Special Equestrians Inc.

“The 990 is reviewed by the board prior to filing it electronically”

“No officer's are paid at the point in time.”

“Governing documents are made available upon request.”

“Special event revenue was 216,144, which includes contributions of 204,142 which is included as fundraising income on line 1 net income from special events was 186,584”

“Our participants who are interested have been given more opportunities to do groundwork and horse care with the horses they are riding. This involvement has given them a more well rounded equine assisted experience. Riders who cannot ride for medical or other reasons have been given new opportunities to groom our horses and participate in unmounted activities such as leading horses and horse care. Our outreach program has allowed us to not only get the word out about our program, but it has become a teaching tool as well. When we go for a visit, the participants learn about horses, their food, riding equipment and grooming equipment, in addition to hearing a short talk about our therapeutic riding program. We also let them pet the two horses, brush the horses and, in some places, read to the horses. We have continued to add new agencies and schools to our outreach efforts. As of february 2016, we have enriched the lives of a total of 846 children and adults with our outreach program, which began in march of 2012. This number for 2016 is 218 in 8 visits. Our outreach team of pet partner animal handlers must be evaluated every two years. We have 6 equine/handler teams at this time. Three new teams were certified when we were re-evaluated on february 20, 2016 by pet partners. A new obstacle was built at our sensory trail by fgcu students. Our riders have improved their balance and gross motor skills with these new obstacles. Each year, during make a difference day, fgcu students come to special equestrians to refresh the sensory trail. Two more saddles were added to our equipment in 2016. We now have a greater ability to fit saddles and reins to the horse and the rider. New caged safety stirrups have also been added to our equipment, for some riders who needed extra stability in the saddle. Our spirit riders drill team performed at a local school in 2016. This drill team is made up of our riders with disabilities riding independently on our program horses doing drill maneuvers to music. In 2016, one of our volunteers began the certification process to become a carriage driving instructor for participants with disabilities. He completed the 2nd phase of his certification in the summer of 2016. We received a donation to purchase a carriage which will be suitable for teaching driving lessons to persons with disabilities. The carriage is in use at se as we prepare for our first carriage driving students to begin their lessons. In late 2016, a second drill team was formed, called the miracle outlaws. This drill team is coached by our saturday instructor, amy oxendine. These riders are so empowered to be a part of this team. In 2016, one of our volunteers, an occupational therapist, completed the process of becoming a certified therapist in 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 a client. We have purchased equipment and evaluation tools for our ot services and we hope to have our first ot clients soon. In 2016, two instructors took a course in equine services for heroes in preparation for our new unmounted veterans program. It will be an equine assisted learning curriculum. In 2016, background checks were continued for new volunteers. This process was instituted in 2015 and has been a very successful addition to our volunteer orientation and requirements. In 2016, special equestrians began working together with chris cook of b-c foundation station in reddick, florida. Chris is a horse development specialist whose mission is to help therapeutic riding centers use effective training methods for their therapeutic riding horses. He is presently embarking on a study with university of florida to develop a curriculum in therapeutic riding horse training for path,”

“Fundraising event adj 119 rounding 0 fundraising expense adj -119”