Meet HETRA, the Gretna Nonprofit Changing Lives Through Horses

When we talk about what makes the Omaha metro a great place to live, it is easy to focus on restaurants, new development, entertainment, parks, and neighborhoods.

But some of the best parts of a community are the organizations quietly doing incredible work right in our own backyard.

One of those organizations is Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, better known as HETRA, located in Gretna, Nebraska.

HETRA uses horses to help children and adults of all ability levels improve their physical and emotional quality of life. From adaptive riding and therapy services to mental health programs, life skills training, and support for veterans and first responders, there is a lot happening on this little piece of Sarpy County that many Omaha area residents may not even know exists.

And this fall, there is a fun way for the community to get involved.

What Is HETRA?

HETRA is a nonprofit organization located at 10130 South 222nd Street in Gretna, Nebraska.

Its mission is to improve the physical and emotional quality of life of adults and children of all ability levels through activities involving horses.

That can look very different depending on the person.

HETRA works with people experiencing cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, brain injuries, developmental delays, PTSD, and other physical, emotional, and developmental challenges.

Programs are designed around individual needs and can help participants work toward things like strength, balance, coordination, communication, confidence, trust, independence, and emotional resilience.

HETRA is also Nebraska's only PATH International Premier Accredited Center, a designation that recognizes organizations meeting established standards for equine assisted services.

From One Horse to a Major Omaha Area Nonprofit

HETRA's story actually goes back more than 35 years.

The organization was founded in 1989 by Steve and Janet Henthorn of Omaha.

And it started very small.

One participant.

One horse.

Three volunteers.

From there, HETRA continued to grow as more families discovered the benefits of its programs.

The organization moved to its Gretna location in 2014. At the time, HETRA had five full time employees and 20 horses.

Today, HETRA has grown to serve more than 150 participants each week and offers a wide range of programs for children, adults, families, veterans, first responders, and community groups.

It is a pretty remarkable evolution for an organization that began with one horse and a handful of people who believed there was something special about the connection between humans and horses.

What Does Equine Assisted Therapy Actually Look Like?

If you have never experienced equine assisted services, you might picture someone simply riding a horse.

There can be much more to it than that.

HETRA offers several different types of programs depending on the goals and needs of each participant.

Adaptive Riding teaches participants riding and horsemanship skills while working on areas like strength, balance, coordination, confidence, and independence.

Therapy services incorporate the movement of the horse into treatment led by licensed professionals.

Equine Assisted Learning takes place on the ground rather than on horseback. Participants may groom horses, lead them, observe herd behavior, and complete other activities designed to build communication, trust, boundaries, accountability, leadership, and teamwork.

HETRA also offers Adaptive Carriage Driving for participants who may not be able to ride a horse or simply prefer another way to interact with one.

There are also programs centered on life skills, workforce readiness, mental health, veterans and first responders, and other specific community needs.

The common denominator is the horse.

Horses become partners in helping people learn, communicate, build confidence, and work toward goals in a setting that feels very different from a traditional classroom, office, or therapy environment.

It Is Not Just for Kids

One thing we found particularly interesting about HETRA is the range of people it serves.

Children make up an important part of the organization, but HETRA also provides programming for teens, adults, seniors, veterans, active duty military members, and first responders.

Its life skills programming can help participants work on independence, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and employment related skills.

HETRA has even offered workforce readiness programs for participants age 14 and older that incorporate hands on work around the property while developing skills such as task completion, time management, communication, and collaboration.

There are also opportunities specifically designed to support veterans and first responders through interaction with horses and connection with others.

The Horses Are Part of the Team

Of course, none of this happens without the horses.

HETRA cares for a large herd at its Gretna campus, and each horse brings its own personality, temperament, and abilities to the organization.

The horses are not simply equipment used during a session. They are considered partners in the work being done.

Caring for those horses is also a significant undertaking.

The HETRA property spans more than 20 acres, which means there are stalls to clean, horses to groom, equipment to maintain, landscaping to tackle, and plenty of everyday barn work happening behind the scenes.

That is where volunteers become especially important.

Want to Volunteer in Sarpy County?

If you have ever searched for volunteer opportunities in Omaha, Gretna, or Sarpy County, HETRA has quite a few options.

And you do not necessarily need horse experience.

Volunteers can serve as side walkers during sessions, instructor assistants, greeters, groomers, horse leaders, or barn maintenance volunteers.

HETRA welcomes individual volunteers beginning at age 12 and also works with businesses, schools, community organizations, and other groups interested in spending a day volunteering together.

Prospective volunteers can attend a volunteer tour and then receive training for the role that interests them.

For people looking for a hands on way to give back in the Omaha metro, it is a pretty unique opportunity.

HETRA's Boots and Bags Cornhole Tournament Is Coming Up

There is another way to support HETRA this fall, and this one involves significantly less barn work.

HETRA's 5th Annual Boots and Bags Cornhole Tournament is happening Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Heavy Brewing in Gretna.

Doors open at 11 a.m., and the tournament begins at 1 p.m.

Teams of two can register for $50.

The event includes a round robin style cornhole tournament followed by single elimination bracket play, along with an online auction, raffle, food, beer, prizes, and other activities.

You definitely do not have to be a professional cornhole player to participate.

Proceeds from registrations help support HETRA's equine assisted services and the horses that make those programs possible.

It is an easy way to support a local Sarpy County nonprofit while spending an afternoon in Gretna.

Can You Visit HETRA?

HETRA is located at 10130 South 222nd Street in Gretna, Nebraska.

Because many of the services taking place on the property are private, HETRA asks visitors to schedule their visits rather than simply stopping by.

The organization offers scheduled tours for prospective participants and volunteers, which are a good way to learn more about the campus, horses, programs, and ways to get involved.

You can also support HETRA through donations, volunteering, fundraising events, sponsorships, and other opportunities throughout the year.

Why Organizations Like HETRA Matter to Sarpy County

Sarpy County is growing quickly.

Communities like Gretna, Papillion, La Vista, Bellevue, and Springfield continue to welcome new homes, businesses, schools, restaurants, parks, and families.

But growth is about more than development.

Strong communities also need organizations that take care of the people who live there.

HETRA is one example of the network of local nonprofits, volunteers, businesses, schools, and community organizations working behind the scenes throughout Sarpy County.

In 2024 alone, HETRA reported serving 1,980 total participants with the support of 488 volunteers who donated more than 25,000 hours of their time.

Those numbers tell part of the story.

The rest happens one participant, one volunteer, and sometimes one horse at a time.

Discovering the Communities We Call Home

As Omaha area Realtors, we spend a lot of time talking about houses.

Home prices in Gretna.

New construction in Sarpy County.

Schools in Papillion.

Neighborhoods in Omaha.

The best places to live in the Omaha metro.

Those things are important when you are buying a home, selling a home, or relocating to Omaha, Nebraska.

But real estate is ultimately about community.

People are not simply choosing four walls and a ZIP code. They are choosing where they will raise their families, build friendships, volunteer, work, spend their weekends, and become part of something.

That is why our Discover Omaha series is not only about restaurants and attractions. We also want to introduce people to the organizations and people making the Omaha metro a better place to live.

At Anthology Real Estate Group, we help people buy and sell homes throughout Omaha, Gretna, Papillion, Bellevue, La Vista, Springfield, and communities across Sarpy and Douglas Counties.

And the more we learn about organizations like HETRA, the more we are reminded that some of the best things about living in the Omaha metro cannot be measured by home prices or square footage.

Sometimes they are found in a barn in Gretna, changing lives one stride at a time.

If you’d like to learn more or register for the October event, the official HETRA website has their programs, volunteer information and current events.