Ride on L a
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Ride On LA was organized to primarily promote the welfare of at-risk youth and people with any type of physical, mental or cognitive disability by means of equine assisted activities and therapies, and by providing instruction and education for all in equestrian-related social, vocational and recreational activities.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 360
- Highest pay
- $111,800, co-ceo
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% 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
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 15 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
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, 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 (2)
- $1.7 million spent. RIDE ON GAVE APPROXIMATELY 8,600 THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS TO ABOUT 250MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH WEEK USING 125 VOLUNTEERSWHO DONATED OVER 15,000 HOURS OF SERVICE. RIDE ON LA SUBSIDIZES THE FEE FOR SERVICEFOR ALL CLEINTS BUT ALSO GIVES SCHOLARSHIPS AT FURTHER REDUCED RATES RANGING FROMFREE TO OF PUBLISHED RATES. SEE STATEMENT 1. About Us: Ride On specializes in adaptive horseback riding and therapy services. We teach riding skills to children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, and we provide physical, speech and occupational therapy using the movement of the horse to improve specific medical conditions. Our staff includes 8 instructors, 7 therapists and over 50 horses. Ride On has now given over 157,700 lessons and treatment sessions in our 30-year history - improving the quality of life in our community.Service: In 2024, Ride On provided 10,600 lessons and treatments to an average of 250 clients on a weekly basis from four facilities. 125 volunteers donated nearly 15, 000 hours of work. 75% of our riders and patients were children under age 18; 50% are physically and 50% are intellectually disabled. We serve many types of disabilities with autism being the most frequent. Many riders and patients have multiple disabilities requiring extensive staff and volunteer support. Unique Capacity: Ride On has been nationally accredited since 1994 and is now the only accredited provider of adaptive riding and therapy services in all of Los Angeles or Ventura County. Ride On provided nearly 2,000 physical, occupational and speech therapy treatments to 85 patients primarily incorporating the unique movement of the horse. Scholarships: Ride On subsidizes the cost of lessons and treatments for all participants. Beyond that, we gave scholarships ranging from free lessons to price for over 1,500 lessons or treatments to 50 families. Partnerships: Our newest partnership is with the City of Pasadena providing service in the San Gabriel Valley. Ride On is the only program in California with four operating sites with service reaching from the Oxnard Plains into the Conejo, Simi, San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys.Ride On completed 24 years partnering with the Conejo Recreation and Park District which donates the lease of two ranches in Thousand Oaks comprising 33 acres. Walnut Grove, our home for 24 years, is the center for our adaptive and therapy services programs. Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center is the heart of a growing equestrian education center for all abilities. We partner with the Regional Center system to provide adaptive riding and therapy services and we are also proud to be recognized as a US Equestrian Federation Community Outreach Organization and a USEF Para Dressage Center of Excellence.Other partnerships include Horses in the Hood, Safe Passage Youth Foundation, Turner Syndrome Foundation, Tarzana Treatment Center, and CRPD Therapeutics to provide riding lessons for at risk youth, teens struggling with substance abuse and summer programs for campers with disabilities. Play LA: Ride On also partners with the City of Los Angeles Play LA Adaptive Program to provide para-equestrian programming for youth with disabilities and at-risk populations leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games. Accountability and Leadership: Ride On continues to lead in the nonprofit sector in service delivery and education. We organize and host a free Networking and Education Day for industry professionals, teach Instructor Workshops and manage and host the CALNET Show and US Equestrian Federation para equestrian clinics. Ride On sees itself as a public trust and we have always been a leader in transparency to the public. For years we have posted our audited financial statements and IRS tax forms on our website at www.RideOn.org and we have earned a www.guidestar.org Platinum Seal of Transparency.
- $387,306 spent. RIDE ON ALSO PROVIDED NEARLY 2,000 PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL OR SPEECH THERAPY TREATMENTS USING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE TO IMPROVE SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONSUNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF SPECIALLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. RIDE ON ISTHE ONLY NATIONALLY ACCREDITED PROVIDER OF SUCH THERAPY IN LOS ANGELES OR VENTURA COUNTY.
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 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 December 2024.
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 September 1994.
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.
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.