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THERAPEUTIC EQUESTRIAN CENTER INC
COLD SPRING, NY · EIN 204432765 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE E50 · Health Care · Small ($100K-$1M) · topfieldcenter.org
revenue
$793K
expenses
$837K
net assets
$2.4M
employees
20
volunteers
35
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC AND RECREATIONAL RIDING FOR PHYSICALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHILE EFFECTIVELY UTILIZING OPEN SPACE FOR AGRICULTURAL CONSUMPTION BY CREATING A SUSTAINABLE GREEN RIDING CENTER.

profile · synthesized from sources

Therapeutic Equestrian Center Inc, operating as Topfield Center, provides equine-assisted therapies and adaptive riding programs for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Located in Cold Spring, NY, the organization offers tailored riding, driving, and ground-based lessons, as well as specialized programs for veterans, youth, and individuals in recovery. It combines therapeutic horsemanship with mental health support and community engagement in a sustainable green environment.

named programs · 8 · from sources

What they call their work

Adaptive Driving
Teaches individuals of all abilities to drive horse-drawn carriages, promoting skill development and connection with horses without riding.
Adaptive Ground
Non-mounted equestrian lessons involving grooming, leading, and groundwork exercises tailored to individual abilities, fostering horsemanship and emotional connection.
Adaptive Riding
Mounted lessons for individuals with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities, focusing on therapeutic benefits such as improved balance, strength, and confidence in a supportive environment.
Corporate & Team-Building
Experiential leadership training using equine interactions to improve workplace communication, trust, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
Film Production Services
Rental of Topfield’s grounds, facilities, and horses for photo and film shoots, offering half-day access starting at $2,500 depending on usage and staffing needs.
GRIT for Kids & Teens
Weekly curriculum combining adaptive horsemanship with interpersonal and social wellness skills, designed to build confidence and social engagement through fun, horse-based activities.
GRIT for Recovery
Therapeutic curriculum for individuals in recovery from substance misuse, led by a licensed mental health professional and equine specialist, focusing on coping skills and emotional regulation.
GRIT for Veterans
Free skills-based training program for U.S. veterans that builds animal connections and prepares participants to assist in adaptive riding programs, offered in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Therapeutic Equine-Assisted Programs 13 activities
    • ADA-accessible equestrian facility operations
      Operates a year-round therapeutic equestrian facility designed to be fully ADA-accessible, featuring indoor and outdoor arenas, a sensory trail, heated viewing rooms, a hydraulic lift, therapy spaces, and a four-bay grooming area for small groups.
    • Adaptive carriage driving programs
      Offers adaptive cart driving lessons that enable individuals of all abilities to learn how to drive a horse-drawn cart, fostering skill development and connection with horses through mounted and unmounted activities.
    • Adaptive ground lessons in horsemanship
      Provides ground-based equine-assisted activities focused on grooming, leading, groundwork, and horse care education to build horsemanship skills and strengthen horse-human connections for individuals with disabilities or therapeutic needs.
    • Adaptive horseback riding lessons
      Provides therapeutic and recreational horseback riding lessons for children and adults with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities, as well as individuals seeking supportive skill development or non-competitive equestrian experiences. Lessons are offered year-round and aim to improve physical, emotional, and social outcomes, with progress documented from requiring physical support to independent horsemanship.
    • Equine-assisted mental health therapy
      Provides mental health counseling sessions led by a licensed clinical therapist (LCAT), with options for equine-involvement or traditional settings such as therapy rooms, barns, or outdoor grounds.
    • Equine-assisted recovery program for substance misuse
      Offers a structured training and support program for individuals in recovery from substance misuse, co-led by a licensed mental health professional and equine specialist, focusing on improved coping skills through equine interaction.
    • Field trips and educational visits
      Hosts school and group field trips featuring customized, staff-led horse programming for one hour, plus additional facility access, tailored to educational or therapeutic goals.
    • Free equine training for veterans
      Provides free skills-based training for U.S. veterans to build animal connections and prepare them to support therapeutic equine programs for individuals with disabilities.
    • GRIT curriculum for youth
      Implements a weekly skills-based program for children and teens that integrates adaptive horsemanship with interpersonal development and social wellness through structured horse-assisted activities.
    • Intake and assessment services
      Conducts 30-minute intake/assessment appointments for $60 to evaluate individual needs and match participants with appropriate services and equine partners.
    • Physical therapy with equine integration
      Offers physical therapy sessions led by a licensed New York State Doctor of Physical Therapy, incorporating equines and delivered from the ground or in the saddle to support therapeutic goals.
    • Speech and language therapy with equine inclusion
      Provides speech and language therapy sessions for clients of all ages, led by a certified speech-language pathologist, with options for mounted or unmounted equine-inclusive therapy.
    • Therapeutic horse camps
      Operates accessible, small-group equestrian camps for children and teens focused on learning about and interacting with horses in a therapeutic setting.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Community Scholarship Fund
      Offers financial support through a scholarship program that provides 25% to 100% cost coverage for individuals and families unable to afford services, increasing accessibility to therapeutic programs.
  • Volunteer Mobilization for Community Improvement 1 activity
    • Corporate volunteer engagement
      Hosts corporate volunteer days to engage business teams in barn and grounds maintenance, supporting organizational capacity while providing community service opportunities.
  • Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Equine-assisted leadership and team-building training
      Provides leadership development and corporate team-building sessions focused on improving nonverbal communication and group dynamics through interaction with horses.
  • Equine Education and Riding Instruction 1 activity
    • Facility use for film and media production
      Makes equestrian facility and grounds available for photo and movie shoots, including equine participation in commercial and artistic projects.
  • Equine Rescue and Retirement Care 1 activity
    • Volunteer program management
      Engages volunteers in therapeutic riding support roles including side walking, horse leading, grooming, barn maintenance, and groundskeeping; provides training and discounted rides for active contributors.
  • Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
    • Volunteer training workshops
      Offers free quarterly workshops and training sessions led by equine and disability professionals to prepare volunteers for safe and effective participation in therapeutic programs.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Adaptive birthday parties and events
      Hosts private events featuring two hours of facility access and one hour of staff-led ground activities or pony rides, with ADA-accessible mounting using hydraulic lifts and trained side walkers as needed.
    • Provision of safety equipment
      Provides ASTM-approved equestrian helmets for riders who do not have their own, requiring all riders to wear helmets manufactured within the last five years.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$793K
Contributions & grants$629K79%
Program service revenue$164K21%
Investment income$110%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$837K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$451K
Grants paid out$3K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.41M
Cash$139K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$2.40M
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -6.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SARAH UZELAC PHD EXECUTIVE DI 35 $140K
board members · 4
  • ANNE CABOT — CHAIRPERSON
  • CAROL ASH — SECRETARY
  • COLIN CABOT — DIRECTOR
  • JESSICA GOLDSMITH ESQ — TREASURER
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Cold Spring Speech Partner — Collaborates with Topfield Center through its speech-language pathologist to deliver equine-inclusive speech and language therapy services.
  • Cold Spring Speech Therapy Partner — Provides therapy services in partnership with Topfield; payment for these services may be covered through insurance.
  • FLEX Physical Therapy Partner — Provides physical therapy services at Topfield Center through a partnership, delivering equine-inclusive PT led by a licensed physical therapist.
  • FLEX Physical Therapy Partner — Provides therapy services in partnership with Topfield; payment for these services may be covered through insurance.
  • Girl and Boy Scouts of America Partner — Receives discounted rates for field trips to Topfield Center.
  • Medicaid Self Direction Government — Services are reimbursable through Medicaid Self Direction, indicating a formal relationship enabling client access to public funding.
  • Navigators Partner — Receives discounted rates for field trips to Topfield Center.
  • PATH Intl. Network — Member center of PATH Intl., adhering to its standards for therapeutic equine services.
  • PATH Intl. Network — Member of PATH Intl., a global standard-setting organization for equine-assisted activities and therapies.
  • Veteran-related groups Partner — Receives discounted rates for field trips to Topfield Center.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Engagement
    methodology: equine_assisted_therapy
    By using horses as responsive therapeutic partners that sense and react to human emotions, we enhance engagement and support physical, cognitive, and emotional development because the non-judgmental, present nature of horses creates a unique relational dynamic that fosters trust, self-awareness, and behavioral change.
  • Experiential Learning for Personal and Professional Growth
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By using horses in experiential learning activities focused on leadership and team communication, we improve self-awareness and workforce engagement because the immediate, non-verbal feedback from equines reveals behavioral patterns and fosters insight in ways traditional training cannot.
  • Integrated Clinical and Equine Therapy
    methodology: integrated_clinical_equine_therapy
    By combining licensed clinical mental health services with equine-specialized interventions in small group settings, we improve coping skills and emotional regulation because the integration allows clients to practice therapeutic insights in real-time, relational interactions with horses that mirror human dynamics.
  • Mutual-Benefit Therapeutic Model
    methodology: mutual_benefit_therapeutic_engagement
    By structuring equine training programs that engage both veterans and individuals with disabilities as co-participants, we support healing and skill development in both groups because shared, low-pressure animal interaction fosters reciprocal empathy, purpose, and social connection.
  • Sustainable Integrated Facility Model
    methodology: sustainable_integrated_facility
    By integrating agricultural practices and sustainable land use into the therapeutic riding center, we enhance program sustainability and deepen client connection to nature because the regenerative operation provides both therapeutic context and practical stewardship opportunities that reinforce well-being.