On a back road in Illinois, just south of the Wisconsin border and hidden among fields of corn and soy, sits a horse farm.
At first glance, the barns, arenas, pastures and buildings resemble those of any other horse facility. Look closer, though, and you’ll notice wheelchair ramps, accessibility features and lifts, as well as horses with unmistakable neck brands.
The farm is more than an average horse facility—it’s BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, PATH-accredited center specializing in assisting military veterans and their families.
The program offers everything from physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology to therapeutic riding and independent horsemanship.
It’s also home to a unique herd of rescued mustangs.
Rising to a Wild Challenge
In 2013, BraveHearts launched Operation Mustang®. The program pairs adopted mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management with military veterans.
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Horse and Rider.
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This story is from the December 2017 edition of Horse and Rider.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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