SILVER2024

SHANGRI LA THERAPEUTIC ACADEMY OF RIDING INC

aka STAR   |   Lenoir City, TN   |  www.rideatstar.org

Mission

STAR's mission is to foster personal achievement by providing therapeutic experiences using horse related activities for persons with disabilities or other special challenges.

Notes from the nonprofit

STAR is the oldest therapeutic riding program in Tennessee and the first to achieve premier accreditation from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, (PATH Intl.)

The individuals we serve have a variety of disabilities which include, but are not limited to; Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, developmental delays, head trauma/brain injury, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, cognitive disorders, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, orthopedic conditions, paralysis, speech impairments, Spina Bifida, stroke, visual impairments, PTSD and Alzheimers.

Lessons are generally one hour long; the first half being dedicated to grooming and the second half to riding. Through grooming, tacking and riding their horse, participants develop skills that produce wide-reaching improvements in areas such as; fine and gross motor skills, motor planning, sequencing, memory, attention span, balance, hand/eye coordination, right/left handedness, communication, body awareness, flexibility, teamwork, socialization, coordination and improved self-esteem. The recreational aspect of STAR's program proves invaluable for these special persons who often cannot participate in conventional sports.

Ruling year info

1988

Executive Director

Mrs. Lynn K Petr

Main address

11800 Highway 11 E

Lenoir City, TN 37772 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

62-1330640

NTEE code info

Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers (P82)

Equestrian, Riding (N69)

Personal Social Services (P50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Providing services to those facing challenges either by birth, disease, injury or social pressures to empower them to do more and become more than society expects. Enabling them to find their strengths and be productive members of the community.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic Riding links individuals that have physical, cognitive or neurological disabilities with horses as a means of gaining therapeutic benefits through learned riding skills and equine interaction.  The first half of each lesson focuses on grooming & tacking while the second half is riding.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities

The STRIDES program has two arms: Changing STRIDES teaches life skills to at-risk youth by developing partnerships with horses.  This program provides the tools for at-risk youth to better manage their lives and foster positive relationships while teaching problem solving, appropriate communication, anger management and how to defuse peer dependence. We also offer an adult version for adults who are dealing with addiction issues.

Stable Friends is a short term equine assisted learning group for middle/high school students experiencing depression, stress or anxiety. This is a life skills learning experience where young people can get exercise and fresh air while learning about horses and staying safe all while building supportive peer relationships.

Population(s) Served
At-risk youth
People with psychosocial disabilities
Substance abusers

Heroes & Horses is an equine assisted activity for veterans with disabilities.  Helping the participants are fellow veterans who understand the military mindset thus providing fellowship and support. Additionally there is an unmounted group working on PTSD related issues.

Population(s) Served
Veterans

The program provides supervised interaction with miniature horses and donkeys trained for participation in educational and therapeutic activities with children and adults. Activities are appropriate for rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, memory care units, special education classes, preschool, and play groups.

Population(s) Served
Seniors
People with disabilities

STAR's Reflections program invites those individuals in East Tennessee with early and middle-stage Alzheimer's and their caregivers to STAR for interaction with humans and horses every first and third Monday of the month.

Population(s) Served
Caregivers
Seniors
Older adults
People with diseases and illnesses

Where we work

Awards

Spirit of ADA 2005

Disability Resource Center

Solomon Award Winner 2007

Lenoir City Rotary Club

Shing Light Award 2008

Farragut Rotary Club

Be More Award for Local Service 2010

East Tennessee Public Television

National Volunteer Leadership Award 2010

North American Riding For The Handicapped Association

Outstanding Service to Persons with Disabilities 2012

Camp Koinonia

Youth Mentor of the Year 2012

Loudon County Leadership Hall of Fame

Affiliations & memberships

North American Riding for the Handicapped Association 1987

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of health outcomes improved

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Veterans

Related Program

Heroes & Horses

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Number of veterans participating in Heroes & Horses program. The number served in 2020 was down due to COVID-19.

Number of youth service participants who have involvement in juvenile justice system

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

At-risk youth

Related Program

STRIDES

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Number at risk youth participating in Changing STRIDES program. In 2020, we were not able to hold our spring and early summer Changing STRIDES Sessions due to state wide COVID-19 restrictions.

Number of volunteers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

continuing need to involve more people in the community to assist in changing people's lives. Number down to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

Number of participants engaged in programs

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

People with disabilities, Children and youth, Adults

Related Program

Therapeutic Riding

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Number of individuals (children and adults) with a disability participating in the Therapeutic Riding program. Our number served in 2020 was down due canceling sessions due to COVID-19.

"Number of individuals at memory care center"

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Seniors

Related Program

Minis in Motion

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Total number of individuals seen at memory care units/residential facilities during the year. How the number of people were being counted changed in 2021 to reflect a more true number.

Number of youth who identify, manage, and appropriately express emotions and behaviors

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

STRIDES

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Total number of individuals attending our Stable Friends program which is under our STRIDES program. This program was started in 2021.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

STAR was recently gifted a second facility which will allow for growth of all aspects of the program and allow us to branch out into other counties. We will need to expand our instructor base and infrastructure in order to achieve this growth in a seamless fashion.

2017 is STAR's 30th year of #HealingThroughHorses and we are planning lots of marketing & media exposure to not only celebrate this milestone but to raise awareness of the program itself and our expansion goals. Our second site allows for not only expansion of numbers of persons served but also puts us closer to a different set of demographics so that our program can mature to encompass inner city youth and Knox County Juvenile Justice appointees.

We have ongoing trainings for staff and volunteers, we have a National Level Faculty, a state of the art facility and the use of our many local universities that will contribute to our future.

We have a strong Board of forward thinkers who are anxious to push STAR to the next level. We assure that our staff have continuing education to keep up with industry changes so we are on the front edge of progress. As the industry evolves we will too so that we may provide the highest quality service possible.

In the past 30 years STAR has grown to be the largest such program in Tennessee, an industry leader, a training facility for those new to the Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies world, a haven for those who have special needs in whatever form, a second chance for retired horses and a solid organization that will continue after my tenure is up.
We have started to have limited programming going on at our second location. Challenges are good for building character!

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • 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

  • 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 act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve

Financials

SHANGRI LA THERAPEUTIC ACADEMY OF RIDING INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build 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.

SHANGRI LA THERAPEUTIC ACADEMY OF RIDING INC

Board of directors
as of 02/02/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Michelle Hardin

Paul Nichols

Scott Cushing

Bill Thompson

Christina Clayton Sullivan

Amanda Hara

Chase Kerby

Dennis Landfather

Jeff Potter

Brandi Salyers

Julia Wilson

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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? Not applicable
  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/22/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/22/2023

GuideStar 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

Data
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • 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.