Exploring Life & Business with Marita Wassman of Ride On St. Louis

The original article was published on VoyageSTL on January 21, 2026.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marita Wassman.

Hi Marita, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Ride On St. Louis was founded by my husband Rick and I in 1998, and was the first equine-assisted services program to serve the South County area of St. Louis. Following the example of our namesake King Saint Louis IX who was renowned for his charity, Ride On St. Louis exists to promote health and enrich lives through love, joy and holistic healing. The first programs began on our three-acre residence and produced successful and meaningful benefits for children and adults with disabilities. As word spread, demand increased, and the center soon outgrew our humble home barn. Ride On St. Louis was invited to move onto estate grounds in Kimmswick, and over the next decades spent at this location, grew into one of the Midwest’s leading centers. The center exited this location due to recurrent flooding. After several years of operating from temporary sites, the organization was able to acquire a new permanent facility and since 2025 operates out of our new “Forever Home” in Hillsboro.

Following the example of our namesake King Saint Louis IX who was renowned for his charity, Ride On St. Louis exists to promote health and enrich lives through love, joy and holistic healing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

After surviving multiple catastrophic floods at our previous location, we developed big plans to ensure that Ride On St. Louis continues as a resource that our loved ones can count on for exceptional health programs, and now have proudly seen those plans to fruition. Being in a space tailored for equine-assisted services is invaluable. The peaceful surroundings with room for horses to thrive and programs to unfold safely, is essential for strong outcomes. Here, we are able to do what we love and what the community needs, with greater impact.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ride On St. Louis?

Ride On St. Louis promotes health and enrich lives through love, joy and holistic healing.

We are a comprehensive therapeutic, conditioning and learning non-profit organization serving veterans, and children and adults with health complications, as well as, the retired equine-assisted service horses who partner in our programs. Ride On St. Louis’s equine-assisted services incorporate equine environment and horse-human interaction to provide substantial and sustaining quality of life improvements. Equine-assisted services (EAS) encompasses a diverse range of services in which professionals incorporate equines to benefit people. Our professionals have met established criteria and standards of practice in the field and have demonstrated knowledge of disabilities, equines, teaching and human-animal interactions. We offer several distinct programs based on individualized participants goals, needs and capabilities.

Ride On St. Louis has served clients as young as 2 years of age to people on their 90s. We have the utmost privilege in providing assistance, healing and growth through all stages of life. We look after the underserved, those who face many struggles in their lives, and those who are often burdened by financial hardships. Many clients have mild to medically complex diagnoses (e.g. global neurological delays, traumatic brain injury, autism, depression, terminal illnesses, and more rare chromosomal deletions etc.) and co-occurring disabilities. Whether it’s a child building the strength to hold his/her head up at the dinner table, a teen gaining confidence to make friends at school or a veteran triumphing over feelings of isolation, responding to our clients’ unmet needs remains our foremost concern.

Because each person comes to us with their own challenges, abilities, desires, goals and experiences, that makes their activities with us truly exceptional and personalized. We strive to help all people make meaningful improvements. We have witnessed countless transformations that have truly improved lives in some of the most profound ways—gaining strength to make transfers in or out of wheelchairs, cars, beds, bathtub etc., gaining strength to take first steps, building core and vocal muscles to speak first words, stimulating brain function to support academic tasks, and many other achievements that are important to our participants and their families.

Ride On St. Louis also has a program dedicated to our retired equines. Through our partnership with the horse, and witness of their service and life-changing benefits, we realize how precious the human-horse relationship is. We realize our responsibility and privilege to provide our equines with love, respect and care through all life and career stages. Our Always Home equine retirement program to transition retirees seamlessly by allowing them to remain on location and in our care for the remainder of their life.

Ride On St. Louis pursues superior standards for quality and outperforms in areas of candidness, integrity and care. Ride On St. Louis is an internationally recognized, the only BBB accredited A+ center in Missouri that achieves the 20 Standards of Charitable Accountability, and has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar by Candid; we strive for quality and transparency in all aspects. Our staff include experts who have met rigorous criteria and standards of practice in the field, demonstrating a deep understanding of disabilities, equines, teaching methodologies and human-animal interactions. Staff professionals hold credentialing and or certifications, making them one of four in the state, and one of three in the state, respectively. Ride On St. Louis supports and protects our equines with a highly informed perspective and always considers their welfare. Ride On St. Louis is an internationally accredited center distinguished by highly trained credentialed professionals and specially selected and care-for services horses.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Newly in our Forever Home, we have been making necessary improvements that are vital components of an equine-assisted services center. Considerations balance the care of horses, the safety of clients, and the delivery of services. After having accomplished major construction of the stables and installing over 1.5 miles of fencing for horse pastures and program areas, the second phase of critical infrastructure projects include:

◆ Arena construction | grading, footing, fencing, and a cover for year-round activity

◆ Accessible parking | finish rock lot with pavement and add circle drive

◆ Plumbed restrooms | replace temporary solutions with permanent facilities

◆ Operations storehouse | to protect and service equipment needed to maintain expanded acreage

◆ Tractor attachments and equipment | essential for property upkeep and efficiency

◆ Accessibility infrastructure | ramps, decks, and walkways to broaden services and enhance safety

Completing them will ensure we can operate more efficiently, expand services, and most importantly, enhance client experiences and outcomes. Project completion directly supports our sustainability plan, helping us save resources, streamline operations, and keep participant costs low to non-existent. Since 2019, our programs have been delivered at no-cost to participants. We are exploring ways to sustain this low-cost model and ensure ongoing access for individuals and families who need it most. 153 individuals reside on our interest list seeking services, an indication of the pressing community need and trust placed in our organization. While construction continues, our site remains active with programming and care. Each new improvement makes it safer, more welcoming, and more impactful for the medically underserved populations we serve.

Throughout our relocation efforts, Ride On St. Louis has remained dedicated to serving the community. This past year, we have quickly transitioned our Barn Buddies, Always Home equine retirement program, and educational outreach sessions. We launched Helping Hands, an inclusive volunteer wellness program, and reinstated Equine Services for Heroes, which now includes the expansion— R.I.S.E.—serving veterans, correctional officers, and first responders. Detailed descriptions of our current offerings may be found at rideonstl.org/services

To support us, we humbly request your added prayers, first and foremost, that Ride On St. Louis be filled with thanksgiving and praise for countless blessings, and those we serve be comforted in their struggles and find love, strength and joy through Christ.

Our programs are sustained through the kindness and generosity of people in the communities we serve. Sharing this article and talking to friends is a simple way to help spread our mission. And if your values, hopes and heart resonate with our mission to serve, we ask you to consider sharing a financial gift. Simply put, horses are expensive, and there are many who need happiness, hope, and healing. All donations have an incredible impact at Ride On St. Louis and directly support our ability to help children and adults live a better life. We don’t take these gifts for granted, so thank you in advance for choosing Ride On St. Louis.

Additionally, for a limited time, Ride On St. Lous has been awarded 70% tax credits through the MO Dept. of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program. If you want to increase the impact of your eligible donation and save substantially on your tax liability, you can apply at rideonstl.org/nap while credits remain.