Wild Hearts & Horses
Burns, Wyoming
Wild Hearts & Horses is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Burns, Wyoming, about 20 minutes from Cheyenne. It offers equine-assisted learning, therapeutic riding lessons, youth development courses and the Horse Powered Reading & Math Program. Its website says it mainly serves at-risk youth in the Cheyenne area but welcomes anyone who can benefit.
- Equine-assisted learning for individuals and families
- Therapeutic riding lessons
- Youth development group courses (ground-based)
- Horse Powered Reading & Math Program
- Equine-assisted therapy by referral to Stable Minds Therapy
- At-risk youth
- Children and teens
- Families
- Individuals of any age
More about this center
About the Program
Founder Jeannine Hawkins started Wild Hearts & Horses after seeing how few resources the Cheyenne area had to support youth mental health and social-emotional skills. The website says the organization partners with child welfare, school outreach, counseling, and juvenile justice and prevention services. It also says all staff are volunteers and session fees go back to the horses, barn and property.
Youth development courses are ground-based group sessions built on social-emotional learning and mentorship, usually 90 minutes and booked as six-week courses. Therapeutic riding lessons run 45 minutes to an hour, with individualized lessons for each rider. The Horse Powered Reading & Math Program is supplemental tutoring taught by a special education teacher, with sessions of about 60 minutes and shorter sessions for ages 4 to 7.
Equine-assisted therapy is available by referral to Stable Minds Therapy (Tammy Anderson, EMDR), and the center keeps a waiting list. The website says the center is not a fit for people who only want to ride a horse, or for people with severe mental health conditions unless a psychotherapist partners with them.
The Horses and Staff
According to the website, Jeannine Hawkins is a PATH Intl. Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning and a former special education and general education teacher, with more than a decade of experience in Texas and Wyoming public schools and work with equine therapy centers in Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. The center says riding instructor Courtney Graf is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, a certified special education teacher and a carded 4-H and NVRHA judge. Learn more about PATH Intl. credentials.
Getting Started
Therapeutic riding and the reading program start with an intake form. The website lists therapeutic riding at $45 per session, youth development courses at $50 for the first client and $25 for each additional group member, and the reading program at $35 per student with a minimum of four sessions. For individual and family sessions, call 307-236-8502 or email jeannine@wildheartsnhorses.org to ask about fees and current openings.
Location
Wild Hearts & Horses is in the Hillsdale and Burns area of Laramie County, Wyoming, not far from I-80 near the TA truck stop and roughly 20 minutes outside Cheyenne. Its contact page lists availability Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 5 and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 12:30, closed Sundays.
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 sign up?
Use the contact form on the center's website, call 307-236-8502 or email jeannine@wildheartsnhorses.org. Therapeutic riding and the reading program start with an intake form.
How much do sessions cost?
The website lists $45 per riding session, $50 for the first youth course client plus $25 per added member, and $35 per reading session. Therapy costs depend on the therapist's fees and accepted insurance.
Is equine-assisted therapy available?
Yes, by referral to Stable Minds Therapy, and the center keeps a waiting list.
Can I volunteer?
Yes. The website has a volunteer sign-up form.
Location
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.