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SPECIAL METHODS IN LEARNING EQUINE SKILLS INC

EIN 39-1508173 DARIEN, WI

Revenue 2024
$940,477
Expenses 2024
$622,186

Program services were 71.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
N69Z
Classification
1000
Street
N2666 COUNTY ROAD K

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

SPECIAL METHODS IN LEARNING EQUINE SKILLS, INC. (SMILES) TRANSCENDS TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC METHODS BY OFFERING INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, OF ALL AGES, THE JOY OF PARTICIPATING IN AN EQUINE ASSISTED PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND PERSONAL REWARDS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING FACILITIES AND INSTRUCTION FOR THE RECREATION AND REHABILITATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; THE CREATION, OPERATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH FACILITIES; TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS IN THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF SUCH FACILITIES; AND FOR ANY OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSE; TO INFORM THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THERAPEUTIC RIDING.

  • EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY - PROVIDES EDUCATION AND THERAPY FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.THERAPEUTIC RIDING TEACHES HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS WHILE USING THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES THAT OFFER CHALLENGING RECREATION GEARED TOWARDS THE INDIVIDUAL'S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS IN MIND. IN OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS LEARN TRUE HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS AS WELL AS FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE'S ENDEAVORS. THE PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS DEVELOP CHALLENGING LESSON PLANS THAT INCORPORATE SPECIFIC RIDING SKILLS TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, AND AT THE SAME TIME FOSTER SUCCESS. SMILES RUNS IN FOUR 9 WEEK SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHERE CLIENTS TYPICALLY COME ONCE A WEEK FOR A 45 MINUTE RIDING LESSON BASED IN A SMALL GROUP SETTING.HEARTS (HORSE EXPERIENCES & ACTIVITIES RESULTING IN THERAPEUTIC SUCCESS) IS AN UNMOUNTED PROGRAM DESIGNED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO ACCOMMODATE EACH STUDENT'S SPECIFIC NEEDS AND GOALS. CLIENTS LEARN HOW TO SAFELY WORK WITH THE HORSES IN A ONE-ON-ONE SETTING WHERE THEY WILL COVER TOPICS SUCH AS HORSE CARE, GROOMING, LEADING, SADDLING, AND SO MUCH MORE! THIS PROGRAM IS TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR ABILITIES TO ENSURE SUCCESS.CLIENTS TYPICALLY COME ONCE A WEEK FOR A 30 MINUTE LESSON FOR THE DURATION OF A 9 WEEK SESSION, WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH A PATH INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR. THIS IS A GREAT OPTION FOR CLIENTS THAT WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR HORSE OUTSIDE OF RIDING, OR FOR CLIENTS THAT ARE UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY RIDE BUT STILL WANT TO RECEIVE THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH THE HORSES.RECREATIONAL RIDES SMILES OFFERS UNIQUE FIELD TRIP-TYPE EXPERIENCES FOR SCHOOLS AND GROUP HOMES CALLED RECREATIONAL RIDES. THE PLANNING OF THE DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TAILORED PER YOUR REQUESTS. WE CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 18 CLIENTS PER VISIT, DIVIDING THEM INTO THREE STATIONS. WHILE ONE GROUP IS LEARNING TO RIDE THE HORSES FOR ONE HALF HOUR, THE REMAINING TWO GROUPS ARE PARTICIPATING IN A SPECIALIZED STATION CONSISTING OF FARM AND HORSE RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GROOMING, LEADING, HORSE NUTRITION, OR BAKING HORSE COOKIES, ETC. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON SINCE OUR 35 ACRE FACILITY PROVIDES MANY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES. AT THE END OF EACH HALF HOUR, THE GROUPS ROTATE ACTIVITY STATIONS SO THAT ALL THE STUDENTS ENJOY THE SAME REWARDING EXPERIENCE. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES ADDRESS SENSORY LEVELS, PHYSICAL EXERCISE, ENDURANCE, NURTURING, AND JUST PLAIN FUN! OUR CLIMATE CONTROLLED ARENA ALLOWS US TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM IN ANY WEATHER.

    Expenses $442,117 · Revenue $249,632

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • MARK HANSON

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JUDY ATKINSON

    VICE-PRESIDENT (THRU MID-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • HAMZA JAKA

    VICE-PRESIDENT (FROM MID-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • REBECCA DYCKMAN

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CASSIE KRIEFALL

    SECRETARY (THRU MID-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DR LIANA WIEGEL DVM

    DIRECTOR (THRU MAY)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • THOMAS KOCH

    DIRECTOR (THRU FEB)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KEN MONESTERO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BONNIE HOOVER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DENNIS MARKLEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MONICA USELDING

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DR ASHLEY SLATER DVM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CINDI SEICHTER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TROY MOLDENHAUER

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $65,759
    From this org
    $64,747
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,012
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $940,477
    Expenses
    $622,186
    Contributions
    $681,731
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $713,415
    Expenses
    $567,851
    Contributions
    $472,789
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $563,840
    Expenses
    $594,682
    Contributions
    $417,472
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $483,328
    Expenses
    $461,102
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,040,733

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $369,113
    Expenses
    $437,539
    Assets (EOY)
    $992,102

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $513,104
    Expenses
    $506,274
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,043,459

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $508,190
    Expenses
    $500,202
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,012,747

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $459,435
    Expenses
    $434,524
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,010,414

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $392,041
    Expenses
    $390,341
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,034,619

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $322,523
    Expenses
    $349,019
    Assets (EOY)
    $971,241

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $370,094
    Expenses
    $312,037
    Assets (EOY)
    $959,060

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $374,030
    Expenses
    $321,953
    Assets (EOY)
    $888,863

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $370,016
    Assets (EOY)
    $811,579

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.