A McKinney nonprofit that teaches horses to help heal people has crossed a major financial finish line. ManeGait announced it has raised the full $13.2 million needed to fund The Beacon Project, a sprawling expansion of its therapeutic riding campus in McKinney, capping a three-year fundraising campaign aimed at expanding capacity to serve a waitlist of more than 400 people with disabilities.
The organization said the fundraising milestone was reached after ManeGait announced it had reached the $13.2 million goal needed to complete and fund the expansion. In an August 18, 2026, announcement, ManeGait said construction was nearing completion and anticipated finishing in time for its October 17 gala. The Beacon Project, which FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth covered, includes a new arena and therapy center intended to serve ManeGait's growing waitlist. The project broke ground in 2024 specifically to serve that growing backlog of families seeking equine-assisted therapy.
ManeGait currently serves 150 children, adults and veterans each week, supported by 30 therapy horses and 1,200 active volunteers, according to the nonprofit's announcement. The Beacon Project is designed to double that weekly capacity, giving ManeGait room to serve twice as many families as it does today.
What's Being Built on the McKinney Campus
The expansion centers on a 32-stall horse barn and a second covered arena, alongside an administrative building that houses the organization's GaitWay to the Brain therapy center, per the nonprofit's own account. A 2025 report from Community Impact had described the project's scope as also including a multi-use event area and a 75-seat conference space.
ManeGait has grown to serve 150 riders a week with 30 horses.
Why the Waitlist Got So Long
ManeGait pursued the expansion to address growing demand for its therapy services and its growing waitlist. The nonprofit says it has already welcomed 24 people off that waitlist as construction neared completion, a small but concrete dent in the backlog of individuals still hoping for a spot.
ManeGait's model has reach beyond North Texas. Its GaitWay to the Brain program has been replicated at riding centers across the United States and Canada, according to Local Profile, underscoring why McKinney's expansion has drawn attention from equine therapy providers elsewhere.
Construction Timeline Still Taking Shape
The Administrative and Therapy Center is operational. An earlier fundraising goal was $12.1 million, compared with the $13.2 million figure in ManeGait's more recent announcements.
ManeGait expects the expansion to double the number of people it can help each week, consistent with its own projections. For the more than 400 individuals still waiting for a chance at equine-assisted therapy, the completed fundraising marks the moment the math finally started working in their favor.
