Foundation Scholarships Expand Therapy Access in New York
The Open Stable Foundation is lowering costs for families by providing subsidized therapy sessions at Riverdale Stables.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Stable Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning at Riverdale Stables in New York City is expanding access to therapy through a dedicated foundation. As of September 2026, the program uses a non-profit model to subsidize the costs of hippotherapy and psychological services for local participants.
Why it matters
The model addresses a critical barrier to entry for specialized health services by using fundraising to lower out-of-pocket costs for families. This approach allows therapy providers to scale session volume while maintaining affordability for their client base.
The Open Stable Foundation raised nearly $7,000 in its initial fundraiser, which funded six scholarships totaling $3,000 during the month of September. This activity supported 36 participants across 65 total therapy sessions.
The players
Stable Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning
A therapy provider operating out of Riverdale Stables that specializes in hippotherapy and equine-assisted mental health services.
The Open Stable Foundation
A non-profit organization established to provide financial assistance for families managing the cost of equine-assisted therapy.
Raz Ginsburg
A 6-year-old participant who began attending therapy sessions at the facility in August 2026.
The details
The program operates at 6100 Mosholu Ave., offering services including hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning, and psychotherapy. Mounted sessions utilize rhythmic movement to engage core and postural muscles, with the practice favoring bareback pads over traditional saddles to enhance physical contact. Ground-based activities focus on emotional and physical awareness through grooming and nonverbal cues, supplemented by a dedicated classroom space opened in spring 2026.
Timeline
Fall 2025: The Open Stable Foundation held its first fundraiser.
Spring 2026: The program's dedicated classroom opened.
August 2026: Participant Raz Ginsburg began attending therapy sessions.
September 2026: The foundation supported 36 participants through 65 sessions.
Market Landscape
The program extends the spirit of accessibility established by the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing targeted financial scholarships to remove socioeconomic barriers to specialized physical and mental health treatments. This philanthropic model serves as a growing trend for niche healthcare providers seeking to sustain service volume in high-cost urban markets.
Operators of specialized therapy services should monitor how the scholarship-subsidized model impacts session frequency and participant retention. Small business owners in the health space may consider similar non-profit partnerships as a strategy to mitigate price sensitivity among clients.
The takeaway
The Open Stable Foundation highlights the viability of linking charitable scholarship programs directly to private therapy practices to improve service accessibility. Operators should track the conversion rate of scholarship applicants to long-term participants to measure the return on fundraising efforts.
Further reading
For broader trends in local non-profit funding models, explore Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Riverdale Press.
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