Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, United States
BEAMING Inc. — short for Building Equine Assisted Mobility Into New Growth — is a nonprofit equine-assisted services organization located in Neenah, Wisconsin. Founded in 2004 by an occupational therapist and a group of horse enthusiasts, BEAMING set out to help veterans and children with physical, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities discover a better quality of life, and has since introduced Wisconsin’s first equine-assisted program for veterans.
The organization is a member of PATH International and operates the BEAMING Ranch as a welcoming, inclusive community space serving thousands of participants each year.
About This Program
BEAMING transforms lives through equine partnerships, with program participants able to learn, heal, and grow through interaction and connection with horses, improving their physical, mental, and emotional health.
BEAMING clients participate in riding and face-to-face interactions with specially trained horses, guided by professional certified instructors who are with riders every stride and work to provide safe and meaningful experiences.
BEAMING offers equine programs in six primary categories: diverse abilities support for children with challenging physical, cognitive disabilities, and mood disorders; dementia support; teen support; veterans support; trauma support; and resiliency and empowerment programs.
Through the Saddle Up for Success program, BEAMING facilitates horse experiences for children and adults with cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities, offered for individuals or groups of up to five participants of similar age and ability.
BEAMING’s veterans program began in summer 2010 and has expanded to include military personnel, first responders, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and EMS dispatchers. The program is notable for having riders, sidewalkers, and horse handlers who are primarily veterans themselves, and the BEAMING Ranch also offers camping accommodations for veterans in its bunkhouses.
The organization also holds annual camps including Hold Your Horses Teen Camp, CANTER Camp for troubled and hurting youth, and Autism Camp for children with autism, as well as regular Equine-Assisted Memory Cafes for seniors with memory loss and their caregivers.
BEAMING is able to offer the majority of its programs at no cost due to the support of volunteers and donors.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic and adaptive horseback riding (Saddle Up for Success)
- Equine-assisted learning
- Veterans and first responders program (Horses, Hearts and Heroes)
- Teen programs: LAUNCH and CANTER (Community Arts Network for Teens Empowering Resilience)
- Hold Your Horses Teen Camp
- Autism Camp
- Dementia support: Riding in the Moment and Equine-Assisted Memory Cafes
- Trauma support program: RideStrong (for survivors of suicide loss, cancer, and other crises)
- Resiliency and empowerment programs
- Pony Power Academy
- Women’s empowerment programs
- Corporate team building
- School district partnership sessions
Who They Serve
BEAMING Inc. may be a good fit for:
- Children and adults with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with PTSD
- Individuals with ADD or ADHD
- Veterans and active duty military
- First responders, including police, firefighters, and EMTs
- Seniors with dementia and their caregivers
- At-risk and troubled teens
- Survivors of suicide loss, cancer, and other crises
- Individuals with traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury
- Individuals with amputations
- Individuals with anxiety or depression
- Women recovering from trauma
- Individuals with stroke-related disabilities
- Families seeking community connection and support
Facility and Setting
After renting facilities for 14 years, BEAMING purchased its own ranch near Neenah, allowing the program to expand its equine-assisted services. The BEAMING Ranch operates as a safe, nonjudgmental community gathering space and serves the broader Winnebago County and Fox Valley region of east-central Wisconsin.
- Neenah, Wisconsin location (Winnebago County)
- Address: 2692 County Road GG, Neenah, WI 54956
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 524, Neenah, WI 54957
- Owned ranch facility with bunkhouses for veterans
- PATH International member
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Volunteer-supported programming
What Makes Them Unique
BEAMING stands out for the remarkable breadth and depth of its programming. In 2024, BEAMING provided over 4,000 life-changing equine-assisted experiences, serving a community that extends well beyond traditional therapeutic riding populations to include seniors with dementia, trauma survivors, at-risk teens, and first responders alongside veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The organization’s roots in occupational therapy and its early development of Wisconsin’s first veteran-focused equine program reflect a clinically grounded, community-centered approach that has continued to evolve. Named programs like CANTER, LAUNCH, RideStrong, and Riding in the Moment give each population a distinct, tailored experience rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
The recent purchase of the BEAMING Ranch after 14 years of renting also positions the organization for continued growth and expanded impact in the years ahead.