Overview
Riders United is looking for immediate funding to sustain and expand its current non-profit equestrian program, and to leverage the program with additional offerings through a for-profit business.
While equestrian activities have traditionally been perceived as exclusive, we challenge this assumption by advocating for equitable access to horse-related, life-changing experiences and engaging equine education.
Introduction
Riders United is an equestrian community youth program dedicated to providing equitable access to equestrian activities for youth from diverse backgrounds. Our program operates under the belief that engagement with horses fosters physical, mental, and emotional well-being, contributing to a healthier lifestyle for participants. We aim to break down barriers to entry, ensuring that all youth, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location, have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of equestrianism.
We use transformative approaches for both horse and rider to support each other’s physical and mental health, as well as personal development. Our program utilizes equine therapy to help our riders visualize their dreams, realize their ambitions, and achieve their goals. We recognize that by celebrating the internal strength and beauty of both horse and rider, we create a winning team and a road map for success in life.
Our program is active at our barn situated in Hidden Valley in Southern California at the beautiful Shelburne Farms which is part of Rider’s United long-term goal to eliminate a financial barrier to entry for young equestrians; providing world class training, horses, tack, and environments for training personal development and fellowship.
Your Team
Our program is founded and run by Victoria Faeber. Victoria has been a trainer, coach and mentor for 30+ years working with an array of riders and also directly with marginalized, underserved youth through several grassroots programs, including the Compton Cowboys Jr Equestrians organization. Through her work with youth, Ms. Faerber has made an impact on countless young riders and athletes from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds who have gone on to pursue their dreams - whether that be going to college, pursuing a trade, excelling as a professional rider or finding peace in their endeavors.
She has broad ambitions for Riders United. Victoria envisions including art, education, and performance to broaden Riders United's benefits and reach to its participants. Additionally, having grown up in the Thoroughbred racing industry, Victoria would love to rescue retired racehorses as a core part of the program concept.
Victoria is driven by an unwavering commitment to the wellness and fortitude of horses and riders. She dreams of creating an innovative equine program that transcends to other areas of life.
Problem
There is growing body of scientific and research-based data shedding light on equine environment and the many the impacts on overall mental and physical health benefits for youth. A recent study showed that 42% of US high school students say they regularly feed sad or hopeless, 29% say their mental health is poor. Research has also found a general sentiment of apathy among youth feeling there is no way out of their current living and environmental circumstances and/or lead a life of quiet desperation; no chance or opportunity to overcome their hopeless situation. Furthermore, youth from underrepresented communities lack access to resources and tools to help with health challenges, which in turn has an impact on their confidence, social interactions, and well-being.
As society grapples with rising rates of mental health challenges among youth, our project offers a forward-thinking solution that leverages the unique bond between humans and horses to promote resilience, empathy, and self-awareness.
Solution
Create an environment where participants can feel motivated, stimulated and empowered to make their own paths and overcome obstacles.
Our project is designed to anticipate, adapt to, and influence the future of youth development and health outcomes on many levels. By providing youth with opportunities for physical activity, social connection, and emotional support in a beautiful equine setting through interactions with horses, trainers, coaches and mentors we anticipate a positive impact on their long-term health and well-being.
Business Model
Our business model will be two-fold: 1) a non-profit arm and 2) a for-profit business that will produce educational digital content for worldwide viewers to engage and raise interest in our program. Our established and currently operating equestrian program will be leveraged to create authentic, insightful, fun and documentary-style content.
The production arm will develop content on an array of topics such as: horsemanship education, rider training, public speaking, business development, horse show prep and participation. Youth will be ambassadors of the program to inspire other youth around the world to promote a better life and showcase real-life stories of resilience and success.
Content will be featured on a YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok and potentially other digital social media platforms.
That said, although content will be grounded in an equine environment, it will transcend into other areas creating avenues for viewers to take learnings from the program into their own life in or outside the equestrian space!
Revenue Streams for Profit Business:
· Branding with products
· Subscriptions to paid content
· Sponsorships & Brand Partnerships (ie. Ariat, Kerrits, LeMieux, Devoucoux, Volaire, Butet, )
· Paid Training Retreats & Clinics
· Public Appearances
Market Competition
Currently there is no program in the state or on a national scale that combines an equestrian program with a content-producing for-profit business. Our program will leverage the goodwill and track record of our current offerings to bridge it with a revenue producing business in a highly coveted athletic space.
Your Vision
Create an innovative program that becomes a unique model where one arm feeds into the other for good storytelling of diverse stories for the world to see and brands want to be part of. Ultimately to help all kinds on of youth/individuals thrive in ways they did not think possible, and that their stories motivate others to believe in what can achieve.
Traction
Given that our program is already established and currently running, the funding will immediately support its expansion and development. We anticipate it will take 3-4 months to stabilize the current operations and another 3-6 months to establish all operations for the content producing for-profit arm of the business model.
Note, our program is actively operating in a state-of-art competitive equestrian barn, and has active participants training at a high-level with top training instruction, as well as competing in U.S. equestrian-sponsored events. We have highly evolved horse athletes, many who have been international competitors.
Funding Ask
We are asking for a total of $1,152,000 to solidify the current program activities and make the investment towards all resources and structure for establishing and developing the for-profit business model (content creation arm).
First immediate angel investment ask: $52,000
Second round angel investment: $150,000
Third round angel investment: $950,000
Projections
The initial angel investment will support current operations and the follow rounds will make investments to establish the for-profit business. More information can be shared upon interest.
We encourage you to reach out to Victoria, our founder and program trainer to have a dialogue about her vision and potential for this innovative business model.
Thank you for reading our business concept and for your willingness to invest in it! We guarantee this concept will impact lives for good across the world.