Organizations and Support
Nonprofits Supporting Equine-Assisted Programs in North America
Behind nearly every riding center is a web of nonprofits — some write the rules, some train the instructors, some run the barns. Here is who does what across the US and Canada.
Across North America, nonprofits do much of the quiet work that holds the equine-assisted field together. Some publish standards and certify instructors, some train the professionals who run sessions, and many operate the barns where riding lessons, horsemanship, and community programs actually happen. Together, they shape the structure, education, and accessibility of equine-assisted work in the United States and Canada.
This overview groups the main organizations by what they contribute, so you can see who sets the rules, who trains practitioners, and who delivers programs on the ground.
The Nonprofit Landscape at a Glance
Most nonprofits in the field fall into one of three roles, and the organizations below are examples of each.
| Type | What they do | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Standards and membership | Publish guidelines, certify instructors, accredit centers, and maintain public directories | PATH International, CanTRA, American Hippotherapy Association |
| Training and practice frameworks | Offer training models and professional membership for facilitators and clinicians | Eagala, Arenas for Change |
| Direct-service nonprofits | Operate barns and run community programs, often through volunteers and donors | Horses4Heroes, BraveHearts |
Standards and Membership Organizations
These organizations focus on certification, accreditation, professional resources, and connecting centers to one another.
PATH International (United States)
PATH International is a nonprofit membership organization that supports equine-assisted programs through instructor certifications, center accreditation, and educational resources, with hundreds of member centers and credentialed professionals across the United States and beyond.
It offers widely recognized credentials such as the Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and maintains a public directory of member centers.
Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA)
CanTRA is Canada’s national nonprofit for therapeutic riding. It promotes inclusive riding, provides instructor education and certification, supports a network of accredited and member centers across the country, and takes part in international conversations about equine-assisted activities.
American Hippotherapy Association (AHA)
The American Hippotherapy Association serves the clinical side of the field, educating licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists who use equine movement within treatment.
It develops practice resources and continuing education, and its affiliated certification board credentials clinicians in hippotherapy — making it the key standards body where equine-assisted work meets licensed healthcare.
Training and Practice Frameworks
Several nonprofits provide models, training, or membership structures for professionals who bring horses into educational or relational work, rather than operating local barns themselves.
Eagala
Eagala is a global nonprofit that offers training in a structured, ground-based equine-assisted framework used by a wide range of professionals, including mental health and learning practitioners. It provides resources, membership, and continuing education, with an emphasis on unmounted work.
Arenas for Change (ARCH)
ARCH is a nonprofit community of professionals who use nature- and equine-based approaches in their work. It offers training, a shared practice framework, and a collaborative network for facilitators, educators, and other practitioners.
Direct-Service Nonprofits
Direct-service organizations operate barns, create community programs, and often depend on volunteers and donor support.
Horses4Heroes
Horses4Heroes is a Las Vegas–based nonprofit that provides free and affordable equestrian programs, horsemanship experiences, camps, and community events, with a focus on the families of military members, veterans, and first responders. It also maintains a network of affiliate locations in other states.
BraveHearts
BraveHearts is a U.S. nonprofit known for therapeutic riding and horsemanship programs, with a particular focus on serving veterans and military families, often at no cost. Like many direct-service organizations, it runs local programs, hosts events, and creates opportunities for people to take part in equine activities.
Why These Organizations Matter
Taken together, these nonprofits give the field its stability. They educate instructors, facilitators, and clinicians; maintain membership networks and public directories; support community programs and volunteer opportunities; and help establish shared terminology and expectations.
That combined work provides structure for professionals, centers, and participants alike, and makes the field easier to navigate from the outside.
Final Thoughts
Nonprofits across North America strengthen equine-assisted programs in different but complementary ways — some by setting standards, some by training practitioners, and some by running programs directly. Understanding who they are and how they fit together gives a clearer picture of the broader ecosystem.
To go deeper on any of them, our profiles of PATH International, CanTRA, the American Hippotherapy Association, and Horses4Heroes cover each one’s mission and role, and you can browse centers by state to find programs near you.