Take Heart Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy
We handle the details so you don’t have to carry the worry. You bring the lawn chair — we’ll make sure your horse is thriving.
If you’ve been searching for a horse boarding barn where your horse is genuinely cared for — not just fed and stalled, but known, watched over, and treated like they matter — you may have started to wonder if that place exists.
We built Take Heart to be that place.
Take Heart is a 52-acre ranch in Wernersville, Pennsylvania — in the heart of Berks County, just minutes from Reading — where horses live naturally, eat constantly, roam with their herd, and are cared for by a team that notices when something’s off before you even know to ask. Our owners live on site. Our barn staff is personally trained by us. And every decision we make starts with one question: what does the horse need?
We are not a show barn. We are not a budget barn. We are a natural horse boarding facility where horses thrive, people exhale, and nobody judges you for how you choose to spend time with your horse. If that’s what you’ve been looking for — welcome home.
Here’s something we hear in almost every boarding interview, asked with a nervous laugh but meant in complete seriousness:
“Can I just set up a lawn chair in the field and sit with my horse? Will anyone judge me?”
The answer is always the same: we’ll probably join you.
That question tells us everything about what people are really looking for when they find us. They’re not just searching for horse boarding near Reading, PA — they’re looking for a place where they can breathe. Where they don’t have to perform expertise or justify how they spend time with their horse. Where nobody side-eyes you for choosing groundwork over jumping, or for just grooming your horse while he grazes, or for sitting in the field with a book while your horse naps nearby.
Our barn family brushes horses together, hangs out in the fields together, learns together, and genuinely enjoys each other’s company. Not because we curated the perfect group — but because the kind of person who resonates with our philosophy tends to also be the kind of person who’s warm, curious, and kind. The culture takes care of itself when the values are clear.
You’re not just boarding your horse here. You’re joining a drama-free barn community that will welcome you exactly as you are — lawn chair and all.
Every horse matters. Every horse owner matters. We believe you deserve to enjoy owning your horse — without the drama, the worry, or the guilt.
We make care decisions based on your horse’s needs. We take the worry off your plate so you can do what you got a horse for in the first place — enjoy them. Our team handles the daily details with decades of experience and genuine love for each animal, informed by your input and guided by what’s actually best for the horse.
We believe horses need four things to thrive: freedom, friends, forage, and safety.
Freedom to move, to choose, to live outside in pastures rather than confined to a stall. Friends to socialize with — horses are herd animals and isolation is not kindness. Forage available around the clock, because a horse that never worries about food is a calm, healthy horse. And safety — skilled handlers, maintained fencing, strict quarantine protocols, and eyes on your horse all day, every day.
Every horse at Take Heart is a unique individual with their own needs. Feed plans are tailored to each horse’s dietary requirements. Seasonal care is customized — some horses need blankets, others grow a great coat. Medical needs are monitored daily by our trained staff, with minor care handled promptly and major care coordinated with you. We follow strict quarantine procedures for every new arrival to protect all horses on the property.
Our horses live mostly outside in the fields, except during feeding or extreme weather. This isn’t neglect — it’s science. Decades of equine research confirm what horses already know: natural, pasture-based living with herd companionship keeps horses healthiest in body and mind. Happy horses are calm horses. Calm horses are safe horses. And owners of calm, safe, happy horses get to enjoy them — instead of worrying about them.
Boarding Facility Amenities:
We are blessed with a beautiful 52-acre property that includes:
Every package below includes our full standard of natural, individualized horse care on 52 acres in Berks County. The difference is in the level of hands-on management and support your horse — and you — need. All board includes a daily ration balancer; specialized feeds for horses with higher nutritional needs are available at cost.
Full Care Horse Boarding
For the healthy horse with an owner who visits regularly.
Starting at $825/month
• Herd turnout in large pastures with run-in shelters, hay feeders, and automatic waterers
• Twice-daily individual feeding tailored to your horse’s needs, including daily ration balancer
• Unlimited forage — hay and/or grass available around the clock to prevent ulcers and keep horses calm
• Daily health monitoring by trained staff; minor care handled, major care coordinated with you
• Seasonal care (blanketing, fly management) customized to your horse as an individual
• Strict quarantine protocols for all new arrivals
• Full use of indoor arena (180’ x 74’), outdoor ring (100’ x 200’), round pen, trails, and wash stall
• Owners live on site — your horse is never unattended
• Boarder discount on Connected Horsemanship lessons, clinics, and groups
• Additional individualized care services available and discussed during the application process
Senior & Retirement Horse Care
For the horse whose owner wants to know their best friend is truly loved — not just minimally maintained.
Starting at $975/month
• Everything in Full Care, plus:
• Enhanced daily monitoring for age-related changes in weight, mobility, dental health, and comfort
• Nutrition adjusted proactively as your senior horse’s needs evolve
• Your horse is handled, groomed, and cared for even when you can’t visit — treated like our own
• Regular updates including photos, so you always know how they’re doing
• Coordination with your vet and farrier as needs change
• Boarder discount on any training or enrichment sessions your horse needs, provided by our horsemanship professionals
• A peaceful, low-stress environment where your horse ages with dignity, comfort, and friends
A note on retirement boarding: At most barns, retirement means less. Less attention, less care, less of everything — because the horse “isn’t doing anything anymore.” We see it differently. Senior horses deserve more attention as their needs change, not less. We don’t throw your retiree out in a field and forget about them. Some of our retirement boarders’ owners live far away and can’t visit often. They sleep well at night knowing their horse is genuinely loved — not just fed. You bring the lawn chair whenever you can. We’ll take care of everything else.
Guided Horsemanship Board
For new horse owners, returning riders, or anyone who wants to learn alongside their horse.
Starting at $1,025/month
• Everything in Full Care, plus:
• 2 Connected Horsemanship lessons per month included
• Monthly barn management consultation — your horse’s care, seasonal needs, feeding, hoof health, and any questions answered by experienced horsemen who genuinely want to help you grow
• Hands-on learning opportunities: join staff for feeding, turnout, and basic care when you visit
• A new owner welcome guide covering what to expect in your first months of horse ownership
• An environment where asking questions is celebrated, not judged — everyone here was a beginner once
• A natural path into deeper horsemanship education as your skills and confidence grow
Owning a horse for the first time — or returning to horses after years away — can feel overwhelming. Most barns assume you already know what you’re doing, or judge you as you figure it out on your own. We’d rather teach you. This package pairs full-care horse boarding with structured support so you’re not just keeping your horse here — you’re learning how to be the owner your horse deserves. And you’re doing it in a community that will cheer you on every step of the way. Bring the lawn chair. Bring the questions. We’ve got you.
Equine Restoration Program & Layup and Rehabilitation Boarding
For the horse who needs to heal or remember how to be a horse.
Starting at $1,200/month | Limited to 2 horses at a time
• Everything in Full Care, plus:
• Daily relationship-based handling using ethical, consent-centered horsemanship methods
• An individualized restoration protocol for horses coming out of high-pressure training, difficult transitions, trauma, or behavioral shutdown
• Nervous system recovery work — helping horses release tension, rebuild trust, and rediscover calm
• Individual paddock turnout during the restoration process, with gradual herd integration as appropriate
• Medical management (bandaging, medication, controlled exercise per vet protocol) included when needed for horses recovering from injury or surgery
• Weekly progress notes with photos and video for the owner
• Monthly owner session (in-person or video) to discuss progress and/or support your own follow-up work
• A homecoming plan when your horse is ready to return — so the work continues after they leave
Some horses need more than time off — they need space to come back to themselves. Whether recovering from injury, decompressing from a high-pressure show or racing environment, adjusting to a new owner, or simply needing to reset after years of being pushed too hard, our Equine Restoration program provides a quiet, individualized environment for the whole horse to heal — body, mind, and nervous system.
This isn’t traditional horse training. It’s the work that makes training possible again. This program is informed by equine psychology and behaviorism, and supported by our wonderful veterinary, farrier, dental, and other horse care professionals.
We also welcome horses needing layup or medical boarding during surgical recovery or injury rehabilitation.
We limit this program to two horses at a time so each one receives our full attention. Availability is by application and interview only.
We are here to help you have the best experience in horse ownership, and your horse live his best life. Let us know how we can help.
Connected Horsemanship Lessons: Boarders receive a 15% discount on all natural horsemanship lessons and clinics. Our Connected Horsemanship program offers relationship-based instruction in groundwork, liberty, western & english riding, and more — for all experience levels and all disciplines. Whether you’re just starting out or deepening a lifelong practice, we meet you where you are.
Training & Enrichment Sessions: Ridden training and exercise or non-ridden groundwork, liberty, fitness maintenance, and mental enrichment for your horse. Perfect for keeping your horse in work between visits, or for horses who benefit from extra handling and connection. These are also provided at the 15% discount.
Individualized Care Services: From daily hoof care to holding for your vet or farrier, administering vet-dispensed medications, and other hands-on support — we offer a range of additional services tailored to your horse’s needs. These are discussed during the application process and priced based on the level of care required.
Our partial horse lease program gives you regular access to one of Take Heart’s horses — riding, grooming, groundwork, or just spending time together. It’s the best way to experience horse life without the full commitment of ownership, and a natural path toward owning your own horse when the time is right.
Leasing also works beautifully for current boarders who want a second horse to ride with a friend or family member, or who want to try a different discipline.
Partial horse leases start at $250/month with flexible access up to 7 days per week (respecting our therapy and lesson schedule). A monthly lesson is included to support you as you get to know your new equine partner, with a flexible month-to-month commitment.
Interested? Mention it in your boarding application or email us directly. Meagan@TakeHeartCounseling.com
We maintain a peaceful, drama-free boarding environment and we protect it carefully. That means we’re selective about who joins our barn family, and we’re transparent about what that means.
You’ll love it here if:
This may not be the right fit if:
We share this not to discourage anyone, but to protect the environment that makes Take Heart special — for the horses and for the people who love them.
How much does horse boarding cost at Take Heart?
Our full care horse boarding starts at $825/month. Senior and retirement horse care starts at $975/month. Our Guided Horsemanship Board for new horse owners starts at $1,025/month. All packages include herd turnout on 52 acres, unlimited forage, twice-daily individual feeding, daily health monitoring, and full use of our indoor arena, outdoor ring, round pen, and trails. We’re located in Wernersville, Berks County, PA — just minutes from Reading, and convenient highway access for those in Lancaster, Lebanon, or Chester counties.
Do you offer retirement boarding for senior horses in PA?
Yes. Our Senior & Retirement Care program provides enhanced daily monitoring, individualized nutrition, regular grooming and enrichment, and a peaceful pasture-based environment where your horse ages with dignity and friends. We treat retirees like our own — several of our retirement boarders’ owners live far away and trust us with their horse’s complete care. Retirement care starts at $975/month.
Do you offer horse boarding for first-time owners or beginners?
Yes — and it’s one of the things that makes us unique. Our Guided Horsemanship Board package ($1,025/month) pairs full-care boarding with monthly lessons and barn management consultations, so new horse owners learn alongside their horse in a supportive, judgment-free environment. We welcome complete beginners and returning riders and believe asking questions should be celebrated, not judged.
What is Equine Restoration or horse rehabilitation boarding?
Our Equine Restoration program is for horses who need emotional, behavioral, or physical recovery — whether coming out of a high-pressure show or racing environment, recovering from injury or surgery, adjusting to a new owner, or simply needing to decompress. We use consent-based, relationship-centered horsemanship to help horses release tension, rebuild trust, and rediscover calm. Medical management is included when needed. Limited to 2 horses at a time, starting at $1,200/month.
What makes Take Heart different from other horse boarding barns in our region?
We practice natural, ethical horse care rooted in the belief that horses thrive when they live like horses — outside, in herds, with constant forage and skilled, compassionate handlers. Our owners live onsite. We maintain a welcoming, drama-free barn community and accept new boarders by application and interview to protect the environment for everyone. We also offer equine-assisted therapy, Connected Horsemanship lessons, and a partial lease program — making Take Heart a complete equine community, not just a boarding barn.
Do you require riding lessons for boarders?
No. We welcome all disciplines, all experience levels, and all ways of enjoying your horse — including people who prefer groundwork, liberty, or simply spending quiet time with their horse in the field. Lessons through our Connected Horsemanship program are available at a boarder discount but never required.
Do you offer horse leasing in Berks County, PA?
Yes. Partial horse leases on Take Heart’s horses start at $250/month, with flexible access up to 7 days per week and a monthly lesson included. Leasing is a wonderful option for people who want to experience horse life before committing to ownership, or for current boarders who want a second horse to ride with a friend or family member.
Is your barn drama-free? How do you maintain the culture?
Our boarders consistently tell us that the drama-free environment is one of the best things about Take Heart. We maintain it through our application and interview process, our clear care philosophy, and our commitment to attracting people who are warm, kind, and here for the right reasons. The culture takes care of itself when the values are clear. As one of our boarders put it: “There is NO drama here, and although that is said a lot, it is true here.”
We require all prospective boarders to fill out a boarding application to start the getting-to-know-you process. Then we’ll schedule an interview where you’ll meet barn owners and barn management, tour our 52-acre property, and we get to know each other — your horse’s needs, your goals, and whether Take Heart feels like the right home for both of you.
We take this step because we take our responsibility seriously: to protect the peaceful, welcoming environment on this ranch for every horse and every person here. We want to make sure you and your horse will be happy — and that you’ll add to the family we’ve built.
Current Openings: Yes
To request a boarding application:
Meagan@TakeHeartCounseling.com
(717) 917-7137
Not sure if Take Heart is the right fit? Reach out anyway. We’re happy to talk, answer your questions, and help you figure out whether this is home — no pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation.
