SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN & ADULTS

BraveHearts offers equine-assisted services and therapies for children and adults with various diagnoses. Currently, BraveHearts offers both recreational and medical services.

The most common recreational service provided at BraveHearts is therapeutic riding. Therapeutic riding occurs in quarterly session blocks, allowing participants to build on skills learned each week. Participants from therapeutic riding may opt to participate in BraveHearts Annual Horse Show, Special Olympics Equestrian Games, and specialty events for students and their families. 

BraveHearts is also able to provide speech, occupational and speech therapy services, without integrating hippotherapy in their fully-equipped clinic. These medical services are provided only at the facility in Poplar Grove, are facilitated by a licensed therapist and must be prescribed by a physician.

Physical, Occupational,
& Speech Therapy

Hippotherapy as a treatment strategy utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention plan. Horses provide multidimensional movement, making them an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength, control and balance. Benefits include increased range of motion, strength, balance, postural control, endurance, fine motor control, sensory integration and improved communication. BraveHearts also has a fully-equipped clinic for individuals interested in clinic only services. Physical, occupational and speech therapy may be billed through insurance. Individuals must be 3 years or older to be on horseback while individuals under 3 years of age can be seen in the clinic.

Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy (EAP)

EAP incorporates unmounted and mounted activities using therapy horses to help participants of all ages. Participants explore what therapy horses can help teach them about their own life to help process thoughts, beliefs and behaviors to facilitate emotional healing. This approach can be beneficial for individuals with various diagnoses including, but not limited to: anxiety disorders, autism, childhood neglect/abuse, conduct disorder, depression, grief and loss, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. This service is provided by a licensed social worker and/or psychologist Insurance may be billed as psychotherapy services.

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic riding partners our horses and PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructors to provide opportunities to grow students in their horsemanship skills, while promoting recreation and leisure.  Participants must be 4 years old to participate. As a recreational service this is not covered under insurance.

Our 2023 Impact

Outpatient Clinic Participants

Outpatient Clinic Hours

Therapeutic Riding Participants

Therapeutic Riding Hours

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