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Nonprofit · EIN 65-0250071

SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC

Tax-exempt · FORT MYERS, FL 33905

Financials

$451K$439K2022$502K$471K2023$510K$478K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$510,282$477,684$32,598$2,499,873$2,440$2,497,433
September 30, 2024990$502,422$470,666$31,756$2,443,641$10,427$2,433,214
September 30, 2023990$450,506$439,498$11,008$2,369,542$8,955$2,360,587
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$479,111
Program service revenue
$40,009
Investment income
$19,135
Net gain from sales of assets
-$6,537
Net income from fundraising events
-$28,348
Other revenue
-$27,973

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$67,479
Other salaries and wages
$139,485
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$223,613
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$46,437
Depreciation
$59,027
Program services (functional)
$387,524
Management and general (functional)
$76,333
Fundraising (functional)
$13,827

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$2,443,641
Total assets, end of year
$2,499,873
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,440
Net assets, end of year
$2,497,433
Land, buildings and equipment
$1,170,161
Publicly traded securities
$18,969
Net assets without donor restrictions
$2,391,487
Net assets with donor restrictions
$105,946
Gross receipts
$618,733
Employees
15
Volunteers
390
Year formed
1991
State of legal domicile
FL

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DANA HOLLENZEREXECUTIVE DI
Trustee or director, Officer
40$67,291
CHRIS BAKERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.46$0
KAREN COONEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.38$0
TOM FEURIGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.23$0
JAN FIFERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
25$0
ERIN HOUCK-TOLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.23$0
ERICA JOHNSONV PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
0.76$0
FREDA JONESPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
0.96$0
BRENDA MORROWTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
4.4$0
SARAH POINDEXTERSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.76$0
PATRICIA RICEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.76$0
ADELE SMITHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2.1$0
CHRISTOPHER SPIRODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.76$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 15 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DANA HOLLENZEREXECUTIVE DI
Trustee or director, Officer
40$37,080
CHRIS BAKERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.46$0
KAREN COONEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.38$0
TOM FEURIGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.23$0
JAN FIFERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
25$0
ERIN HOUCK-TOLLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.23$0
ERICA JOHNSONV PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
0.76$0
FREDA JONESPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
0.96$0
PLESHETTE MIMS-ROBERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
BRENDA MORROWTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
4.4$0
SARAH POINDEXTERSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.76$0
PATRICIA RICEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.76$0
ADELE SMITHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2.1$0
CHRISTOPHER SPIRODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.76$0
KENDRA SUTTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.25$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 12 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
SARAH POINDEXTER LACYSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
CHRIS BAKERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
KAREN COONEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
TOM FEURIGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ERIN HOUCK-TOLLPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
ERICA JOHNSONV PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
FREDA JONESCO-TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
PLESHETTE MIMS-ROBERTSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BRENDA MORROWCO-TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
ADELE SMITHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
KENDRA SUTTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JAN FIFEREXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
5121 STALEY RD, FORT MYERS, FL 33905-6934
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
DANA HOLLENZER, PO BOX 61528, FORT MYERS, FL 33906
Signed the 990
DANA HOLLENZER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(239) 226-1221
Return prepared by
STROEMER & COMPANY

Mission

TO PROVIDE THERAPEAUTIC BENEFITS TO HANDICAPPED CITIZENS THROUGH A HORSEBACK RIDING PROGRAM.

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • THERAPEUTIC RIDING OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TEACHING HORSEBACK-RIDING SKILLS WHILE USING THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES TAILORED TO EACH RIDER'S NEEDS. THESE LESSONS ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR RIDERS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES. GROUP LESSONS ARE STRUCTURED WITH FOUR RIDERS PER CLASS, EACH TAUGHT BY A CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTOR. THESE SMALL-GROUP MOUNTED THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS TAKE PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN OUR LARGE, COVERED 100' X 200' ARENA FOR A 1-HOUR SESSION, WHICH INCLUDES TIME TO MOUNT AND DISMOUNT RIDERS. SOME RIDERS, IF THEY ARE INTERESTED, MAY GO BACK TO THE BARN TO HELP UNTACK AND GROOM THEIR HORSE. THERAPEUTIC RIDING DEVELOPS SMALL AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES, AND TEACHES ESSENTIAL EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES, AND BUILDS SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AMONG RIDERS, THEIR INSTRUCTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RIDERS. RIDERS OFTEN DO NOT REALIZE THEY ARE GAINING THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN EXPERIENCING THE MOTION OF A HORSE IS THERAPEUTIC BECAUSE HORSEBACK RIDING RHYTHMICALLY MOVES THE RIDER'S BODY LIKE THE HUMAN GAIT. RIDERS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES REGULARLY SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBILITY, BALANCE, AND MUSCLE STRENGTH. IN ADDITION TO ITS THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS, HORSEBACK RIDING OFFERS INDIVIDUALS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. HORSEBACK RIDING ACTIVITIES ALSO ENCOURAGE STRETCHING AND STRENGTHENING OF UNDERUSED OR UNDERDEVELOPED MUSCLES, IMPROVE POSTURE AND COORDINATION, HELP DEVELOP GROSS AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS, INCREASE THE RIDER'S AWARENESS OF THEIR BODY, AND IMPROVE RANGE OF MOTION. IN ADDITION, RIDERS WITH DISABILITIES INCREASE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AND INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO FOCUS AND STAY ON TASK. THERAPEUTIC GROOMING SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS, INC. OFFERS THERAPEUTIC GROOMING CLASSES. THESE CLASSES PROVIDE A RANGE OF BENEFITS, FROM STRESS REDUCTION TO FOSTERING TRUST FOR MORE POSITIVE CONNECTIONS, ENHANCING MENTAL WELL-BEING, BOOSTING SELF-ESTEEM, STRENGTHENING BONDS, AND IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THESE BENEFITS ARE NOT JUST FOR HUMANS BUT ALSO FOR OUR BELOVED HORSES. THE RHYTHMIC AND CALMING ACT OF BRUSHING BUILDS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, ENHANCES COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND IS PURELY ENJOYABLE. OUR TEAM HAS INTEGRATED THE NATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS INTO THE GROOMING CURRICULUM, ALLOWING FACILITATORS TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, DECISION-MAKING, GOAL-SETTING, ADVOCACY, NUTRITION, AND MORE AT SE, WE BELIEVE THE BARN IS A SACRED SPACE, AND HOLDING CLASSES AMONG THE PINE SHAVINGS, RUSTIC WOODEN WALLS, AND GROOMING STATIONS IS A BLESSING AND GIFT FOR OUR COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND PARTICIPANTS. OUR PATH INTL FACILITATES THIS PROGRAM. CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS AND LISA COY, A PATH INTL. CERTIFIED EQUINE SPECIALIST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING. WE CONDUCT THE GROOMING CLASSES AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE SCHEDULED THERAPEUTIC RIDING SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED US TO ADDRESS OUR VERY LONG WAITING LIST AND SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RIDE. THE BENEFITS ARE MANY, AND CAREGIVERS EXPRESS INCREASED CONFIDENCE, ENJOYMENT, AND EXCITEMENT AMONG PARTICIPANTS. THERAPY SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY UTILIZING HIPPOTHERAPY STRIDES OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES HAS PARTNERED WITH SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES USING HIPPOTHERAPY AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY. USING OUR VALUABLE EQUINES, CHILDREN AND ADULTS CAN RECEIVE THERAPY SERVICES LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THE MINIMUM AGE TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES IS 2 YEARS OLD. WHAT IS HIPPOTHERAPY THE TERM HIPPOTHERAPY REFERS TO HOW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS USE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND CLINICAL REASONING TO PURPOSEFULLY MANIPULATE EQUINE MOVEMENT TO ENGAGE SENSORY, NEUROMOTOR, AND COGNITIVE SYSTEMS AND ACHIEVE FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AFFORDANCES OF THE EQUINE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER TREATMENT STRATEGIES, HIPPOTHERAPY IS PART OF A PATIENT'S INTEGRATED PLAN OF CARE. (AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION DEFINITION). YOU WILL SEE MANY BENEFITS FROM ADDING HIPPOTHERAPY TO A PLAN OF CARE, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS IN SENSORIMOTOR INTEGRATION, MOTOR TIMING AND COORDINATION, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, BALANCE, MIDLINE ORIENTATION, BILATERAL INTEGRATION, SPEECH, MOBILITY, AND MANY MORE. HOW IT WORKS NEUROMOTOR: THE MOVEMENT OF A HORSE'S HIND LEGS AND PELVIS IS TRANSMITTED TO THE PERSON RIDING, WHICH CAUSES MOVEMENT IN THE PELVIS OF THAT PERSON. THE HORSE'S RHYTHMIC, SYMMETRICAL GAIT PROVIDES ABOUT 3000 "WALKING" STEPS TO THE CLIENT DURING A 30-MINUTE SESSION. SENSORY: THE HORSE, FARM SITE, BARN, AND ARENA ALL PROVIDE COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENSORY EXPOSURE ON EVERY LEVEL. COGNITIVE: THE CLIENT MAY NEED TO COMPLETE COMPLEX TASKS, SUCH AS FOLLOWING MULTIPLE-STEP DIRECTIONS OR RECALLING A SEQUENCE OF MOVEMENTS, OR SIMPLER TASKS, SUCH AS REMEMBERING THEIR HORSE'S NAME AND COLOR. SARAH POINDEXTER, MS, OTR/L, BEGAN THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS IN 2015 BY TAKING THE AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION'S LEVEL 1 AND 2 COURSES AND SUCCESSFULLY PASSING THE AHCB (AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY BOARD CERTIFICATION) BOARD EXAMINATION IN 2016. SHE ALSO BECAME A PATH, INTLREGISTERED THERAPIST IN 2016. AS AN AHCB-CERTIFIED THERAPIST, SHE BEGAN OFFERING HIPPOTHERAPY AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY IN JANUARY OF 2018 AT SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS, INC. IN FT MYERS, FLORIDA.
    Expenses $387,524 · revenue $40,009

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 15, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 16, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 17, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
65-0250071
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1991
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Health care (E86Z)
Assets (IRS master file)
$2,499,873
Income (IRS master file)
$618,733

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$510,282$477,684$2,499,873XML
990September 2024$502,422$470,666$2,443,641IRS
990September 2023$450,506$439,498$2,369,542XML
990September 2022$416,340$318,825$2,358,394IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990September 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS
990September 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 65-0250071).

Questions about SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC

What is the EIN of SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC is 65-0250071.
Is SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1991.
Are donations to SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who is the principal officer of SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names DANA HOLLENZER.
Who are the officers and directors of SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 13 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $67,291 (DANA HOLLENZER, EXECUTIVE DI).
How much revenue does SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $510,282, expenses of $477,684 and total assets of $2,499,873 at year end.

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