Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy
Changing lives . . . one ride at a time.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
In the greater Memphis area, there are 322,690 residents with disabilities age 5-64 who have the opportunity to benefit from equine-assisted activities and therapies offered by Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy. Our nonprofit program serves children and adults with disabilities and hardship, including Down syndrome, autism, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, mental and physical disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and more. The therapeutic and recreational programs we provide focus on access and inclusion, foster compassion and caring, and encourage goal achievement and personal growth.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Adaptive Horseback Riding
Offered to children and adults, age 6 and up. The program benefits participants with physical, emotional, cognitive and social disabilities; or a combination of these challenges. Benefits of adaptive riding include improvement in joint mobility, balance and coordination, relaxation of spasticity, increased muscle tone, self-confidence through enhanced self-image, improved learning, concentration, spatial awareness, and motivation to set and achieve goals.
Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy
The term Hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to 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.Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals have incorporated Hippotherapy in practice in the United States since the 1970s. The American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. (AHA, Inc.) was formed in 1992 to provide a forum for education, communication, and research among therapy professionals interested in the use of Hippotherapy in treatment. AHA, Inc. created a conceptual framework in 1997 to (a) provide therapists with a theoretical basis for the utilization of Hippotherapy for improved function, (b) promote effective clinical problem-solving, and (c) generate hypotheses for scientific research.The therapist selects a horse/equine movement to match the specific needs of the patient. During treatment, the therapist continually monitors patient’s adaptive response and modifies equine movement to provide an appropriate challenge working towards functional goals. The outcome measure for the patient is a change in functional performance and/or a change in a functional impairment across environments. Standard documentation reflects progress of treatment within the patient’s plan of care and follows the guidelines of the therapist’s profession.
PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes
Southern Reins is honored to support the PATH, Intl. Equine Services for Heroes Program. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life for military men and women, as well as first responders, who have been injured in service to our country. Therapeutic riding and equine assisted activities offers physical and emotional healing, with a focus on building confidence, self-awareness, improved communication, trust, and decreased anxiety and stress. Participants may be referred by a physician or therapist, current or past participant, family member, Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, emergency services, or other service organization. Men and women diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, PTSD, amputation, physical injury or combat trauma often find positive change and tremendous benefit from their involvement with equine therapy. Horses are powerful and forgiving, social and inquisitive, and they are highly attuned to their environment. They provide a unique self-reflective experience that can provide healing in countless ways.Southern Reins’ Equine Services for Heroes offers therapeutic horseback riding and horsemanship programs. Our therapeutic riding sessions are offered for 6-week sessions and include grooming and tacking, ground work, and a riding lesson each week. Our horsemanship program is offered for those who do not wish to ride. The program includes grooming, horse care, horsemanship and ground work. Participants are also invited to support the operation of our facility as a volunteer. These programs are offered throughout the year to support those who have given so much defending our freedom.
Where we work
Awards
Nonprofit of the Year 2021
Collierville Chamber of Commerce
Affiliations & memberships
PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center 2022
PATH Intl. Member Center 2021
PATH Intl. Member Center 2020
PATH Intl. Member Center 2019
PATH Intl. Member Center 2018
PATH Intl. Member Center 2017
PATH Intl. Member Center 2016
PATH Intl. Member Center 2015
PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center 2023
PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center 2024
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Adaptive Horseback Riding
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We are honored to have developed community partnerships with fellow non-profit organizations. By sharing resources, we are able to greatly multiply the positive effects that all of these programs prov
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Our programs are designed to focus on the ability of each individual, providing opportunities to to enhance life skills and reach short and long-term goals. *2020 and 2022 totals impact of COVID-19
Number of veterans with PTSD served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Veterans
Related Program
PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
Because of shelter in place initiatives implemented by our veteran services partners, participation decreased in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
Number of staff members certified in subject area training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Adaptive Horseback Riding
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of new volunteers trained each year. The dedication of time and talent of our volunteer corp contributes beyond measure to the success of each of our participants.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Adaptive Horseback Riding
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Volunteer service hours include direct program support, barn help, equine care, special events, special projects and unpaid internships. *2020 and 2022 Volunteer Hour decline due to COVID-19
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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 program activities include adaptive horseback riding, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy, Making Strides Recreation Therapy Program, Silver Stirrups Program, horsemanship and barn lessons through our Unbridled Horsemanship Program, equine-assisted psychotherapy, and PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes. We offer sessions throughout the year, and all activities are conducted by PATH, Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructors, AHA certified therapists, and mental health professionals.
Our goal is to encourage participants to break through boundaries and develop their life skills through improvements in strength and physical ability, communication, and enhanced sensory processing and cognitive retention. The positive change we see in and out of the arena drives our passion to celebrate the ABILITY of each of our participants. Working with our horses, children and adults are able to turn struggle into success as they improve physical function, develop confidence, and achieve short and long-term goals that significantly contributes to their physical, social and emotional well-being.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Southern Reins is dedicated to maximizing our organizational impact and ensuring future sustainability through strategic partnerships, educational outreach, collaboration, and direct client outreach. We are honored to have developed community partnerships with Youth Villages, SRVS, Trezevant Manor, InDev Memphis, University of Memphis TigerLIFE, Alpha Omega Veteran Services, Memphis VA Medical Center, and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1113. By sharing resources, we are able to greatly multiply the positive effects that all of these programs provide to the people we serve.
To ensure the sustainability of our organization, we have implemented our 2019-2023 Strategic Plan to identify, evaluate, and implement processes to refine our program operations, ensure short and long-term financial stability, invest in human capital, and assess our capacity and infrastructure.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Through the vision and leadership of our Board of Directors and senior staff, we continue to expand our programming to serve a growing number of participants by implementing necessary infrastructure for expansion, while ensuring financial stability. At the core of all of our initiatives is our unwavering focus on the value of services we provide. The skills and expertise of our credentialed professionals provides an exceptional learning environment for our participants, and the services we offer to people with disabilities are unique, goal-oriented, and therapeutic that contributes to pivotal change for the individuals we serve.
Southern Reins actively recruits from within to provide additional leadership and job growth opportunities. Many new instructors and instructors in training have been selected from existing staff and volunteers as ideal candidates. Our horses and ponies also play a critical in our mission delivery. Each horse serves an average of 10 participants a week; therefore, as we grow we are consistently monitoring our equine herd to ensure we have adequate horsepower to meet the demand. Lastly, our volunteer corp is an essential component to our success. Southern Reins has trained more than 900 individuals as volunteers, and relies on the time, talent, and treasure of approximately 200 active volunteers to support our participants. We consistently look for new partnership opportunities to serve as many people with disabilities and hardship as can benefit through the programs we offer. We will be expanding our mental health and equine-assisted learning programs in the near future with key partnerships that are in development to serve children with emotional and physical trauma, as well as group treatment centers.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Southern Reins began in the fall of 2015 serving 12 participants, and since that time we have provided services to more than 550 children and adults with disabilities throughout our community. A primary focus area in our Strategic Plan is the implementation of our strategic growth matrix that evaluates current capacity and projects future needs to ensure we have adequate infrastructure and resources for growth. A key initiative we are pursuing over the next 12-24 months is the development of outcome measures specific to skill progression by our participants. This data will provide documented evidence to validate the physical, social, and emotional benefits of our program.
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 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 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
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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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.
Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy
Board of directorsas of 06/20/2024
\ Courtney Smith
none
Term: 2021 - 2024
Courtney Smith
Kim Jordan
Charles Burkett
First Horizon Foundation
Lee Alexander
International Paper
Cliff Hunt
Standard Construction Company
Jill Haag
Executive Director/Southern Reins
Kevin Kimery
Kimery Wealth Management
Lance Moll
FedEx Freight
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:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/19/2021GuideStar 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 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.