Cassidys Cause Therapeutic Riding Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CORPORATION WAS FORMED IN MAY 2013 TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN WESTERN KY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND DEVELOP THROUGH THERAPEUTIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND RECREATIONAL EQUINE-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES. EQUESTRIAN THERAPY CONTRIBUTES POSITIVELY TO THE COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL WELFARE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATION SKILLS, RESPONSIBILITY, TRUST, PATIENCE, RESPECT, SELF-CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND TO OVERCOME FEAR. OPERATIONS BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 2014 WITH THE FIRST EIGHT WEEK SESSION SEEING 16 RIDERS. THE STATE OF THE ART THERAPY CENTER COMPLEX FEATURES A BARN WITH NEARLY A HALF AN ACRE OF INDOOR RIDING ARENA AND STABLES. THE FACILITY IS SITUATED ON 22 ACRES OF BEAUTIFULLY GROOMED PASTURES WITH AN OUTDOOR RIDING AREA AND TRAILS SURROUNDING THE BARN AS WELL.
- Income
- $453,099
- Spending
- $419,656
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 34 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $42,266, exec dir/secretary
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 34.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1136% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $398,023 spent. PROVIDE EQUESTRIAN THERAPY TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY, THE ACADEMY NOW HOUSES ELEVEN THERAPY HORSES AND THREE MINIATURE HORSES USED TO TEACH NEW RIDERS ABOUT HORSES AND THEIR CARE. FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPAIRED MOBILITY, HORSEBACK RIDING GENTLY AND RHYTHMICALLY MOVES THEIR BODIES IN THREE PLANES: FORWARD & BACKWARD, SIDE TO SIDE, AND UP & DOWN. RIDERS EXPERIENCE INCREASED BALANCE, MUSCLE CONTROL AND STRENGTH. HORSEBACK RIDING HELPS INDIVIDUALS WITH LEARNING OR COGNITIVE DISABILITIES IMPROVE THEIR CONCENTRATION, RECOGNITION, VOCABULARY, AND TASK COMPLETION. THE UNIQUE BOND FORMED WITH THE HORSE CAN HELP IMPROVE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, PATIENCE, AND BEHAVIOR AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL OR EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES. ALL LESSONS ARE TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED PATH INSTRUCTORS. VOLUNTEERS HELP INSTRUCTORS WITH THE SESSIONS, CARE FOR THE HORSES, HELP MAINTAIN THE BARN, AND WORK IN THE FRONT OFFICE.
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 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 June 2014.
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.
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.