Healing Through Horses
Willow Creek Ranch, Inc. (WCR) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, equine assisted services organization based in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Since 2007, WCR has provided horsemanship, therapy, and learning programs for children and adults with special needs or mental health concerns. WCR is a center member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Intl. (PATH), and employs certified staff trained in Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association model (Eagala), PATH Intl., Natural Lifemanship, ARCH, and other equivalent training.
Through purposeful interaction with horses, our licensed professionals and certified equine specialists and therapeutic riding instructors support mental health, personal growth, and skill development, helping individuals of all abilities build confidence, communication, relationships, and overall well-being.
WCR is situated on 26 acres in a peaceful, country setting, featuring trees, ponds, and a variety of farm animals.
How you can help
Our program thrives because of our incredible staff, horses, volunteers, and supporters. Your generosity helps change lives by supporting our horses, providing scholarships, and strengthening our programs. Consider donating your time, talents, or financial support today!
Click the button below to donate securely online.
GREAT STORIES from Willow Creek Ranch
Community State Bank featured WCR in a story on their website, along with a terrific video. Watch the video below or read the full story here. Watch the video below or read the full story here.
#Gift2Giving – Willow Creek Ranch from Community State Bank on Vimeo.
Willow Creek Ranch is IN THE NEWS!
TMJ-4 in Milwaukee tells about one woman’s experience with Willow Creek Ranch.
Our Success
During therapeutic riding, a horse’s body moves in a way very similar to a human walking. The horse moves up and down, side to side, and back and forth in synchronized, repetitive patterns, closely mirroring the human gait. This movement helps improve the rider’s balance, body symmetry, muscle tone, and head and neck control.
The progress we see in our riders is inspiring. For example, two nonverbal children on the autism spectrum spoke their first words after several months of therapeutic riding, learning to ask the horse to “walk” and to praise the horse by saying, “good boy, Slapshot.”
But you don’t need to ride a horse to experience the healing benefits. Our horses offer empathy and compassion to individuals facing mental health challenges. As one participant shared, “I got my life back” after working with the horses and a mental health professional to help regulate her PTSD following a long battle with breast cancer.
WPATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International), founded in 1969, promotes equine-assisted services for individuals with special needs. Its hundreds of member centers and thousands of credentialed professionals serve tens of thousands of children, adults, and veterans each year. PATH Intl. accredits centers, certifies professionals, and provides resources for programs including therapeutic riding, mental health therapies, PT/OT/SLP services, vaulting, trail riding, and more, supported by countless volunteers and horses worldwide.
Willow Creek Ranch has been a proud PATH Intl. center member since opening in September 2007.