Effective Date: March 22, 2026
Last Updated: March 22, 2026
Horses 4 Heros ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who visit our website at horses4heroesflorida.org (the "Site") or participate in our equine-assisted therapy programs. We understand that many of our participants are military veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders who have legitimate concerns about the confidentiality of their personal information, particularly as it relates to mental health services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you interact with our Site or programs, including:
- Contact form submissions: Your name, email address, phone number, and any message content you include when filling out our online contact form or requesting information about our programs.
- Phone inquiries: Information you provide when calling us at (352) 620-5311, including your name, contact details, branch of service or first responder agency, and the nature of your inquiry.
- Program intake information: If you enroll in one of our equine therapy programs, we may collect additional information necessary to provide safe and effective services, such as emergency contact details, relevant medical history, and service background.
- Volunteer and donor information: Names, contact details, and related information from individuals who volunteer with or donate to our organization.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our Site, certain information may be collected automatically through standard web technologies, including:
- Log data: Your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, date and time of your visit, and time spent on pages.
- Device information: The type of device you use to access our Site, screen resolution, and device identifiers.
- Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized information about how visitors interact with our Site, used to improve our content and user experience.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to your inquiries and contact form submissions
- To provide, coordinate, and improve our equine-assisted therapy programs
- To communicate with you about program scheduling, updates, and relevant information
- To ensure the safety of all participants, staff, volunteers, and animals during therapy sessions
- To maintain records necessary for the operation of our programs
- To improve our Site, content, and services based on usage patterns
- To comply with applicable legal obligations
- To protect the rights, safety, and property of Horses 4 Heros, our participants, and the public
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our Site may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us understand how visitors use our Site.
- Essential cookies: Required for the basic functionality of our Site, such as navigation and access to secure areas.
- Analytics cookies: Used to collect aggregated, anonymous data about Site traffic and user behavior, helping us improve our content and services.
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on our Site.
Third-Party Services
We may use third-party service providers to assist with the operation of our Site and programs. These services may include:
- Website hosting: Our Site is hosted by third-party providers that may process server log data.
- Analytics services: We may use services such as Google Analytics to understand Site traffic and usage patterns. These services may collect information about your use of our Site through cookies and similar technologies. You can learn more about how Google uses data at Google's Privacy Policy.
- Email and communication services: We may use third-party platforms to manage and respond to contact form submissions and email communications.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We share personal information with third-party providers only to the extent necessary for them to perform services on our behalf, and we require them to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.
Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include encrypted data transmission where applicable, restricted access to personal information, and secure storage of records.
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. We encourage you to take steps to protect your personal information as well, such as using strong passwords and keeping your devices secure.
HIPAA and Health Information Considerations
Horses 4 Heros is an equine therapy organization, and certain aspects of our programs may involve therapeutic services that generate health-related information. We take the following approach to protecting sensitive health information:
- Confidentiality of participation: Your participation in our programs is confidential. We do not disclose your involvement to employers, military commands, law enforcement agencies, or any other third parties without your explicit written consent, except as required by law.
- Therapy records: Any records generated during equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions conducted by licensed mental health professionals are maintained in accordance with applicable state and federal laws governing health information, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) where applicable.
- Limited disclosure: We will not release your health-related information to any party, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any law enforcement agency, unless you provide explicit written authorization or we are required to do so by law (such as mandatory reporting of imminent harm to self or others).
- Staff and volunteer training: All staff members and volunteers who may have access to participant information are trained on confidentiality obligations and the importance of protecting sensitive personal and health information.
We understand that concerns about confidentiality are a significant barrier to seeking help, particularly for active-duty military personnel and law enforcement officers. We have structured our privacy practices to minimize these barriers and create a safe environment for healing.
Children's Privacy
Our Site and programs are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our Site. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately using the information provided below.
Minors between the ages of 13 and 17 may participate in our equine therapy programs only with the consent and involvement of a parent or legal guardian. Any personal information collected in connection with a minor's participation in our programs is subject to the same protections described in this Privacy Policy.
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- The right to access the personal information we hold about you
- The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- The right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable legal requirements
- The right to opt out of receiving non-essential communications from us
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact section below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Contact form submissions and program records are retained in accordance with applicable recordkeeping requirements and our internal data retention policies.
Links to Other Websites
Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services that are not operated or controlled by Horses 4 Heros. This Privacy Policy applies only to our Site. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our Site after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us for Privacy Concerns
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
- Phone: (352) 620-5311
- Mailing Address: Horses 4 Heros, 16335 SW 19th St, Ocala, FL 34481
- Online: Contact Form
We take all privacy inquiries seriously and will respond to your concerns in a timely manner.