ORLANDO, Fla. – Hundreds of Florida children with disabilities are losing access to equine therapy services that help them cope and thrive.
Providers across the state say the sudden disruption came after they received an unexpected email earlier this month indicating they would no longer be reimbursed for services without additional Medicaid documentation.
One of those impacted providers is Freedom Ride, a Central Florida nonprofit founded in 1998, which, according to their website, “provides therapeutic horseback riding and related activities for over 80 children and adults with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, autism, developmental delay, attention deficit disorder, deafness and many emotional and learning disabilities.”
They also offer a Mental Wellness program known as Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL).
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“You come to Freedom Ride and this property. It’s just pure peace,” said Karen Boebinger, a certified therapeutic riding instructor. To explain the program’s impact, Boebinger tells the story of a young, nonverbal girl named Talia whose parents brought started her on the program several years ago.
“She was with us for about a year, and one day she was grooming the horse and petting the horse and she actually said the word ‘horse.’ Her parents absolutely lost it,” Boebinger said. “And now she works at Publix, and she is a chatterbox. That came through the power of the horse.”
But now, that power to heal is in jeopardy.
“About 50% of our clients utilize Medical Transport Management (MTM) for their payments,” Boebinger said. “We have officially received notice that they are no longer reimbursing Freedom Ride. This is a big deal for all expressive therapies throughout the state.”
Gravity the horse at Freedom Ride. (Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)
MTM manages the Expressive Therapy network for Sunshine Health, a Florida-based health plan that provides government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Long Term Care, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
On Oct. 13, equine therapy providers received an email from MTM stating, “We will be unable to reimburse for services unless we have a valid Medicaid ID and certification for the therapy you provide on file for your businesses.”
Boebinger said the email came as a surprise because they have been working with MTM for 12 years.
A notice from Sunshine Health on October 14 reminded providers that the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) requires an active Medicaid ID number on file to continue receiving reimbursement.
Freedom Ride applied for a Medicaid ID on October 20, but Boebinger said their application is still “in process”.
On October 24, Sunshine Health announced it will end its relationship with Medical Transport Management effective December 31, 2025. In the meantime, the company will hold a provider town hall in November and December to help explain the updated Medicaid requirements.
“This could go on for six, eight months,” Boebinger said.
When asked what can be done to help, Boebinger offered a direct plea to viewers.
“We’re asking for people to help, maybe step up with a sponsorship for a rider, for a partial sponsorship with the rider,” she said. “$5, $10—we have many, many different options for you. To keep us at least through the next session, then we will have some breathing room.”
Freedom Ride said it is currently owed $11,000 for services already provided. They are not alone. Nearly 300 equine therapy programs across Florida also use MTM and have gone unpaid since August 30. Each provider is owed thousands of dollars.
Here’s the breakdown in Central Florida:
Walk On Water Ministries in Merritt Island has 24 clients affected and is owed $14,000
Freedom Ride in Orlando has 25 clients affected and is owed $11,000
Whispering Meadows Ranch in Flagler has 29 clients affected and is owed $10,500
Stable Foundations in Orlando has 19 clients affected and is owed $9,120
3 Strands Ranch in St. Cloud has 12 clients affected and is owed $2,500
One of the most affected providers in Florida is Kiddy UpRanch in Hudson, which has 60 affected clients and is owed $25,000.00. Executive Director Tammy Sliger tells News 6, “We have been affected immensely!”
Patricia Bryan, Executive Director of Walk on Water in Merritt Island tells News 6, “This is a real tragedy for our program. 75% of our clients were paid by MTM. Nowhere in our contract with them said we needed a Medicaid ID number and we have been getting paid for at least 10 years for our children with unique abilities. As a result, we have had to cut staff and salaries, cancel sessions for those who could not self-pay and ask for donations to keep our facility running.”
Lorisa Lewis of Stable Foundations in Orlando says, “the impact has been significant for the children we see as well as their families.”
Patty Anderton from Winning Effects in New Port Richey says, “I have emailed MTM asking if I will be reimbursed for services already given and have not received a response from them. I have filed a complaint with Sunshine Health who have contacted me. They cannot assure me that I will get paid for services already given.”
Narissa Jenkins from Healing Hoof Steps in the panhandle told News 6 that this whole situation has “ripped continuity of care from the most sensitive population in Florida.”
During our visit to Freedom Ride, News 6 encountered a veteran named Steven David, who offered insight as to the importance of the work being done by equine therapy providers across the state.
David said he started Freedom Ride’s equine assisted therapeutic program to help him heal from multiple injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident back in 2014.
David said he was on his way to a free motorcycle wash for Veterans Day, but he never made it.
“Some 20-year-old decided to make an illegal U-turn. He didn’t see me coming.. he hit me. I suffered traumatic brain injuries. Frontal lobe. Brain stem. Left shoulder broken. Four broken ribs, spleen shattered,” he said. “The traumatic brain injury was the worst of it. And Gravity’s helped me kind of be more at peace, in a way.”
Gravity is David’s therapy horse. The veteran says the connection has helped him heal—mentally and physically.
“After spending time with him, I felt better and it was a good environment,” David said. “We’ve been working well together. Ain’t that right?” he asked Gravity.
David chuckled as the horse seemed to nod in agreement.
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Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.