Horse at Exceptional Equestrians, June 1, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It bills itself as a place where horses, humans and healing join together as one.
Exceptional Equestrians — a nonprofit that offers over 300 medically-based equine-assisted sessions per month to Northeast Wisconsin military veterans and children, teenagers and adults with developmental challenges — broke ground Monday on a new facility in De Pere.
“We use the movement of the horse, combined with occupational therapy and physical therapy techniques, to help people who have physical and cognitive disabilities,” said Michael Telzrow, executive director of Exceptional Equestrians.
The 16,850-square-foot arena will feature a wide range of equine-assisted therapy, riding and learning opportunities. According to Telzrow, having a second site will also allow the nonprofit to eliminate its wait list, which currently sits at approximately 80 clients.
“It’s a much-needed addition, and it will provide those people who are really seeking equine-assisted therapy and outpatient physical and occupational therapy with a facility that is new and purpose-built for that activity,” Telzrow said.
With services from Exceptional Equestrians, participants are able to increase their quality of life and create pathways to growth, healing and independence by building physical, emotional and cognitive skills.
Donors have helped make this expansion project a reality.
“A traditional capital campaign was launched a couple years ago and we’re sort of in the home stretch now. We’re not completely finished with that campaign, but we’ve got wonderful support from a number of philanthropic organizations in the area, as well as individuals,” said Telzrow.
Construction on the new facility, located at 1130 Orlando Drive in De Pere, is expected to wrap up this fall.
Founded in 1999 by a pediatric occupational therapist, Exceptional Equestrians provides hippotherapy, adaptive horsemanship and equine-experiential learning programs that promote physical health and development, communication, community integration, self-esteem and achievement of functional skills.
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