BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center, 7319 Maxon Rd, Harvard, IL 60033
About
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center offers groundwork, drill team, therapeutic riding lessons, and therapeutic horseback riding. The program also provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy using hippotherapy, which uses the movement of the horse as a treatment strategy by a licensed therapist, as well as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy implemented by a licensed social worker or psychologist. In addition, BraveHearts runs a large and comprehensive program for military veterans and Gold Star families and offers non-equine outpatient services in speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: All veterans and family members are served at no charge. Veteran & Veteran Family Services are 100% subsidized, with a total cost of hours subsidized of $1,791,539 in 2023. Therapeutic Riding is 73% subsidized, with $257,376 in hours subsidized, and additional support for 15 students with significant need through a scholarship fund covering $12,653 in therapeutic riding services. The Outpatient Clinic is 32% subsidized, with $119,488 in hours subsidized, and additional support for 6 clients with significant need through a hardship fund covering $9,190 in outpatient clinic services. Total program hours subsidized in 2023 equaled $2,168,403.
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 2002 and incorporated in the State of Illinois in October 2002, with the program beginning in the fall of 2003. Its paperwork for not-for-profit status was approved by the Internal Revenue Service in April 2004. In October 2005, BraveHearts assumed ownership of its property, and in October 2007 it became a Premier Accredited Center for the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). With grant support from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, BraveHearts introduced its equine services for heroes program for military veterans in July 2007, and on August 24, 2010, it completed a merger with The Bergmann Centre, a horse facility in Poplar Grove, Illinois. Programs now include therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, and a large and comprehensive program for military veterans and Gold Star families, and BraveHearts at Perks Ranch was acquired in 2025.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy at BraveHearts use hippotherapy as a treatment strategy provided by licensed therapists, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is implemented by a licensed social worker or psychologist. The organization describes itself as the largest healing horsemanship program in the nation and states that everyone has the opportunity to discover healing horsemanship at BraveHearts. Its mission states that BraveHearts exists to bring hope, joy, and unlimited possibilities through the healing power of the horse, and that through its programs it connects horses with people as a catalyst for wellness. Its vision states that BraveHearts envisions being the premier model for connecting horses with people as a catalyst for wellness, and that everyone will have the opportunity to discover healing horsemanship through the BraveHearts model.
BraveHearts serves military veterans, veterans’ families, children, and adults, and all veterans and family members are served at no charge. The program notes that it is located on 17 acres and includes a 55,000 square foot indoor facility that allowed expansion of an outpatient clinic offering hippotherapy and non-equine outpatient services in speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. The Board of Directors invited internationally renowned cardiologist Dr. Rolf M. Gunnar to join the Board after he visited the program in October 2004, and he ultimately became Chair of the Board. Founders are listed as Marge and Dr. Gunnar, and families are directed to contact President/CEO Meggan Hill-McQueeney for leadership inquiries.
A testimonial from US Army Veteran Mitchell Reno states that working with the Mustangs through Operation Mustang has been a rejuvenating experience for his mind, that he no longer needed a significant amount of pharmaceuticals, that he regained his sobriety, and that for the first time since the military he has thought about what the next 20 years of his life have in store for his family and himself, and he states that Operation Mustang has forever changed him and that he is forever grateful.
Last updated May 24, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: All veterans and family members are served at no charge. Veteran & Veteran Family Services are 100% subsidized, with a total cost of hours subsidized of $1,791,539 in 2023. Therapeutic Riding is 73% subsidized, with $257,376 in hours subsidized, and additional support for 15 students with significant need through a scholarship fund covering $12,653 in therapeutic riding services. The Outpatient Clinic is 32% subsidized, with $119,488 in hours subsidized, and additional support for 6 clients with significant need through a hardship fund covering $9,190 in outpatient clinic services. Total program hours subsidized in 2023 equaled $2,168,403.
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 2002 and incorporated in the State of Illinois in October 2002, with the program beginning in the fall of 2003. Its paperwork for not-for-profit status was approved by the Internal Revenue Service in April 2004. In October 2005, BraveHearts assumed ownership of its property, and in October 2007 it became a Premier Accredited Center for the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). With grant support from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, BraveHearts introduced its equine services for heroes program for military veterans in July 2007, and on August 24, 2010, it completed a merger with The Bergmann Centre, a horse facility in Poplar Grove, Illinois. Programs now include therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, and a large and comprehensive program for military veterans and Gold Star families, and BraveHearts at Perks Ranch was acquired in 2025.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy at BraveHearts use hippotherapy as a treatment strategy provided by licensed therapists, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is implemented by a licensed social worker or psychologist. The organization describes itself as the largest healing horsemanship program in the nation and states that everyone has the opportunity to discover healing horsemanship at BraveHearts. Its mission states that BraveHearts exists to bring hope, joy, and unlimited possibilities through the healing power of the horse, and that through its programs it connects horses with people as a catalyst for wellness. Its vision states that BraveHearts envisions being the premier model for connecting horses with people as a catalyst for wellness, and that everyone will have the opportunity to discover healing horsemanship through the BraveHearts model.
BraveHearts serves military veterans, veterans’ families, children, and adults, and all veterans and family members are served at no charge. The program notes that it is located on 17 acres and includes a 55,000 square foot indoor facility that allowed expansion of an outpatient clinic offering hippotherapy and non-equine outpatient services in speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. The Board of Directors invited internationally renowned cardiologist Dr. Rolf M. Gunnar to join the Board after he visited the program in October 2004, and he ultimately became Chair of the Board. Founders are listed as Marge and Dr. Gunnar, and families are directed to contact President/CEO Meggan Hill-McQueeney for leadership inquiries.
A testimonial from US Army Veteran Mitchell Reno states that working with the Mustangs through Operation Mustang has been a rejuvenating experience for his mind, that he no longer needed a significant amount of pharmaceuticals, that he regained his sobriety, and that for the first time since the military he has thought about what the next 20 years of his life have in store for his family and himself, and he states that Operation Mustang has forever changed him and that he is forever grateful.
Last updated May 24, 2026.
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