Victory Reins Therapeutic Riding Center
Peotone, Illinois
Victory Reins Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit in Peotone, Illinois, that opened in 2007 and offers therapeutic riding. Its website says it provides therapeutic equine recreational activities for children and adults with special needs and for at-risk youth.
- Therapeutic riding
- Equine recreational activities
- Time with other farm animals
- Group day visits
- Volunteer opportunities
- Children with special needs
- Adults with special needs
- At-risk youth
- Riders with physical, mental or spiritual disabilities
More about this center
About the Program
According to its website, the facility opened in 2007 as a place where students can ride horses and spend time with other animals. The goal is to help students with disabilities bond with the animals emotionally and physically, and the center also works with at-risk youth. The center says it is PATH and EAGALA certified.
The website says that in 2017 Victory Reins began working with Indian Oaks Academy, a residential home for traumatized youth, combining that program's therapy sessions with its own therapeutic program.
History
Founder and director Sandy Michalewicz writes that her father was paralyzed from the chest down at age 38 and spent the next 11 years teaching himself to walk again. She says this inspired her to give children and adults with special needs a chance to step away from clinical therapies and have fun while strengthening muscles.
The Horses and Volunteering
The website says most of its horses were donated and a few were purchased, most are over 15 years old, and they come from many breeds and sizes. Having many levels of horses lets students move up toward riding on their own. Volunteers work with both the students and the animals.
Location
Victory Reins is at 11900 W. Offner Road, Peotone, Illinois 60468, in Will County.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I enroll a rider?
The center's Get Involved page has student paperwork to complete. Call 815-382-8694 or email sandy@victoryreins.org with questions.
How much do sessions cost?
Call 815-382-8694 to ask about current rates, and see our guide to equine therapy costs.
Can groups visit?
Yes. The website says groups can arrange a day visit by completing the day visit paperwork.
How can I volunteer or donate?
Volunteers fill out the volunteer paperwork on the center's Get Involved page. The center also accepts tack in good condition (contact the office first) and barn equipment such as pitchforks, brooms and water buckets.
Location
Peotone, Illinois 60468
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.