Habitat For Horses Inc
Education, Enforcement, Rehabilitation, Adoption
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The area south of Houston has a need for equine-related therapy programs. A number of organizations and therapists are seeking a way to utilize our facilities. These programs would involve our specialized trained horses as an aid in therapeutic interactions with 1) at-risk youth 2)veterans 3) women escaping from abuse. Our facility, a 400+ acre ranch in Alvin, will also be available to children from area hospitals specializing in burn and cancer patients. ADDITIONAL ISSUE: Currently we have a rough barn facility for equine needing medical care above normal. In the process of moving to our new ranch, we lost the ICU barn.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
School Visit
The HfH philosophy is based on the belief that since people have domesticated horses, people must take full responsibility for their lives. HfH has designed programs that help horses resume an active and productive life, based on the knowledge that all horses have needs in common and that each horse will have certain special needs. While many rescued or surrendered horses enjoy human contact and interaction, some will never know trust. Those, as all horses, deserve to live and will be treated with the respect and kindness that was denied them before their rescue.
We identify those special horses who can return to productive work as therapy horses for children and adults. We also focus on bringing young people into the circle of volunteers. Our programs are conducted on the ranch and in the community, enabling us to use horses to help people better understand themselves. Following is a brief list of our programs, which have a great capacity for development and expansion:
Sanctuary Surrenders: We work with people on a weekly basis to help them determine the best solutions for their horses when they no longer have the resources, time or money to properly care for their horses. When feasible, we accept the horse as a sanctuary surrender, and receive the same level of care as the rest of the horses. Sanctuary surrenders ideally are provided for through an endowment fund or surrender fee. Our current cost factor for each horse is $2,400 per year, not including serious medical problems.
Community Outreach: Habitat For Horses is involved in a number of programs for bringing horses to schools, churches, rest homes, retirement homes, hospitals and other locations. Organizations are invited to our ranch for general tours and community functions. We have several ideal horses that become the main attraction during our visits to local schools to talk with children about animal abuse and human violence.
Horsemanship Classes: This popular class is a highly recommended course on the basics of horse care designed for those who want to volunteer at HfH, those who are thinking of buying or adopting a horse or people who simply want to learn more about horses through an intense "hands-on" experience.
Investigation and Seizure: We work closely with local law enforcement to investigate complaints, provide aid and direction in report gathering and obtaining seizure orders, transport animals to a safe location, provide photographs, expert veterinarian, farrier and horse-professional testimony and presentation in court.
Emergency Response: Working closely with State and Federal Officials, we respond to disasters from hurricanes to wildfires, providing complete equine services.
Law Enforcement Education
We educate law enforcement on the proper procedures of responding to animal cruelty reports and how to judge the condition of a horse.
Rehabilitation of Abused/Neglected Animals
The largest part of our budget is on the rehabilitation of equine, returning them to a state of health so they may be adopted out to new homes. While the target population is adult, the horse brings the family unit, including children,together.
Law Enforcement Response
Habitat for Horses works closely with a large number of law enforcement agencies to provide assistance in cases of animal cruelty involving equine. We not only assist in the seizure but in the documentation and court presentation should a seizure be needed. Our first goal is not to seize, but to provide the current owner with the knowledge and tools necessary to maintain his equine in a satisfactory state of health.
Emergency Response
Habitat for Horses has been called into duty in times of disaster, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Harvey plus in massive fires such as in the Panhandle of Texas. During Rita and Ike, we were in charge of all large animal search and Rescue. While not budgeted, our response ability comes strictly from donations
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Rehabilitation of Abused/Neglected Animals
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of completed adoptions of all equine. This number was low for the year 2015 due to placing all ranches under quarantine for a contagious illness.
Number of law enforcement agencies assisted in animal cruelty cases
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Law Enforcement Response
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
2017 -Assisted 32 law enforcement agencies for surrenders, seizures and strays involving 104 horses and donkeys.
Total number of equine rescued per year from all sources
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Law Enforcement Response
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
New equine entered into program in 2015 from all sources, increase in 2016 due to Hurricane Harvey. Decrease in 2017 reflects policy change to only receive equine from law enforcement
Number of animals with freedom from hunger and thirst
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Law Enforcement Response
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total number of horses/donkeys living on our ranch varies between 270 to 320 during the year, Variation is due to adoptions/ intake/ euthanizations.
Number of instance where penalties have increased for animal cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment, and/or sexual assault
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Law Enforcement Response
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Increased pressure on law enforcement to file criminal charges on all abuse/neglect cases.Too many in the past consider it enough just to remove the animals.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
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?
In addition to our continued work assisting law enforcement, rehabilitating equine mentally and physically, retraining and adopting those equine, our goal is to utilize a number of our horses in programs that benefit both children and adults through therapeutic interactions.
Our additional goal is to provide a complete facility for equine in need of specialized and intense medical care.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The absolute minimum requirement is to have a covered area so programs can operate no matter what the weather, and to have knowledgeable and trained personnel capable of developing the programs and operate them efficiently and effectively to the benefit of all.
With a licensed veterinarian on our Board, additional veterinarians able to assist, and trained staff, we are fully capable of handling a majority of equine medical emergencies on-site, providing round-the-clock care as needed.
To provide a livable wage for our staff, including 401K benefits, solid health benefits and education, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
On our 400 acre ranch, we have completely finished a 100X200 covered arena, with attached pens and holding areas. We employ two excellent equine trainers who fully understand the requirements for equine-assisted therapy and the type of equine needed.
Within the past few months, we have purchased a 400+ acre ranch near Alvin, TX. A grant has allowed us to build a 200X400 covered arena, now completed. As of mid-October, 2018, we are bringing electricity to the arena, paving areas for parking, and laying ground inside the arena.
By the end of March, 2022, our new barn will be finished and in use. The barn is designed as an equine ICU facility for starved, abused, severely neglected equine.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
UPDATE: As of January 2021 our 100X200 Arena is completed, our trainers have initiated training on potential therapy horses and we are searching for a trained EGALA specialist.
UPDATE: On January 2, we signed a contract to build a new ICU facility close to the new arena. With this facility, we will have the ability to provide more intense medical rehabilitation on horses and donkeys, plus a teaching area for local students. The projected completion date is July, 2021. (This was delayed because of the COVID crisis. It is scheduled to be finished 03/22
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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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We received input from the public in reporting animal abuse/neglect. Those who report often attend the court cases and participate in volunteer work. We act as an education resource for horse owners throughout the area in addition to law enforcement and judicial officers. Therapy operations serve those parents and children who seek therapeutic interaction with equine as an adjunct to other forms of therapy.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes,
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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 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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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Incoming horses usually have little to no gentle training. Adopters want better-trained horses. As a result, we hired two trainers, both experienced and knowledgeable about gentle training methods. We actively seek trained, licensed therapists who have received training from the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA)
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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,
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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.
Habitat For Horses Inc
Board of directorsas of 09/13/2022
Jerry Finch
Habitat for Horses
Term: 2014 - 2024
Ginger Barber
Business Owner
Term: 2014 - 2024
Jerry Finch
President, Habitat for Horses
Dennis Jenkins
DVM
Ginger Barber
Business Owner
Colleen Marks
Business Owner
Rebecca A Williams
ED, Habitat for Horses
Frances Moody
Real Estate
Barbara Mackey
Auther
Audra Clark
Attorney
Christine Laborde
Real Estate
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
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/09/2022GuideStar 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 review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- 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 have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- 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.