Special Equestrians Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE THERAPEAUTIC BENEFITS TO HANDICAPPED CITIZENS THROUGH A HORSEBACK RIDING PROGRAM.
- Income
- $510,282
- Spending
- $477,684
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 30.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 390
- Highest pay
- $67,291, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 30.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
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 September 30, 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)
- $387,524 spent. THERAPEUTIC RIDING OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TEACHING HORSEBACK-RIDING SKILLS WHILE USING THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES TAILORED TO EACH RIDER'S NEEDS. THESE LESSONS ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR RIDERS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES. GROUP LESSONS ARE STRUCTURED WITH FOUR RIDERS PER CLASS, EACH TAUGHT BY A CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTOR. THESE SMALL-GROUP MOUNTED THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS TAKE PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN OUR LARGE, COVERED 100' X 200' ARENA FOR A 1-HOUR SESSION, WHICH INCLUDES TIME TO MOUNT AND DISMOUNT RIDERS. SOME RIDERS, IF THEY ARE INTERESTED, MAY GO BACK TO THE BARN TO HELP UNTACK AND GROOM THEIR HORSE. THERAPEUTIC RIDING DEVELOPS SMALL AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES, AND TEACHES ESSENTIAL EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES, AND BUILDS SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AMONG RIDERS, THEIR INSTRUCTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RIDERS. RIDERS OFTEN DO NOT REALIZE THEY ARE GAINING THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN EXPERIENCING THE MOTION OF A HORSE IS THERAPEUTIC BECAUSE HORSEBACK RIDING RHYTHMICALLY MOVES THE RIDER'S BODY LIKE THE HUMAN GAIT. RIDERS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES REGULARLY SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBILITY, BALANCE, AND MUSCLE STRENGTH. IN ADDITION TO ITS THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS, HORSEBACK RIDING OFFERS INDIVIDUALS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. HORSEBACK RIDING ACTIVITIES ALSO ENCOURAGE STRETCHING AND STRENGTHENING OF UNDERUSED OR UNDERDEVELOPED MUSCLES, IMPROVE POSTURE AND COORDINATION, HELP DEVELOP GROSS AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS, INCREASE THE RIDER'S AWARENESS OF THEIR BODY, AND IMPROVE RANGE OF MOTION. IN ADDITION, RIDERS WITH DISABILITIES INCREASE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AND INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO FOCUS AND STAY ON TASK. THERAPEUTIC GROOMING SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS, INC. OFFERS THERAPEUTIC GROOMING CLASSES. THESE CLASSES PROVIDE A RANGE OF BENEFITS, FROM STRESS REDUCTION TO FOSTERING TRUST FOR MORE POSITIVE CONNECTIONS, ENHANCING MENTAL WELL-BEING, BOOSTING SELF-ESTEEM, STRENGTHENING BONDS, AND IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THESE BENEFITS ARE NOT JUST FOR HUMANS BUT ALSO FOR OUR BELOVED HORSES. THE RHYTHMIC AND CALMING ACT OF BRUSHING BUILDS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, ENHANCES COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND IS PURELY ENJOYABLE. OUR TEAM HAS INTEGRATED THE NATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS INTO THE GROOMING CURRICULUM, ALLOWING FACILITATORS TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, DECISION-MAKING, GOAL-SETTING, ADVOCACY, NUTRITION, AND MORE AT SE, WE BELIEVE THE BARN IS A SACRED SPACE, AND HOLDING CLASSES AMONG THE PINE SHAVINGS, RUSTIC WOODEN WALLS, AND GROOMING STATIONS IS A BLESSING AND GIFT FOR OUR COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND PARTICIPANTS. OUR PATH INTL FACILITATES THIS PROGRAM. CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS AND LISA COY, A PATH INTL. CERTIFIED EQUINE SPECIALIST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING. WE CONDUCT THE GROOMING CLASSES AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE SCHEDULED THERAPEUTIC RIDING SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED US TO ADDRESS OUR VERY LONG WAITING LIST AND SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RIDE. THE BENEFITS ARE MANY, AND CAREGIVERS EXPRESS INCREASED CONFIDENCE, ENJOYMENT, AND EXCITEMENT AMONG PARTICIPANTS. THERAPY SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY UTILIZING HIPPOTHERAPY STRIDES OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES HAS PARTNERED WITH SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES USING HIPPOTHERAPY AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY. USING OUR VALUABLE EQUINES, CHILDREN AND ADULTS CAN RECEIVE THERAPY SERVICES LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THE MINIMUM AGE TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES IS 2 YEARS OLD. WHAT IS HIPPOTHERAPY THE TERM HIPPOTHERAPY REFERS TO HOW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS USE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND CLINICAL REASONING TO PURPOSEFULLY MANIPULATE EQUINE MOVEMENT TO ENGAGE SENSORY, NEUROMOTOR, AND COGNITIVE SYSTEMS AND ACHIEVE FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AFFORDANCES OF THE EQUINE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER TREATMENT STRATEGIES, HIPPOTHERAPY IS PART OF A PATIENT'S INTEGRATED PLAN OF CARE. (AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION DEFINITION). YOU WILL SEE MANY BENEFITS FROM ADDING HIPPOTHERAPY TO A PLAN OF CARE, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS IN SENSORIMOTOR INTEGRATION, MOTOR TIMING AND COORDINATION, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, BALANCE, MIDLINE ORIENTATION, BILATERAL INTEGRATION, SPEECH, MOBILITY, AND MANY MORE. HOW IT WORKS NEUROMOTOR: THE MOVEMENT OF A HORSE'S HIND LEGS AND PELVIS IS TRANSMITTED TO THE PERSON RIDING, WHICH CAUSES MOVEMENT IN THE PELVIS OF THAT PERSON. THE HORSE'S RHYTHMIC, SYMMETRICAL GAIT PROVIDES ABOUT 3000 "WALKING" STEPS TO THE CLIENT DURING A 30-MINUTE SESSION. SENSORY: THE HORSE, FARM SITE, BARN, AND ARENA ALL PROVIDE COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENSORY EXPOSURE ON EVERY LEVEL. COGNITIVE: THE CLIENT MAY NEED TO COMPLETE COMPLEX TASKS, SUCH AS FOLLOWING MULTIPLE-STEP DIRECTIONS OR RECALLING A SEQUENCE OF MOVEMENTS, OR SIMPLER TASKS, SUCH AS REMEMBERING THEIR HORSE'S NAME AND COLOR. SARAH POINDEXTER, MS, OTR/L, BEGAN THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS IN 2015 BY TAKING THE AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION'S LEVEL 1 AND 2 COURSES AND SUCCESSFULLY PASSING THE AHCB (AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY BOARD CERTIFICATION) BOARD EXAMINATION IN 2016. SHE ALSO BECAME A PATH, INTLREGISTERED THERAPIST IN 2016. AS AN AHCB-CERTIFIED THERAPIST, SHE BEGAN OFFERING HIPPOTHERAPY AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY IN JANUARY OF 2018 AT SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS, INC. IN FT MYERS, FLORIDA. THERAPEUTIC RIDING OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TEACHING HORSEBACK-RIDING SKILLS WHILE USING THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES TAILORED TO EACH RIDER'S NEEDS. THESE LESSONS ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR RIDERS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES. GROUP LESSONS ARE STRUCTURED WITH FOUR RIDERS PER CLASS, EACH TAUGHT BY A CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTOR. THESE SMALL-GROUP MOUNTED THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS TAKE PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN OUR LARGE, COVERED 100' X 200' ARENA FOR A 1-HOUR SESSION, WHICH INCLUDES TIME TO MOUNT AND DISMOUNT RIDERS. SOME RIDERS, IF THEY ARE INTERESTE
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 October 1991.
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.
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