A U.S. army Ranger and Vietnam Veteran smiles after completing his first round pen session. Many participants say they are finally able to exhale and smile again through their work with horses.
Photo by: SilverStar Classic Photography
war horses for veterans
a bridge to civilian life
Aired March 22, 2019
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Horses are the bridge… veterans are their own best therapy.
Excerpted from NBC’s “The Today Show”:
It’s no secret that all too often, soldiers coming home after being deployed have a tough time adjusting to civilian life. Such was the case for Sgt. Patrick Benson, an Army veteran who served two tours from 1998 to 2004.
“After I got out, I started having these emotions, these feelings were coming up, I had no idea what they were. I didn't know what PTSD was. Stuff was not feeling right,” he says.
So he decided to take action through a grant from The Home Depot Foundation. He now works with other veterans after starting an organization called War Horses for Veterans to help service members connect with one another — and horses — on the ranch.
War Horses for Veterans is the premier horsemanship, networking and personal growth program in the U.S. Based in Kansas City, this nonprofit brings combat veterans from across the country together in a safe and peaceful environment. Their 3-4 day programs are designed to teach the basics of horsemanship and create a network that will provide outlets for other opportunities and friendships. They use a combination of learning to work a horse, creating new networks and equine-assisted life coaching to help each veteran with their own personal growth.
This a program developed by Combat Veterans for Combat Veterans.
Remarkably, there is no cost to the veteran. Veterans may return as often as they like, as long as they bring another combat veteran.
Horses are the bridge and Veterans are their own best therapy. Photo by: War Horse Media LLC