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Hands & Hearts for Horses Inc

EIN 58-2580985 · Thomasville, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES IN BOTH THERAPUTIC RIDING AND HIPPOTHERAPY TO PEOPLE WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES INCLUDING AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, PARALYSIS,AMPUTATIONS, DOWN SYNDROME AND MORE.

Income
$864,011
Spending
$548,518
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
13
Volunteers
212

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $443,758 spent. HANDS AND HEARTS FOR HORSES, LOCATED IN THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, OFFERS ACTIVITIES IN BOTH THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND HIPPOTHERAPY SIX DAYS A WEEK, ELEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. THERAPEUTIC RIDING (TR)IS A FORM OF RECREATIONAL THERAPY PREFORMED BY A PATH,INT. CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTOR. MIMIKING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HUMAN PELVIS, THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE ALLOWS RIDERS TO GAIN MUSCLE STRENGTH AND TONE, INCREASED RANGE OF MOTION AND FLEXIBILITY, INCREASED TRUNK CONTROL, AND IMPROVED SENSORY INTEGRATION. HIPPOTHERAPY IS A FORM OF EQUINE FACILITATED ACTIVITY PREFORMED BY A PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, OR SPEECH THERAPIST. UNLIKE IN TR WHERE RIDING SKILLS ARE TAUGHT IN ADDITION TO WORKING ON PERSONALIZED GOALS, THE HORSE IS USED SPECIFICALLY AS A DYNAMIC OBJECT AND TREATMENT TOOL WITH LESS EMPHASIS PLACED ON LEARNING HOW TO STEER OR CONTROL THE HORSE. LIKE TR, ALL HIPPOTHERAPY LESSONS UTILIZE UP TO THREE VOLUNTEERS TO MAINTAIN OPTIMUM SAFETY AND EACH HIPPOTHERAPY LESSON IS OVERSEEN BY A NARHA INSTRUCTOR TO ENSURE RIDER, HORSE, AND VOLUNTEER SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE LESSON. HANDS AND HEARTS FOR HORSES, LOCATED IN THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, OFFERS ACTIVITIES IN BOTH THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND HIPPOTHERAPY SIX DAYS A WEEK, ELEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. THERAPEUTIC RIDING (TR)IS A FORM OF RECREATIONAL THERAPY PREFORMED BY A PATH,INT. CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTOR. MIMIKING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HUMAN PELVIS, THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE ALLOWS RIDERS TO GAIN MUSCLE STRENGTH AND TONE, INCREASED RANGE OF MOTION AND FLEXIBILITY, INCREASED TRUNK CONTROL, AND IMPROVED SENSORY INTEGRATION. HIPPOTHERAPY IS A FORM OF EQUINE FACILITATED ACTIVITY PREFORMED BY A PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, OR SPEECH THERAPIST. UNLIKE IN TR WHERE RIDING SKILLS ARE TAUGHT IN ADDITION TO WORKING ON PERSONALIZED GOALS, THE HORSE IS USED SPECIFICALLY AS A DYNAMIC OBJECT AND TREATMENT TOOL WITH LESS EMPHASIS PLACED ON LEARNING HOW TO STEER OR CONTROL THE HORSE. LIKE TR, ALL HIPPOTHERAPY LESSONS UTILIZE UP TO THREE VOLUNTEERS TO MAINTAIN OPTIMUM SAFETY AND EACH HIPPOTHERAPY LESSON IS OVERSEEN BY A NARHA INSTRUCTOR TO ENSURE RIDER, HORSE, AND VOLUNTEER SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE LESSON.

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

  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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 January 2001.

    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.