PRESS
Net Netbraska Logo

What if... Dog Braces

Cancer started Ben Blecha's journey to being an entrepreneur whose Benkelman, NE company, Hero Braces, makes leg braces for injured dogs. This story is part of "What If..." a program exploring innovation and creativity in Nebraska
visit website
Chi Institute Logo

Everything You Need to Know About Leg Braces for Tripawds

When a Tripawd shows signs of slowing down, many people immediately start shopping for a leg brace. But on today’s Tripawd Talk Radio podcast with Ben Blecha of Hero Braces, we explain why it’s important to follow the right steps before buying a leg brace for Tripawds (and potentially injuring your pet!). Tune in to learn everything you need to know about choosing braces for Tripawds and other furry companions...
visit website
Healing Oasis Logo

ACL Tear? Surgery Alternative: Interview with Ben Blecha from Hero Brace

Welcome back to another episode! I'm so excited that you're here with me! Today I'm joined by Ben Blecha, the founder of Hero. Hero designs custom knee, ankle, and wrist braces. And these custom braces can serve as a great alternative to invasive...
visit website
Chi Institute Logo

Hero Braces: helping dogs with leg injuries

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Ben Blecha is on a mission to help dogs in their most delicate state. After caring for a pup who had both legs amputated, he set out on a journey to help other four-legged friends around the world. Learn more at goherogo.com.
visit website
Healing Oasis Logo

Ben Blecha: Founder of Hero Braces | What If - Innovator Insights

Learn about Ben Blecha, entrepreneur and founder of Hero Braces in Benkelman, Nebraska. Hero is one of few companies in the world making leg braces for dogs. Losing part of a leg to cancer as a teen led to his interest in building better prosthetics...
visit website
Chi Institute Logo

Canine Knee Injury? Brace Yourself

Ten years have passed since WDJ explored “conservative management” – the nonsurgical treatment – of knee ligament injuries (see “Saying ‘No’ to Surgery,” February 2010). Since then, although surgery remains by far the most widely used knee injury treatment, consumer demand for complementary therapies, including the use of custom-designed knee braces, has grown. Nearly all veterinarians have experience with canine ligament injuries because they are so common...
visit website
Healing Oasis Logo

Hero Braces Honored as ‘Small Pet Healthcare Product of the Year’ Winner at Pet Independent Innovation Awards

The Independent Innovation Awards announced today Hero Braces has been awarded ‘Small Pet Healthcare Product of the Year’ at the 2020 Pet Independent Innovation Awards. Run by the Independent Innovation Awards organization, a leading industry recognition platform honoring the most innovative companies and products in the world, the Pet Independent Innovation Awards recognizes the top companies, services, and products in the industry today. Located in Benkelman, Nebraska Hero Braces is devoted to helping canines lead an active lifestyle by specializing in custom braces for stifle, hock and carpal injuries...
visit website
Chi Institute Logo

Benkelman company gearing up to make animal orthotics

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Every year, 200,000 dogs in the United States blow out their ACL's. Before or after, or instead of surgery, a brace will help alleviate pain and stabilize the knee as the dog's anterior cruciate ligament injury heals. To address the need for custom-fit orthotics for injured dogs, a Benkelman, Nebraska, business owner and prosthetist has expanded the company that he developed to fit and fabricate custom prostheses and orthotics for humans to now offer braces for dogs...
visit website
Healing Oasis Logo

Merger to capitalize on shared skills, technologies for animal braces, human orthotics

Ben Blecha (pronounced "Blakey") of Benkelman, Nebraska, founder and owner of "Hero," and his wife, Renee, have purchased Burns International Podiatric Laboratory in McCook. Ben sees similarities between the company he has developed since 2005 to meet the needs of dogs suffering from ligament injuries and ailments and the Burns lab that, for 46 years, has manufactured foot orthotic devices for humans. To create a new website for Burns and Hero, Deanna Walz of Eleanor Creative in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Ben worked with Kaiser, a yellow Labrador retriever owned by Chad Stewart of Indianola...
visit website
Chi Institute Logo

Benkelman's hometown hero has big dream for small towns

The community of Benkelman builds a vision for the future, and their "hero" could be a hometown guy with a big dream. Ben Blecha shows off his "corporate headquarters." "The kids named it that," he says with a laugh...
visit website
Healing Oasis Logo

Small-town entrepreneur leaves a big footprint in rural Nebraska

It is possible to be successful in a small town. Ben Blecha, founder of Ace Ortho Solutions in Benkelman, is living proof that dreaming big doesn't mean abandoning your roots. The entrepreneur is setting a positive example in his hometown one leap at a time...
visit website
Omaha page image

5 Nebraska entrepreneurs among 2013 Pipeline fellows

The next class of Pipeline fellows includes entrepreneurs who have made advances in animal rehabilitation, materials selection for engineers, vitamin and supplement sampling, secure online trading and interactive sports injury education. And now they're looking for help to further advance their businesses. Pipeline, a program aimed at fostering innovation among entrepreneurs and investors, lasts all year and offers its participants a chance to network and grow their startup companies
visit website
Biz journals Logo

Pipeline reveals 2013 entrepreneurial fellowship participants

Four of 13 entrepreneurs slated for Pipeline Inc.’s next fellowship hail from the Kansas City metropolitan area. The entrepreneur grooming organization announced who it had picked for its 2013 class Thursday night during the Pipeline Innovator of the Year reception at The Midland Theatre in Kansas City. Pipeline, which previously stayed within Kansas’ borders, opened the yearlong program to Missouri and Nebraska companies last year.
visit website
Omaha page image

On Huskervision: Entrepreneur Ben Blecha

First seen in Memorial Stadium on Huskervision, Sept. 26, 2015. University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumnus Ben Blecha began his career in prosthetics and turned that into a business creating braces for animals. The business is based in Benkelman, Nebraska.
visit website
1011 now Logo

Making Leg Braces for Dogs in Benkelman

A man from Benkelman who lost part of his leg to cancer, is using his experience to make leg braces for dogs. "The company's name is Hero," business owner Ben Blecha said. "We make dog braces.
visit website
Omaha page image

As a veterinary rehab professional...

As a veterinary rehab professional, I have found Onlinepethealth to be a great resource for practical continuing education. I have enjoyed participating as a speaker for Dr. Kelly’s online classes. Her attendees have been attentive, asking smart and mindful questions.
visit website
1011 now Logo

Entrepreneur wins fellowship

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- The founder and president of Ace Ortho Solutions of Benkelman, Nebraska, has been selected to participate in a nationally-recognized year-long program designed to accelerate the growth of high-performance entrepreneurs. Ben Blecha of Benkelman, whose company develops and manufactures innovative braces for dogs with ligament injuries, joins the 2013 Class of "The Pipeline" Entrepreneurial Fellows. Pipeline announced the 2013 Class of Entrepreneurial Fellows at its "Innovator of the Year" awards event Jan. 24 at The Midland in Kansas City...
visit website
Tripawds page image

Hero is Our Hero

The fine folks at Hero Dog Braces are helping the Tripawds Foundation reach more pet parents and veterinarians caring for dogs who have orthopedic issues with our message about the many resources available for amputee pets and their people. When we met Ben, the founder of goherogo.com at the 2017 WVC conference he and Tripawds spokesdawg Wyatt Ray hit it off immediately because they have something in common. Ben is passionate about helping Tripawds and all dogs with orthopedic issues be more pawesome.
visit website
Fence Post logo

Nebraska company makes leg braces for dogs

A dog with a knee injury avoids surgery by wearing a leg brace developed by inventor and entrepreneur Ben Blecha. Blecha and his staff make the braces in a cavernous studio space and laboratory located in the small southwest Nebraska town of Benkelman, the same town where Blecha used to ride bikes as child. Blecha chose to leave Denver, Colo., and move to a town of fewer than 1,000 people because he wants to raise his children there.
visit website
Tripawds page image

Custom-Fit Braces For Injured Dogs

Ben Blecha helps injured dogs get around, without the cost and complications of surgery. If surgery does take place, his HERO braces can aid in recovery. The braces are custom made for every dog.
visit website
1011 now Logo

Karen and Cali: Let’s Make a Deal…

Cali was born on August 24, 2007 in Wheat Ridge Colorado. Her parents were Harry the handsome Queensland Heeler and Suzie the gorgeous Australian Shepard. I first met Cali eight weeks after her birth.
visit website
Tripawds page image

CANINE NICHE

Ben Blecha, CPO, didn't realize how much growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska would shape his future—personally and professionally.
An illness, a culture of community involvement, the distance to services, and raising animals all played a role.
When in high school, Blecha was diagnosed with osteosarcoma...
visit website