BraveHearts

What BraveHearts does

BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2002 by Marge Tautkus Gunnar in Harvard, Illinois, and self-described as the largest equine-assisted services program for veterans in the United States. The organization operates two purpose-built facilities — a 20-acre site in Harvard and a 17-acre, 55,000-square-foot site in Poplar Grove acquired via the 2010 merger with The Bergmann Centre — housing a herd of 50+ therapy horses, heated indoor arenas, ADA-accessible buildings, and a conference center. In 2025, BraveHearts acquired Perks Ranch, further expanding its facility footprint. BraveHearts is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center and an American Hippotherapy Association facility member, holding EQUUS Foundation Guardian and Candid Platinum transparency designations.

The core service portfolio spans three modalities: Therapeutic Riding (recreational horsemanship instruction for children and adults with disabilities), Hippotherapy (Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy using equine movement as a treatment strategy, delivered by licensed therapists), and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (mental health therapy delivered by licensed clinical psychologists, social workers, and professional counselors). A flagship veteran program launched in July 2007 with Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs grant support delivers recreational riding lessons and mental health services to military veterans and one accompanying family member at no charge — 100% subsidized. Specialized offerings include the Trail to Zero veteran suicide awareness ride (conducted across 11+ U.S. cities and in France), Operation Mustang, the Memorial Ribbon Program, and an unpaid internship pipeline.

Revenue mechanics blend donations and grants (the dominant stream, including Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs support and Vehicles For Veterans in-kind vehicle donations), self-pay therapeutic riding fees of $45-$80 per lesson, and insurance-billable outpatient clinic services (hippotherapy and EAP). Disclosed subsidy costs total $2.17M annually ($1.79M veteran, $257K therapeutic riding, $119K outpatient). The organization delivered an average of 230+ weekly service hours (75 therapeutic riding lessons, 40 hippotherapy sessions, 115 veteran/veteran family lessons) supported by 517 volunteers contributing 31,966 hours annually.

Name

BraveHearts

Legal name

BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center

Website

https://braveheartsriding.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BraveHearts is a 501c3 nonprofit therapeutic riding center operating two Illinois facilities, delivering equine-assisted services — therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and psychotherapy — to military veterans at no charge and to children and adults with disabilities on a subsidized basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Riding and Equine-Assisted Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Therapeutic riding
• Equine-assisted services
• Hippotherapy
• Equine-assisted psychotherapy
• Veteran rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Harvard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501c3 nonprofit, BraveHearts relies heavily on donations from individuals, businesses, and grant funding. The organization receives support from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and other grantors. Total cost of hours subsidized for veterans alone was $1,791,539. EIN 32-0034746.
2. Therapeutic Riding Fees: Self-pay therapeutic riding services for children and adults. Costs range from $45-$80 per lesson based on type (group, semi-private, private) and length (30 or 60 minutes). All participants receive some level of subsidy.
3. Insurance Billing for Therapy Services: Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy services are billable through insurance as physical, occupational, speech therapy, or psychotherapy services. Self-pay options also available.
4. In-Kind Donations: Accepts donations of horses (sound horses only with clean bill of health), vehicles through Vehicles For Veterans partnership, and other in-kind contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BraveHearts is a 501c3 nonprofit therapeutic riding center that delivers equine-assisted services using horses as therapeutic partners. Its core offerings include therapeutic riding lessons (recreational horsemanship for children and adults), hippotherapy (physical, occupational, and speech therapy using equine movement as a treatment strategy), and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (mental health therapy with licensed clinicians). All military veterans and one immediate family member receive services at no charge, funded through donations and grants.

Product overview

BraveHearts is a 501c3 nonprofit therapeutic riding center offering a comprehensive portfolio of equine-assisted services. The organization operates as a single unified service model centered on healing horsemanship through horses. Core offerings include Therapeutic Riding (recreational riding instruction for children and adults with disabilities), Hippotherapy (Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy using equine movement as a treatment strategy), and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (mental health therapy provided by licensed social workers and psychologists). The organization provides dedicated Veteran & Veteran Family Services at no cost, including recreational riding lessons (up to 2 per week) and EAP sessions. Specialized programs include Trail to Zero (awareness rides for veteran suicide prevention), the Memorial Ribbon Program, Exercise Rider/H.E.A.R.T support program, and an unpaid Internship Program. Services are subsidized through donations and grants, with veterans receiving 100% subsidized care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Riding Equine-assisted recreational riding instruction for children and adults with various diagnoses including autism, anxiety disorders, and PTSD, delivered by PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructors to build horsemanship skills and promote recreation. Lessons are offered in group, semi-private, and private formats (30 or 60 minutes) priced $45-$80 per lesson, with 78% of costs subsidized.
• Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy (Hippotherapy) Physical, occupational, and speech therapy utilizing equine multidimensional movement as a treatment strategy, provided by licensed therapists (SLP, OT, PT). Horses deliver movement that increases trunk strength, control, balance, range of motion, and sensory integration. Insurance-billable; 38% of costs subsidized.
• Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) Mental health therapy incorporating unmounted and mounted activities with therapy horses, provided by licensed social workers, licensed clinical psychologists, and licensed professional counselors. The therapy horse provides feedback by responding to an individual's thoughts, actions, and energy to facilitate emotional healing. Insurance-billable as psychotherapy services.
• Veteran & Veteran Family Services Equine-assisted services for U.S. military veterans and their families, including recreational riding/groundwork lessons (up to 2 per week) and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, offered at no cost to veterans and one immediate family member/caregiver (100% subsidized). Includes Operation Mustang for veterans using mustang horses.
• Trail to Zero Awareness rides held in cities across the nation (NYC, Chicago, Bull Valley, Houston, Fort Wayne, Lexington, Deauville France, Normandy France, St. Louis, Washington DC, and Cora Wyoming) to raise awareness of veteran suicide prevention and educate the public about equine-assisted services. Supported by mounted police units including NYPD, US Park Police, Chicago Mounted Unit, Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Police, and HCSO-Mounted Patrol.

Quantifiable outcome

• Veterans experience reduced anxiety through Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vehicles For VeteransminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicles For Veterans is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) car donation organization benefiting BraveHearts with proceeds from vehicle donations across the U.S. This partnership provides an alternative way for donors to support BraveHearts through vehicle donations, which benefits donors with free towing and tax deductions.
• PATH Intl. Premier Accredited CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraveHearts maintains an internally developed database of PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Centers across the nation to aid in referring Veterans who are not local to their Illinois farms. BraveHearts is itself a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center.
• Local VA's and Veteran Service OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraveHearts partners with local VA's, Veteran Service Organizations, and local programs with Veteran serving missions to provide innovative equine-assisted services. These partnerships serve as the primary referral pathway for veteran clients.
• NYPD Mounted UnitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNYPD Mounted Unit supports BraveHearts' Trail to Zero rides in New York City, standing behind the mission to raise awareness of veteran suicide and the healing power of horses.
• US Park Police Mounted Horse UnitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS Park Police Mounted Horse Unit supports Trail to Zero rides, providing support for awareness events.
• Chicago Mounted UnitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago Mounted Unit partners with BraveHearts for Trail to Zero rides in Chicago, supporting veteran suicide awareness efforts.
• Kentucky Horse Park Mounted PoliceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKentucky Horse Park Mounted Police support Trail to Zero rides and the mission to end veteran suicide.
• HCSO-Mounted PatrolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHCSO-Mounted Patrol supports Trail to Zero rides in standing behind the mission to put an end to veteran suicide.
• Tempel FarmsminorOthersTempel Farms generously donated Neapolitano IV Almira (Huey), a half-brother to Max (the founding inspiration horse), to BraveHearts upon his retirement from the Tempel Farms quadrille at age 22. Max's daughters Karma and Phaedra were among BraveHearts' first therapeutic riding horses.
• American Hippotherapy AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraveHearts is an American Hippotherapy Association facility member center. This affiliation provides credibility and access to best practices in hippotherapy treatment strategies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Augusta, Michigan offering therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities. Closely comparable mission, programming mix, and accreditation profile to BraveHearts.
• Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center: Nonprofit PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center in Loveland, Colorado providing therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted activities for people with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Comparable multi-modality service model and nonprofit scale.
• Mane Stream: New Jersey-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted services including therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and adaptive riding with a similar credentialed clinical staff model. Directly comparable as a regional PATH Intl. center with insurance-billable services.
• High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited nonprofit in Old Lyme, Connecticut offering therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, and equine-assisted services to children, adults, and veterans. Highly comparable mission and clinical programming.
• Equest: Large Texas-based nonprofit PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center providing therapeutic horsemanship, hippotherapy, and mental health services. Comparable scale, multi-modality service mix, and equine-facility footprint.
• STRIDES: Oregon-based nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship center offering equine-assisted services to people with disabilities including veterans. Comparable nonprofit operating model and clinical service mix.
• Pegasus Therapeutic Riding: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited nonprofit therapeutic riding center offering equine-assisted activities and hippotherapy across multiple sites. Comparable accreditation, credentialed instructors, and clinical programming.

Others

• Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.): The certifying and accrediting body for equine-assisted services in the U.S. and the professional association BraveHearts belongs to. Not a direct competitor but the standards-setting and referral-network enabler for the entire sector.
• American Hippotherapy Association: Professional association for hippotherapy clinical practice. BraveHearts is a facility member and uses AHA treatment principles; AHA represents the clinical/educational backbone of BraveHearts' hippotherapy service line.
• EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association): International professional association setting standards for equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development. Functions as an alternative accreditation network to PATH Intl. and shapes the EAP competitive landscape.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BraveHeartsTR
• Facebookfacebook.com/BraveHeartsRiding
• Instagraminstagram.com/braveheartsriding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BraveHearts