Heaven’s Gait Ranch
Cedar Grove, Wisconsin
Heaven's Gait Ranch is a nonprofit therapeutic riding center on a 17-acre property in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. It offers therapeutic riding, equine assisted learning and a no-cost program for U.S. military veterans. It serves children and adults with special needs or disabilities, along with veterans.
- Therapeutic riding (group and private lessons)
- Equine assisted learning (unmounted, ground-based)
- Equine Services for Heroes for veterans (mounted and unmounted)
- Andy Mueller Memorial Scholarship
- Children ages 4 and up
- Adults with disabilities or special needs
- U.S. military veterans
- People with physical, mental and psychological impairments
More about this center
About the Program
Therapeutic riding lessons last 45 minutes and are taught by PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors. Groups are capped at four riders in the arena, and many have two or three, grouped by age, goals and ability. Private lessons are also available. New riders are generally assisted by a horse leader and two side walkers.
Lessons run year-round in winter, spring, summer and fall sessions, plus a four-week encore session between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Equine assisted learning starts with ground-level activities that build trust with the horses and works on life skills rather than riding skills.
Through PATH Intl.'s Equine Services for Heroes, the ranch offers mounted and unmounted activities to U.S. military veterans of any age at no cost, funded by donors. The ranch says it is a Premier Accredited Center of PATH Intl.
Getting Started
New participants complete the ranch's registration and release packet, including a physician's statement and medical release. The ranch then schedules a 30-minute intake assessment on site and decides whether mounted or unmounted activities are safe for each person. Registration and releases are renewed every calendar year and are due on the 1st of the month for the next session.
Families paying privately can apply for the Andy Mueller Memorial Scholarship, a partial scholarship for group lessons awarded by the board. The Children's Long Term Support (CLTS) Waiver and Sheboygan or Ozaukee County Comprehensive Community Services may also cover lessons for eligible participants.
The Horses and Staff
Margaret Mary McClaren, a PATH Intl. CTRI, is the executive director. Maggie Robertson, also a PATH Intl. CTRI, is the program and volunteer coordinator, and the instructor team includes Monica Schaefer and Amy Sheffield.
Facilities include indoor and outdoor riding arenas, grooming stables, rotating paddocks, riding trails, activity fields and a spectator viewing area.
History
The ranch grew from the late Elaine McClaren's plan for a therapeutic riding center. Her son Brian and his wife Margaret Mary carried it forward, incorporating the nonprofit in January 2016 and opening for lessons in January 2017. Volunteers help with grooming, leading and side walking.
Location
Heaven's Gait Ranch is at 940 S. Main St., Cedar Grove, WI 53013, about 40 minutes north of Milwaukee and 20 minutes south of Sheboygan.
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 we get started?
Complete the participant registration packet with a physician's statement, then the ranch will contact you to schedule a 30-minute intake assessment. Call Maggie Robertson at 920-917-7102 about openings.
How young can riders be?
The ranch says children as young as four can take therapeutic riding lessons. It also serves adults and veterans.
What does it cost?
Veterans attend at no cost. For other riders, call (920) 400-0628 or email info@heavensgaitranch.org for current rates; scholarships are available, and CLTS Waiver and county CCS funding may apply.
Can I volunteer?
Yes. Volunteers are trained as grooms, lead walkers and side walkers, and other roles are available. Contact Maggie Robertson at 920-917-7102.
Location
Cedar Grove, Wisconsin 53013
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.