GOLD2023

EQUEST

Humans Horses Hope

Dallas, TX   |  https://www.equest.org/horses

Mission

At Equest, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs by partnering with horses to bring hope and healing through equine assisted activities and therapies.

Ruling year info

1982

C.E.O.

Mr. Myrshem George

Main address

PO Box 171779

Dallas, TX 75217 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

75-1823701

NTEE code info

Human Service Organizations (P20)

Mental Health Treatment (F30)

IRS filing requirement

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

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We continue evaluate process, policies and procedures. We are proud of the legacy to serve children and adults with diverse needs by partnering with the horse to provide hope and healing through equine assisted activities and therapies. We want to ensure the highest level of service for our clients while maintaining PATH (our industry) standards.

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 Horsemanship

Therapeutic Riding: Equestrian skill development in private, semi-private and group lessons. Preparation for Competition if desired.

Therapeutic Carriage Driving: Driving skill development; one on one in a carriage and with a certified driving instructor.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with disabilities

Equine Assisted Therapy includes:

Physical, occupational and speech therapy using the movement of the horse to accomplish therapy treatment goals. Private sessions

Equine Facilitated Counseling: Mental Health issues are addressed with a team of professionals and the horse

All therapies are conducted by licensed professionals

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with disabilities

Veterans Programming
Equest provides veterans, free of charge, programs through the Hooves for Heroes Program. Dependents are served at 50% of normal tuition rates.
Therapeutic Riding
Carriage Driving
Equine Facilitated Counseling
Physical and occupational therapy
Horsemanship 101
Experiential Learning
Group volunteer projects

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Families

Equine Facilitated Learning - Equest reaches out to the greater North Texas Community to educate, enlighten and enrich our community about the life changing effects of horses.
Mini Ambassadors: A mobile team of specially trained miniature horses travel to teach children and adults about the unique healing bond between humans and horses.

PALS Program: Police Athletic League program for at-risk youth

Reading Quest with Equest Literacy Program for underserved children

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with disabilities

Competition – Equest offers our clients the opportunity to participate in horse shows throughout the year including: Equest’s All program Horse Show, Chisholm Challenge, Quarter Horse Congress, Special Olympics, AQHA Equestrians with Disabilities, Snaffle Bit Futurity and the Dixie Nationals

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Children and youth
Veterans

Equest is an industry leader in PATH, Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Intl.) Education and Training
PATH Approved Workshops/Certifications and Advanced Instructor Certification Prep Course
PATH International Approved Instructor Training Course
Mental Health First Aid certification courses
American Hippotherapy Workshops
Equine Information Clinics
Disability Awareness Clinics

Population(s) Served
Adults
Students

Beginning in the spring of 2018, Equest became one of 15 North Texas nonprofit participants inPhase I of the “Texas Serves” Collaborative Care Network. Members of this network providemental health counseling, educational workshops, peer support and opportunities for positivesocial interaction to veterans and their families. Equest works further in the health communityby partnering with BIND, the Brain Injury Network of Dallas. Those that suffer from majorhead trauma come and seek therapeutic riding lessons from our trained instructors.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Veterans

Since 2015, Equest has partnered with the Dallas Police Department through their Police Activities League (PAL) program, which serves disadvantaged youth in identified communities to build strong relationships with police. PAL is a youth crime prevention program that utilizes educational, athletic, and recreational activities to create trust and understanding between police officers and youth. Participants in the PAL Equestrian Program learn basic horsemanship skills. Activities include grooming and tacking their own horses; riding lessons in the arena and on the trail; and equine education on horse health and equipment

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Where we work

Awards

Nonprofit of the Year 2015

CNM

Affiliations & memberships

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International 1989

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

__% of participants that report an improved quality of life

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

People with disabilities

Related Program

Therapeutic Horsemanship

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Of responding participants, 100% report improved quality of life.

% of Hooves for Heroes participants (Veterans only) that show improvement with PTSD symptoms

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

Veterans

Related Program

Veterans Programming - Hooves for Heroes

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Equest administers the PCL-5 and Q-LES-Q-SF to all adult EFC clients. These data continue to suggest that EFC is a positive intervention for most of our clients.

Number of participants who would recommend program to others

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

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

% of clients that report general satisfaction with services

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

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

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.

Equest plans to serve over 1,200 individuals with unique challenges annually. It is Equest's vision is to be the model of excellence for worldwide therapeutic riding centers in Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EMT), continuing education, and instructor certification and training. We strive to be distinguished in equine therapy through:
•Exceptional instruction and the safest delivery of superior programming;
•Comprehensive and compassionate care of our horses;
•High standards and professional leadership, coupled with staff and volunteer development;
•A positive and energizing work environment;
•and Innovative programs blazing new trails in the therapeutic horsemanship industry

It is this vision of excellence that will ultimately lead to the growth, well-being and achievements of our clients and community.

Equest has provided equine activities and therapies to thousands of children and adults with disabilities. Equest began serving veterans and their family members and disadvantaged youth through a variety of equine assisted programming including mental health counseling, physical and occupational therapy, horsemanship clinics, and educational workshops..

Equest serves children (beginning age 2) and adults with all types of physical, cognitive, social-emotional and learning disabilities, including veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

Equest offers traditional equine therapy programs in a year round program formatted to support weekly, hour-long lessons in 10-week blocks for the spring, summer and fall sessions. Over 480 slots are available on Monday-Saturday schedules, during the morning, afternoon and evening time periods. We offer group, private and semi-private lessons. Equest engages community volunteers each week in all aspects of our program and facility needs.

One centralized location: Dallas, Texas
29 Employees (3 of the 8 Master PATH, Intl. Certified Instructors in the world are employed at Equest)
33 Therapy Horses
An engaging volunteer program that utilizes over 400 volunteers/week
Strong community connection
Strategic partners for referrals, donations and volunteers
40+ year history of providing equine assisted activities and therapies
Data driven programs
Quantitative Data collection at various levels
PATH, Intl. Premiere Accredited Site since 1989

41 Year Track Record
Premiere Accreditation from PATH, Intl.
Sustainability and growth to second facility
Annually serving over 200 individuals
Offer all types of equine assisted activities and therapies

Yet to come...
Improved reach in the community through equine facilitated learning programs
Veterans outreach to meet larger need in community

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 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

  • 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 engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

EQUEST
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our 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.

Operations

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

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

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.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

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.

EQUEST

Board of directors
as of 09/07/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Mr. Clint Haggarty

Pendery's

Term: 2023 - 2024


Board co-chair

Mrs. Lisa Loy Laughlin

Pia Ackerman

Julie Sherman

Carolyn Anderson

Teresa Fishman

Tim Gavin

Clint Haggarty

Lisa Laughlin

Nancy Natinsky

Katherine Wyker

Amy Green

Brooke Bailey

Elizabeth Dakus

Marianne Fazen

Prisma Garcia

Lindsay Kirton

Megan Martin

Elissa McClure

Steve Swenson

Harley Cozewith

Daniel Valentine

Bill Woodall

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? 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 7/17/2023
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
Black/African American
Gender identity
Male

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 07/17/2023

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 ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • 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 have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • 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.