF THE DISTAFF, A SPECIALIZED RETIREMENT AND SANCTUARY PROGRAM FOR BROODMARES TRANSITIONING FROM BREEDING CAREERS. O ONGOING SANCTUARY AND LIFETIME CARE SERVICES FOR SENIOR, MEDICALLY COMPLEX, AND UNADOPTABLE HORSES REQUIRING PERMANENT PLACEMENT. O CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING KEVIN IN THE CITY, WHICH BRINGS MINIATURE HORSES INTO EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. O EXPANSION OF @LIBERTY, A HORSE-CENTERED WELLNESS INITIATIVE SERVING WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER THROUGH FACILITATED INTERACTIONS WITH HORSES AT LIBERTY. O DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONOR GUARD, A VETERAN-FOCUSED INITIATIVE PAIRING RETIRED HORSES WITH VETERANS THROUGH CEREMONIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. O PROVISION OF VETERINARY CARE, DENTAL CARE, FARRIER SERVICES, NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION, AND ADOPTION SERVICES FOR HORSES ENTERING THE ORGANIZATION'S CARE. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT HORSE SERVICES, THIS OLD HORSE ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, OUTREACH EVENTS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVES PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE HORSE OWNERSHIP, EQUINE WELFARE, AND AFTERCARE. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES AND THE THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE, DEMONSTRATING CONTINUED ADHERENCE TO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARDS OF EQUINE CARE, GOVERNANCE, AND TRANSPARENCY. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THIS OLD HORSE CONTINUED ITS MISSION OF ENSURING THAT HORSES IN NEED HAVE ACCESS TO SAFETY, DIGNITY, COMPASSIONATE CARE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MEANINGFUL FUTURE. THIS OLD HORSE, INC. IS A MINNESOTA-BASED 501(C)(3) EQUINE WELFARE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE RESCUE, REHABILITATION, RETIREMENT, REHOMING, AND SANCTUARY OF HORSES IN NEED. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED DIRECT CARE AND SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 200 HORSES DAILY ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, INCLUDING SANCTUARY FARMS, REHABILITATION FACILITIES, AND FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2012, THIS OLD HORSE HAS HELPED MORE THAN 1,000 HORSES REPRESENTING 60 BREEDS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO SERVE A DIVERSE POPULATION OF EQUINES, INCLUDING SENIOR HORSES, SPECIAL-NEEDS HORSES, RETIRED RACEHORSES, BROODMARES, DRAFT HORSES, MINIATURE HORSES, AND HORSES REQUIRING LIFELONG SANCTUARY. MAJOR PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED: O CONTINUED OPERATION OF RACEHORSE REIMAGINED, AN ACCREDITED AFTERCARE PROGRAM PROVIDING REHABILITATION, RETRAINING, RETIREMENT, AND REHOMING SERVICES FOR RETIRED THOROUGHBREDS, STANDARDBREDS, AND QUARTER HORSES. O EXPANSION OF THE DISTAFF, A SPECIALIZED RETIREMENT AND SANCTUARY PROGRAM FOR BROODMARES TRANSITIONING FROM BREEDING CAREERS. O ONGOING SANCTUARY AND LIFETIME CARE SERVICES FOR SENIOR, MEDICALLY COMPLEX, AND UNADOPTABLE HORSES REQUIRING PERMANENT PLACEMENT. O CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING KEVIN IN THE CITY, WHICH BRINGS MINIATURE HORSES INTO EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. O EXPANSION OF @LIBERTY, A HORSE-CENTERED WELLNESS INITIATIVE SERVING WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER THROUGH FACILITATED INTERACTIONS WITH HORSES AT LIBERTY. O DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONOR GUARD, A VETERAN-FOCUSED INITIATIVE PAIRING RETIRED HORSES WITH VETERANS THROUGH CEREMONIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. O PROVISION OF VETERINARY CARE, DENTAL CARE, FARRIER SERVICES, NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION, AND ADOPTION SERVICES FOR HORSES ENTERING THE ORGANIZATION'S CARE. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT HORSE SERVICES, THIS OLD HORSE ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, OUTREACH EVENTS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVES PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE HORSE OWNERSHIP, EQUINE WELFARE, AND AFTERCARE. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES AND THE THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE, DEMONSTRATING CONTINUED ADHERENCE TO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARDS OF EQUINE CARE, GOVERNANCE, AND TRANSPARENCY. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THIS OLD HORSE CONTINUED ITS MISSION OF ENSURING THAT HORSES IN NEED HAVE ACCESS TO SAFETY, DIGNITY, COMPASSIONATE CARE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MEANINGFUL FUTURE.
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 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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 September 2013.
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 November 4, 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.