Project R.I.D.E. Inc.

Reviewed by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation

$32,150 raised by 138 donors

100% complete

$30,000 Goal

Founded in 1979, as an offshoot of Jessie Baker School's Adaptive Physical Education program, Project R.I.D.E. Inc. is now an independent nonprofit serving riders from 11 counties.  From our humble beginnings serving a handful of students using horses borrowed for the day, we now serve over 600 individuals with diagnoses including Downs' Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays and Cerebral Palsy.  Lessons occur daily in our 34,000 square foot, fully enclosed riding arena with a nature trail and stabling for ten horses.  In 2022, our volunteers provided 18,500 hours of service to our clients.  Recent capacity investments, including a new covered outdoor arena, improved sensory trail areas and electronic riding simulator, have finally reduced our waiting list for services! 

Mission

Project R.I.D.E. Inc. provides recreational therapeutic horseback riding instruction to people with special needs. Utilizing gentle equines and specially trained volunteers, we construct a safe and enjoyable experience that is therapeutic in its benefits, educational in its design and recreational at its heart.

Needs

--- FACILITIES UPGRADES ---

A. New Arena Accessories [$20,000]

We have recently unveiled our new outdoor riding arena, allowing us to double our lesson capacity. We have just completed pouring concrete to make it wheelchair accessible, but lighting and fans, visitor seating, landscaping, and additional stabling are also urgently needed.

B. Ingress/Egress Safety Retrofit [$15,000]

Secure and accessible automatic entry gates and barrier-free push-button doors would ease access for our disabled riders and visitors and improve safety for equines and humans.

--- UNMOUNTED PROGRAMS EXPANSION ---

A. 18up Club [$5,000]

Our wildly popular pilot program of 2018 could return, tuition free, with support from you earmarked for this purpose. This is an additional way for adults and those over our weight limit to receive the benefits of equine-assisted activities. It uses our entire facility, including riding simulation, sensory trail and gardens, classroom and stables, to provide a fun and enriching social skills program for a population with very limited social options.

B. Equine-Facilitated Dementia Program [$10,000]

Recently trained and ready to provide this service, our team of professional instructors are developing curriculum for a pilot ground-based program aimed at individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

Our program relies heavily on volunteer support. Without the 21,000 hours of volunteer service provided by our dedicated volunteers last year, our program would not have operated at all. In addition to directly supporting lessons and activities, volunteers are needed ongoing for stable management, horse care, administrative work, and special events and fundraisers. Anyone 14 and older is welcome to attend our volunteer orientation and training sessions, held monthly. We also include volunteers with special needs, under the supervision of adult day programs and caregivers.

We always welcome applications from prospective board members. Experience volunteering directly in program is highly desirable. Board meetings are open to the public and are held in the evening on the second Thursday of each month at our facility. Call to confirm.

Horses, ponies, tack and other riding equipment are always sought. It takes a very special equine to do this kind of work. Breed, age, and height are all negotiable but an even temperament, tolerance of unusual environments and consent to trailering weekly from our ranch to our arena are required. Perfect health is not required, but basic soundness and rideability is important.

Equity Statement

Project R.I.D.E., Inc. encourages diversity and inclusion. Our program has a very diverse ridership. Because of our sensitive clientele we are also sensitive and accepting of ALL volunteers, donors, families, etc. that come into our barn. We welcome all backgrounds to come and participate in our program in some capacity.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Project R.I.D.E. Inc.

Year Established

1979

Tax id (EIN)

94-2778565

Mission Category

Education

Operating Budget

$500,001-$1 million

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, Volunteers, Board Members, In-Kind Donations

Demographics Served

Individuals with disabilities, Youth & Children, General population

Local Counties Served

Sacramento

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

8840 Southside Ave
Elk Grove, CA 95624

Service areas

Elk Grove, CA, US

Sacramento, CA, US

Phone

916 685 7433

fax

916-686-0500

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