Sports & Recreation Health & Wellness Non-Profit
Suncoast Therapeutic Equine Partners (STEP) is a PATH International-certified, all-volunteer nonprofit providing equine-assisted services to children, adults, veterans, and first responders in Sarasota and Manatee County. Operating from a ten-acre facility in the Lakewood Ranch area, STEP offers Adaptive Riding, Equine-Assisted Learning, and a dedicated program for veterans and first responders — all delivered by certified instructors and powered entirely by volunteers. With no paid staff, every dollar donated goes directly to our horses, our facility, and the people we serve.
STEP is committed to expanding access to equine-assisted services through active partnerships with established community nonprofits. Current partners include Operation Warrior Resolution, the SPARTA Project, the Mark Wandall Foundation, Selah Freedom, and Special Olympics of Florida, through whom STEP serves veterans, first responders, individuals affected by trauma and grief, and riders with disabilities across the region. To learn more or get involved, visit StepSuncoast.org.
Through our equine-assisted services, participants ages four and up engage their bodies, minds, and hearts in meaningful ways. By building trusting relationships with our horses, individuals gain strength, coordination, confidence, and a sense of calm—all while growing in a peaceful, nurturing environment that inspires both learning and connection.
Nonprofit Signature Level Membership