RIDEABILITY THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Tuition Assistance Program provides financial assistance to York County residents who are unable to cover the costs of our therapeutic riding services. Our goal at RideAbility is for our special needs riders to learn necessary life skills including leadership, responsibility, socialization, and self confidence, that support real life situations. Without proper funding, our families would not be able to participate and receive the full-scope benefits of our program. More families returning after the severe pandemic are requiring Financial assistance due to lose of work or staying home to care for their special needs child.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center Inc.
Therapeutic Riding:
Horseback riding is one of the few recreational activities, other than swimming, that is truly physically therapeutic. Horseback riding requires the involvement of the whole body and utilizes each muscle and every joint. Sitting astride a horse helps stretch and strengthen muscles and increases range of motion.
Equestrian therapy is designed for special needs children, young adults and adults. By combining equestrian techniques with concepts of physical therapy, our riders learn the skills of traditional horsemanship and in turn increase their self-esteem & overcome many physical and mental limitations. At RideAbility we add skills to our rider’s standard therapies by offering a fun, success-driven program. We create a sport and recreational atmosphere. RideAbility provides a safe and positive learning experience, for our riders with the amazing help of our volunteers.
The Benefits
The benefits of horseback riding are both mental and physical. At RideAbility we:
Build confidence and self esteem
Develop coordination and balance
Afford freedom and mobility
Offer outdoor fun and accomplishment
Allow riders to develop horsemanship skills and independence in riding to the extent that each individual is capable.
What can be Accomplished?
Through lessons and exercises such as, stretching, reaching, relay races, obstacle courses and ring toss, riders increase their self-esteem, concentration and confidence. Physical benefits include improvement in muscle strength, mobility, body control, coordination and balance. Plus many riders can learn skills of horsemanship while having fun.
Every lesson is adapted to the riders needs.
Equine Services For Hereos
RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center proudly supports the physical, the psychological recovery and well-being of military personnel, veterans and families through Facilitated Interactions with horses.
8 week program beginning April 2021.
Our goal is to teach new skills and accomplish personal goals that enhance a healthy self-concept which ultimately translates into the work and home environments.
Some of the benefits of the program are:
Physical: Veterans with mobility impairments, including amputations and spinal cord injuries, benefit from this replicated gait which may ultimately assist some participants in relearning how to walk.
Social: The "farm" environment provides a safe, worry-free atmosphere for veterans to share concerns and rebuild trust and coping mechanisms by building horsemanship skills.
Cognitive: Focus on the “tasks at hand” reintegrate and reinforce reasoning and decision-making abilities. With the horse as a gentle partner, cognitive skills are enhanced while preparing for and participating in activities that include learning about horses, equipment and the barn.
Emotional: Bonding with a large animal has proven to be physically relaxing and emotionally calming.
Tuition Assistance Program
2020 more than half of our clients required financial assistance using our Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) in order to participate. Thanks to the TAP, our community benefits financially in many ways. It allows children and adults living with special needs without financial means to join our program, participate in, and benefit from all the positives that therapeutic horseback riding has to offer. Our TAP makes the resources possible for families struggling to help their loved ones without bearing the financial burden. There has been an increase in housing, therefore adding to the population in York County. With an increasing population, comes a number of families applying to participate, yet unable to pay. As the poverty level and early diagnosis of disabilities in our community has increased, the need for our program has grown too. Due to the high poverty level, these families grapple with expensive doctor bills and steep costs to care for their children. It is close to impossible for a family receiving government assistance to pay for our services. For example, many children of families in our community are living below the federal poverty line and therefore receiving free and reduced price lunches at school. We also have a Veterans program serving veterans living with disabilities. In addition, our program assists children living in group homes that require funding for their participation as well. It is our primary goal that no family or person is EVER turned away due to financial obstacles. We aspire to never need a waiting list for families who require our TAP. It has been noted that 90% of our riders have shown positive growth and achieved their individual goals. We want our special needs community to become stronger both physically and emotionally.
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is that no child or family be turned away die top financial obstacles an our goal is to have the community support the kids in it with the help of grants and scholarships With that goal in mind, we are currently seeking funding to support the following:
-Tuition Assistance Program
-Therapeutic Horsesneeds, i.e. feed, vitamins and medications, veterinarian fees, and all the other expenses it takes to keep our special horses healthy, safe and productive.
-Barn and pasture care and maintenance.
-Volunteer supplies, clothing, snacks and beverages
-A multitude of other items necessary to help us provide our valuable services.
With the help of corporate and individual donations, grants and sponsorship, RideAbility can service a maximum of 80 special needs children or adults per week. This is to include both private and group lessons.
At $40 per session that would equal $2000 a week for 50 weeks which would be $120,000 per year.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Fundraising projects are being held on a weekly to monthly basis to raise money for feed and hay
We have a volunteer fundraising committee that is promoting our services to large and small corporations and businesses to support our Tuition Assistance program.
Grant writing is an important part of our daily program as well as reaching out to our community.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are involved in the Rotary Club of Clover ,Chamber of Commerce of Clover, Live Well Clover, York and Lake Wylie, Local 4H clubs,Clover High School and Middle school Special needs department, Future Farmers of America, Interact club, Clover, Special Olympics and York County Department of Special needs and Disabilities. We believe that being involved in our community will allow us to connect and reach out to many people that can help us reach our goals.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We are constantly looking for grants to help us help others. Since more than 30% of our county lives below the poverty level, this funding will be needed for the near as well as the distant future.
Approximately 50% of our rider’s families need financial assistance to participate in our riding program. A big factor that creates this need is the fact that having a special needs individual in the home creates an additional financial burden to the family. Therefore combining the overall need of the average consumer along with the additional factor of increased medical care costs, our program will continually need to be funded.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
RIDEABILITY THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC
Board of directorsas of 10/10/2023
Dr. Wendy Schonfeld
RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center Inc.
Term: 2012 - 2023
Hank Grossman
Jacqueline Kuschner
Michael Schonfeld
RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center
Wendy Schonfeld
RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center Inc.
JoAnne Giliberti
Wendi Day
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/27/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.