Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our organization is addressing the issue of overbreeding, undertraining, and overmounting riders by taking horses previously mass produced or rushed through training programs, and allowing them to unwind, decompress, and relearn useful skills on their own comfort and timeframe. By understanding the specific needs of each horse and identifying where the breakdown in training or care occurred, we can help that horse to get past his or her issues and move forward into a successful life, where they could be useful to a new partner and so they can be enjoyed as originally intended.`
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Free Riding Lesson Program
Our rehabilitated rescues learn to give lessons to underprivileged children in the greater Louisville, KY area. As horses and riders progress in their skills, they teach one another about patience, teamwork, and acceptance. It is truly amazing to see the healing that takes place between horse and rider when each is given the opportunity to do something they can be proud of!
Senior Equine Sanctuary
Our sanctuary program is designed to allow older horse over the age of 18 a chance to retire in peace and perform light duties as they are able. Many of our older horses are the foundation of our free lesson program, being the first point of contact for new riders and allowing them to get to know horses.
Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
Our rescue specializes in severe abuse, starvation, neglect, and horses that are deemed dangerous or a previous problem to former owners. We take in feedlot, auction, owner surrendered, and other horses that need our services as space allows. We currently train each horse to perform a new job to make him successful at his second chance in life. Most of our horses go on to provide lessons in our free lesson program.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Great Non Profits 2021
External reviews

Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of animals rehomed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Foster and adoptive children, Foster and adoptive parents, Orphans, Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of youth and families for whom the treatment and support plan is implemented as specified by the therapist
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Non-adult children
Related Program
Free Riding Lesson Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom to express normal behavior
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom from fear and distress
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups
Related Program
Free Riding Lesson Program
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of animals rehabilitated
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Family relationships
Related Program
Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of animals euthanized
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Senior Equine Sanctuary
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Decreasing
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?
We would like to accomplish a level of trust and respect with the horses we save and the people that they end up serving in our program. It is our firm belief that horses and people that are disadvantaged have similar obstacles to overcome, similar oppressions and receive similar treatment from outside sources that force them into places of submission and fear. By opening the doors of success and hope to both parties, we allow each to see him or herself as a worthwhile individual who is capable of accomplishing great things. By retraining horses previously viewed as a problem to society with guidance and acceptance, focusing on his positive strengths and none of his weaknesses, he is then able to move confidently and become useful again. We apply that same methodology to our riders when they arrive. We charge nothing for our program and never plant the seed of doubt that a rider cannot be successful due to any limitation, whether it be financial, physical, emotional, or otherwise. We use the same method of training both horse and rider: find the strengths, encourage them, minimize the negative forces, and encourage success. By putting out love to both the underserved horse and human population, we give them both a place to feel proud and useful.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We identify areas of strength and positive outcome for our team of horses so we can minimize shortcomings and focus on success. Too many times in life, people focus on what people and horses CAN'T do, rather than what they CAN. We believe every horse can do his job well and we believe every person should have access to horses to be able to ride. Once we pair the horses with a rider, they go on to more advanced skills and can participate in shows. We believe there are no limitations for either horse or rider.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We currently have a 29 stall barn and indoor/outdoor arenas and are staffed by a third generation horsewoman, her husband, and family members with equal experience. We are fully capable of retraining the horses to achieve their goals and our trainer/instructor also has a medical degree and a BA in Psychology/BS Biology, MS Microbiology/Immunology. By being able to identify certain learning disabilities or discrepancies in both horses and people, she is able to reach them and encourage their highest potential.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
So far, we have retrained 22 horses who have gone on to be successful in their new homes and have another 14 horses here in the lesson program earning their keep as originally intended. We started with one free lesson rider and we now have 9 after only three months providing the service. We look forward to saving more horses in the future and allowing them to do their job saving people in the progress.
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 serve mostly low income, mostly minority children in our area who are in the foster system or who are wards of the state.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, 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?
We recently changed from being an adoption-based rescue to being a sanctuary for the horses instead, and made some changes to our lesson programs to include music choice and to celebrate different holidays for different religions to make people feel more welcome
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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 take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, 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.
Misfit Toys Rescue Division Inc
Board of directorsas of 02/08/2022
Danielle Navarro
Misfit Toys Rescue Division
Term: 2017 - 2025
Manuel Navarro
Navarro and Sons Roofing LLC
Term: 2017 - 2025
Dee Alleyne
Marquis Equine
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
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/12/2021GuideStar 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 review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- 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 disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- 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 use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- 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 measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- 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.