Joe’s Kids and The Magical Meadows will be bringing hippotherapy – horse therapy – to Kosciusko County in Spring 2026.

News Release

WARSAW — The Magical Meadows and Joe’s Kids announce a new partnership that will bring Hippotherapy — a therapeutic treatment strategy incorporating the movement of horses — directly to children in Kosciusko County and surrounding communities.

Launching in the spring of 2026, this program will provide transformational services that can be billed through Medicaid and insurance, expanding access to life-changing care for families.

“This partnership is truly a win-win-win. It’s a win for our organizations, our clients, and this entire community” said Michael Kuhn, executive director of The Magical Meadows. “Our organizations have served several mutual clients for many years, and now we are thrilled to offer a new service together to meet a critical need in our community.”

Hippotherapy uses the horse’s natural movement to engage a child’s body and brain in ways that are difficult to replicate in a traditional clinical setting. The rhythmic, three-dimensional motion of the horse challenges balance, strengthens muscles, and improves posture.

For children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental delays, Hippotherapy can lead to gains in mobility, communication, motor coordination, and emotional regulation. By incorporating this evidence-based practice, therapists can help children reach milestones that might otherwise take longer to achieve.

A select group of Joe’s Kids physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists are currently completing specialized training and certification to provide Hippotherapy.

During this process, The Magical Meadows is offering additional hands-on training to help introduce Joe’s Kids staff to the horses, staff, and volunteers with whom they will be working alongside.

“We are thrilled to partner with Magical Meadows to provide the unique benefits of hippotherapy, combining the healing power of horses with skilled therapies to help our children achieve their goals and realize their full potential,” said Rebecca Bazzoni, executive director of Joe’s Kids.

Through the partnership, Joe’s Kids will manage all scheduling, billing, and communication with client families, while The Magical Meadows will provide the therapeutic setting, specially trained therapy horses, and an experienced equine handler to facilitate safe, effective interactions between the children and horses.

The new service will officially launch in spring 2026, beginning exclusively on Mondays, with the potential to grow as demand increases. This collaboration comes at a time of unprecedented growth for both organizations.

Together, The Magical Meadows and Joe’s Kids are expanding their reach and impact, creating new opportunities for children and families to access critical services that support their health and well-being.