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What American Medical Association has to say: Horse power: When riding turns into treatment. Hippotherapy has begun to attract attention from the medical community. One physician even owns a program.
AMNews correspondent. June 17, 2002 by Greg Borzo. ……."In some cases HPOT is the only way I can achieve certain treatment goals," says Joann Benjamin, a physical therapist certified in hippotherapy who is also secretary of AHA……"We're not talking about pony rides," says Don Vichick, MD, an Albuquerque orthopedic surgeon. "Hippotherapy can be an effective component of a total therapy package."….. Hippotherapy uses the multidimensional movements of a horse to achieve specific therapeutic functional outcomes. Specially trained physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists use selected horses as mobile therapeutic treatment tools.….. The difference between therapeutic riding and HPOT is important. Therapeutic riding is supervised recreational riding for people with disabilities. HPOT, on the other hand, is a medical therapy provided under a physician's prescription. Patients who are successful with HPOT often progress to therapeutic riding…..Able-bodied people don't realize how hard it is on kids with disabilities and their families, says emergency physician Jeff Lee, MD, the owner of EquiTherapy (Freedom Woods Equestrian Ctr) in Morton Grove, IL. "Their disabilities are forever, but hippotherapy can make a difference, medically and functionally."……. Awareness and acceptance are growing," says Norman White, MD, medical director at Presbyterian Health Plan in Albuquerque, N.M., which recently began reimbursing for HPOT on a case-by-case basis……."It may appear to have a recreational flavor, but hippotherapy holds immense promise of therapeutic benefit for a variety of conditions, when used in concert with other therapies," says Stephen T. Glass, MD, child neurologist in Woodinville, Wash. He refers patients for hippotherapy so frequently that it's printed on his prescription pad. Full Story>> Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Traumatic Brain Injury – an Exploding Problem
VFW Magazine
…..And cost is not the only worry. There is a shortage of TBI-trained health-care professionals to serve the large percentage of injured troops who survive blasts and thus have the potential for brain injuries…..The good news, though, is Americans are finally responding to this health crisis. A federal Task Force on the Future of Military Healthcare addressed VA’s financial and administrative problems in a December 2007 report. And the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, chaired by Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), proposed H.R. 2199, which, if passed, will provide for mandatory screening, long-term rehabilitation of veterans and an outreach program for rural vets. This bill is presently in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Moreover, in April, the Brain Injury Association of America published a position paper calling for public and private cooperation to deliver the “right treatment right now.”
“The government doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” says Pat Radice, with the BIA. “A continuum of care already exists with the DoD and VA. We need to augment it with private contractors.”……
Better known as equine therapy, hippotherapy is gaining credibility with veterans. The program Horses for Heroes, sponsored by the North American Riding for ... Full Story>>
Soldier/Cowboy Launches Army’s Wounded Warrior Sports Program
May 28, 2008
On February 11, 2007, SPC Jake Lowrey was in Fallujah, Iraq when he and a fellow Soldier were hit by an IED …..Less than a year after being injured, Lowrey, who’s been a cowboy all of his life, was back atop a horse and roping steers. …“Some of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation people told me about it (Wounded Warrior Sports Program) when I was at the Warrior Transition Unit,” SPC Lowrey said. “About two days later, I sent in the paperwork. I sent them about four or five events they could pick from.”
…..The hopes are, that as the word begins to spread about the program, that more Wounded Warriors will participate.
This is a great way for our Wounded Warriors to begin walking down the path to their recovery. So many of them were involved in different sporting events prior to joining the military, as well as during their time in the military. People like SPC Lowrey, Major David Rozelle and scores of other Wounded Warriors who have not let their injuries stop them from participating in sporting events that they love, serve as fantastic role models to other Wounded Warriors.
contact Army Sports Specialist Mark Dunivan by email at mark.dunivan@us.army.mil .
American Horse Council Supports Broader Opportunities For Disabled Riders
Article by: American Horse Council
The AHC has advocated over the years the importance of therapeutic riding as a way to create and enhance freedom of movement and outdoor accessibility for disabled Americans. Recently, many therapeutic riding programs have begun to work with disabled veterans from the Iraq War in order to teach them how to ride. Riding provides all Americans, particularly those with disabilities, with a link to the outdoors, to nature and to the beauty and rich tradition of the American trails system.
Horses for Heroes 22 Mar 08
Palaestra, authors: Bender M, McKenzie, S and Beckman, MJ
In April 2007, a new initiative, the NARHA Horses for Heroes program was announced. The purpose is to develop a nationwide program for America's wounded service personnel and veterans, so they can benefit from equine assisted activities and therapies. Queries have been received from interested organizations, stables, individuals, and veterans…..At this time, more than 35 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers are working with therapeutic riding programs throughout the United States.
USOC PARALYMPICS
Paralympic Equestrian Dressage Format. About the Riders and Horses and Competition. |
Organization Aids Soldiers Wounded Iraqi and Afganistan Oct 2008
FEI-level rider Luis Denizard traveled to the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2007 and competed as Puerto Rico’s sole dressage representative……
Because of how strongly he believes in giving back, Denizard is making a plea to his fellow riders, trainers, and friends, asking them to donate their time and talents to Horses for Heroes. He is donating a week of training at his facility to be auctioned off at the Northeast Regional Adult Amateur Dressage Championships…. All proceeds from the Silent Auction, to be held Oct 18/19, 2008 at Mystic Valley Hunt Club, will go to NARHA Horses For Heroes. Full Story>>
North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. Establishes Horses for Heroes
NARHA Press Release Apr 07.
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. (NARHA) today announced
that it plans to develop a nationwide program for America’s wounded service personnel and
veterans. More than 700 NARHA centers work with NARHA Certified instructors and various
professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language
pathologists, psychiatrists and social workers to physically improve, emotionally empower
and socially enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities. “Appreciating the power of the
horse to change lives is our goal,” said NARHA President Dr. Paul Spiers, “and NARHA
wants to provide positive change for these very special lives. Our service personnel have
fought to preserve our freedom, and, for many, at a very dear cost. We must be certain that
if our wounded service personnel and veterans need and want this kind of help, they will
get the best NARHA has to offer.
NARHA Continues to Gain Strong Support Within Veterans Administration
NARHA Press Release, 7/2/07 Denver.
NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association), is continuing to share
information and work directly with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) on the NARHA
Horses for Heroes program. NARHA Horses for Heroes provides Equine Assisted Activities
(EAA) and Therapies to returning military and veterans across the United States. For
individuals with special needs, EAA has shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture,
coordination, motor development, as well as emotional well-being.
Arizona
Therapeutic Program for Veterans
Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, in cooperation with the Southern Arizona Veterans Medical Center, has started an equine therapy program for veterans. The first therapeutic encounter between veterans and horses took place on Tuesday, July 8 at Jumpin’ Jack Ranch, home to Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary in Amado, Arizona.
Saddle Magic Horses for Heroes reveals to disabled veterans the mysterious wonders of equine therapy.
Ken Olsen (June 08) American Legion Magazine
Claudia Carreon cannot recall anything about the day in June 2003 when her mind shattered…doesn't remember the Iraqi truck careening toward the U.S. Army fuel tanker … the driver's attempt to keep the truck from hitting the vehicle. …(her head slamming) against the dashboard - or was it the windshield?
Carreon takes notes when she meets people. …asks for their business cards…with photos are preferred. ….Her most likely response to any question about her life is, "I'm sorry, I don't remember."
But (at) the horse arena, she is transformed…remembers the names of her fellow riders… (and) her instructor at Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT)…knows her horse, Thunder, without any prompting….,remembers how to mount and ride….cues and commands she gives Thunder to guide him through the skills course, or out on a trail, come naturally………
Riding class also creates a social network for veterans who, because of the nature of their injuries, can easily become depressed and isolated. "This gets them out," says Perigo, …"I've seen the patients out there exchange phone numbers and they call each other and talk about how things are going."
More than 35 VA medical centers across the country have expressed interest or are already working with equine-therapy establishments….
Therapeutic Riding Puts Vets Back in the Saddle
KVOA News 4. dtd 5/14/07
Riding horses is part of the wild west charm of Southern Arizona. But, for some local
veterans, it's a way to get back in the saddle of life
AR
Therapeutic riding program expands to serve disabled vets – Texarkana program offers horses to war veterans, Arkansasonline.com, From AP, 29 Jan 09
TEXARKANA — More than seven years after a local ranch opened to serve special-needs children, plans are to expand those services to include military veterans returning from overseas combat.
The Runnin’ WJ Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center is preparing to offer an outreach program developed recently for the special needs of U.S. military veterans.
“Right now, we are trying to work with the local VAs …..Besides veterans with limitations, Clem said the ranch also needs able-bodied veterans who would like to volunteer and help their fellow disabled veterans by becoming horse handlers or sidewalkers. ……Estimates in recent years put 38,000 to 43,000 veterans living in the Texarkana and Northeast Texas area…..“With community support this would really work, because once given a chance to give, the community could then return just a part of the blessing our soldiers have given to all of us through their service to our country,” he said. “We need local veterans’ groups, the Red River Army Depot, the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, as well as anyone else interested.”
California
Sanctuary for Veterans & Families (SVF)
Malibu CA Horses for Heroes/Equine Therapy: Some of the best evidence of the effectiveness of hippotherapy was recently reported by Dr. Daniel Bluestone, then a pediatric neurologist at UC San Francisco, who tracked the progress of children receiving the treatment. Comparing MRI scans over time, Bluestone found that the repetitive movement of riding generates physical changes in the brain. The implications for treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are intriguing, to say the least, and we plan to conduct research on the efficacy of equine therapy for veterans with TBI and PTSD. Full story >>
National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT)
Offers hippotherapy and equine-assisted rehabilitation services to active duty personnel and Veterans currently being served by the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). Day-long Retreats for Families of the Fallen and for Military and Veteran Couples are also provided. This unique program at NCEFT is provided at no cost to the participants or the federal government.
Horses and health come together at NCEFT
10/03/07, Almanacnews.com
A new wheelchair lift was donated by the Semper Fi Fund to the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) for its innovative new program for brain-injured veterans from the polytrauma unit of the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. The program is entirely funded by private donations, at no cost to the VA or the soldiers, said Ms. Almon, and the program may expand to include visually impaired veterans. Hippotherapy uses the natural movements of horses to help patients with neuromuscular disorders improve their strength, balance and coordination. It may sound unusual, but it's clearly a lot more fun than traditional occupational or physical therapy sessions.
Colorado
Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (C.A.M.O)
OFFERS NEW & RETURNING CAMP FAVORITES FOR SUMMER 2009
Challengeaspen.org 6 Apr 09 - Aspen
(Sopris Therapy Svcs)
Challenge Aspen has been honored to serve veterans with disabilities and their families since its inception. In 2005, in response to the increasing number of injured service men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Challenge Aspen initiated several year-round outdoor recreational programs specifically designed for newly injured veterans as a healing tool to help usher them back into their new-normal daily life…..a new division in 2008 called Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (C.A.M.O.)…… Today, C.A.M.O. director Sarah W. Volf announced the addition of four new summer camps in addition to the return of the program’s most popular summer offerings, set to kick off June 21 with Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventure.
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventure: June 21-26
C.A.M.O. again provides a unique opportunity for a small group of newly injured soldiers with severe disabilities in an adventurous outdoor setting. The program is tailor-made, based upon the needs and goals of the individual participants and their family members. Activities include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rock climbing, and more.
*NEW* - HORSES FOR HEROES: JULY 6-11 & AUGUST 9-14
A community-based collaboration between C.A.M.O. and Sopris Therapy Services, “Horses for Heroes” presents the first military-based equine therapy camps in the Roaring Fork Valley. In addition to daily equine therapy sessions led by a team of professionals, participants have the opportunity to participate in other activities such as whitewater rafting, climbing and visits to the Hot Springs.
Getting soldiers back in the saddle
Injured veterans benefit from recreation therapy in the valley
April E. Clark September 12, 2007
Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Valley News
…. veterans - all survivors of traumatic brain injuries - for equine therapy through a partnership with Challenge Aspen and Sopris Therapy Services. The men rode around the Aspen Equestrian complex with assistance from their physical and recreation therapists, caregivers, staff and more than 40 volunteers from the community. "It will help their coordination, help them be active and involved. It's the movement, it's the action," said Karen Witt, a volunteer from U.S. Bank who donated two horses for the afternoon. "It's just important we support these things, no matter what our political beliefs about the war are. We need to remember they put their lives on the line for us."
Program Uses Horses To Help Injured War Veterans
LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4). Disabled veterans are taking steps to improve physical and mental ailments from the backs of horses.
Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center has teamed up with Cheyenne Veterans Hospital to teach eight disabled vets to ride horses in a program they call "Horses for Heroes." The hospital received a grant making the program possible….."We've seen great improvements in self confidence, but also physical strength and balance," said volunteer and veteran Jack Frost……
But the bond developed between the horses and the riders also helps to ease stress……"It helps me to get my mind clean and to get me out of the house and going," said veteran Mike Sara……The riding center will continue to offer services to veterans after October when the program ends. Full Story>>
Stubbs -- still champing at the bit at 46 - Ft Carson USAF Academy, Academy Spirit staff, Story and photos by Ann Patto (Stubbs) The stately steed is doing his horse thing in the Equestrian Center Equine Therapy program for Wounded Warriors from the Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Carson, and is enjoying being brushed, bathed and curried while bonding with soldiers. Full Story>>
Healing Horses Help Military Personnel And Veterans With Disabilities
COLORADO SPRINGS 3/09- A unique partnership involving injured military personnel and some special four-legged friends is reaping big benefits ….A typical session is one hour a week for eight weeks and many riders sign up for multiple sessions. Tracy's only been at it since last November and his progress is nothing short of amazing. "The more he's been out here and the more he's been riding, the fewer seizures he's having and the more bright his expression has become" says Brown. "We've all seen him really blossom." The program is free to any active duty member or veteran. Full Story>>
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICAN VETERANS
Thanks to the DAV Charitable Service Trust we are able to offer therapeutic horseback riding to six military veterans with disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries, amputations, visual impairments and spinal cord injuries. For additional information, please contact Nancy Marshall at (719) 495-3908 or marshall@pptrc.org.
Video re SLP treatment using horses: (Pikes Peak TRC CO) (SLP starting at 5:43 on counter )
Married to the Military: More must be done for veterans, family members - Emerald Valley retreat 08
By Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer - Special to the Times
The Bridge Retreat. Susan Davis is a longtime Army spouse who is finishing her master’s degree in energy medicine and transpersonal psychology. She has a concept for retreats intended to help warriors and families heal. She is partnering with a retired chief petty officer, Desiree DelMonte, who is finishing a doctorate in the same study area. Under the umbrella of a Colorado nonprofit organization, the pair will offer their first retreat in spring 2008. This three-week retreat in Emerald Valley, Colo., will include 20 discharged service members who have been diagnosed with PTSD or a traumatic brain injury. (For information, send an e-mail to susan@colo-nes.com or des@colo-nes.com. The retreat will incorporate methods from work by Dr. Ann Nunley and Dr. C. Norman Shealy that provide an alternative to antidepressants in treating depression. Also to be included in the retreat will be activities such as journaling, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, therapeutic massage, chaplain visits and just plain relaxing. The aim is to provide a safe environment away from stressors for participants to put their lives back together. “For more than two years, we have attempted to implement alternative therapies for our military and their families suffering from anxiety, anger, sleeplessness, depression and PTSD,” Davis said. “We are thrilled to finally have this initial opportunity. We hope it’s the first of multiple retreats we can eventually implement into the military system. For our nation to be ‘mission ready,’ we need to redefine how to prepare to be ready — emotionally, physically and spiritually, before and after war.” Those are preparations needed for military members and family members alike. Full Story>>
Man Helps Fellow Vets Heal Through Horses
Cbs4denver.com, 11 Dec 08, Elizabeth CO
A local Vietnam Veteran, John Nash, is using “horse power” to help his fellow soldiers recover from post traumatic stress disorder.
Riding to Recover: Horse therapy is a boon for Afghanistan vet.
21 July 2008, The Durango Herald (includes AUDIO report)
(Therapeutic Experiences & Cadence Therapeutic Riding)
.....Schmidt, 26, is on the rebound after brain surgery nearly a year ago temporarily left him unable to walk or talk. Part of his therapy is horseback riding.....
"Horse riding is great, 'cause you've really gotta use all your muscles," says Justin's mother, Joley Schmidt, who watches on a recent Thursday as Justin rides the horse around the arena. He's accompanied by three volunteers with Cadence Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit Durango group that offers horse therapy for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. The local veterans office contacted Cadence Therapeutic about enrolling Schmidt.
Challenge Aspen Recreation Program
January 24, 2008
Summer Schedule: June 26 – 30, 2008 Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventure I for Wounded
Warriors – a tailor-made mountain experience for newly injured soldiers and their families –
activities include white-water rafting, fly- fishing and horseback riding.
Operation C.A.M.O, Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities
Mission: Operation C.A.M.O. provides recreational and cultural experiences for wounded warriors with
cognitive or physical disabilities. We encourage family and friends to share in these experiences.
Wounded Warriors are able to realize their life potential, bridging the gap between injuries, and moving
forward with life's challenges despite adversity.
Full story>>>
Freedom in Form of Horses
A local horse trainer wants to offer freedom to those who have fought and paid the price for hers: wounded soldiers.
01/16/08, Gloor, A., www.milehighnews.com,
Owner, instructor and trainer of Little Spring Academy of Equestrian Arts since 1988, Noel Martonovich wants to use therapeutic techniques in horse vaulting as a way for soldiers to recover from combat afflictions at her ranch in Golden Gate Canyon. Martonovich's ranch covers over 10 acres and is home to a combination of draft and thoroughbred horses. Initially used to teach cavalry members how to ride a horse, vaulting combines standard riding with gymnastics to create feelings of comfort on a horse and adapt people to their rhythm of their movement. Controlled by a handler, or lunger, the horse moves in a circle with two handles on the saddle for the rider to hold on to.
The B.I.T.S organization performed their first Color Guard ceremony at the Pikes or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, CO July 12th through 16th 2006.
The proud tradition of the American Rodeo presents the perfect opportunity ….to demonstrate not only the results of (wounded warriors) desire to overcome personal challenges by mastery of horsemanship, but an opportunity for the public to demonstrate their support for the fine people who have been wounded in service to their country.
The B.I.T.S. team is very grateful for the support and in kind donations from the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association.
District of Columbia
US Veterans participate in “Ride Well” program
United States Park Police Press Releases 17 Jun 08
The National Park Service National Capital Region, the United States Park Police Horse Mounted Patrol Unit, and the Rock Creek Park Horse Center have collaborated to develop a therapeutic riding program for injured U.S. military veterans. This fledgling program, the “RideWell” program, is dedicated on all fronts to enhancing and facilitating traditional therapies offered to injured soldiers. … On Tuesday, June 10th, the program completed its first class of lessons for three injured soldiers from the Washington, DC, Veterans Administration Medical Center Polytrauma Services…… The initial sessions were underwritten by Rock Creek Riders, Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization supporting the therapeutic riding programs at the Rock Creek Park Horse Center…..United States Park Police Horse Mounted officers have volunteered to facilitate the therapeutic riding sessions by side-walking with the riders and leading the horses. This is a challenging task with an adult on a horse who may have impaired balance and difficulty processing directions quickly. It is reassuring to the staff and riders to have these officers walk alongside, providing support to keep the rider safe as well as leading the horses during the sessions. The Rock Creek Park Horse Center is well-established for public trail riding, boarding horses, and riding lessons and is located within Rock Creek Park. The facilities are managed by Guest Services, Inc., an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service. The entire RideWell Program was inspired by United States Park Police horse mounted officer Barbara Blendy and facilitated by Rock Creek Park Horse Center facility manager Janet Counts. Full Story>>
Therapy for the Soul
Rehab Management Issue Oct 06
This has become a time of year when most Americans reflect on recent occurrences in the country’s history that launched a war against terror that has sent young men and women abroad to defend the freedoms that we, as a nation, hold dear. Unfortunately, part of the risk of combat often includes the sacrifice of life or limb and for more than 17,000 soldiers wounded since 2001, an estimated 2.5 percent are returning as amputees. These amputees will often face months—perhaps years—of surgical procedures and rehabilitation to adjust to their altered bodies.
None of this would be possible without new technologies and innovative approaches to physical and occupational therapy available at such exceptional rehabilitation hospitals as Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital (WRAMH), in Washington DC, and Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), in San Antonio, Tex. Both of these facilities offer traditional and progressive therapies to help recovering amputee soldiers build strength and confidence, as well as pursue more fulfilling lifestyles and activities. For example, WRAMH recently offered a one-time therapeutic horseback-riding program—known as hippotherapy (from the Greek "hippo" for horse)—to recuperating amputee veterans.
According to Josef Butkus, an occupational therapist at the hospital, the benefits of hippotherapy include improvement in balance and coordination, as well as helping to strengthen core muscles and enhance confidence. The riders find a "whole new center of balance", while taking pressure off their injured limbs. The program received such positive feedback that WRAMH therapists are considering implementing therapeutic horseback riding on a long-term basis.
NARHA Veterans Program Horses for Heroes
Veterans Resources Update 1 May 07
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Press Release 19 Apr 07, page 22
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. (NARHA) plans to develop a nationwide program for America's wounded service personnel and veterans. At a 1 APR meeting of the organization's board of trustees, committees and membership representatives NARHA established Horses For Heroes. A task force was formed to develop the program, pilot the methods to be used, educate member instructors, and monitor any services provided through NARHA's nationwide centers. NARHA promotes equine assisted activities at more than 700 member centers in the U.S. and Canada, helping individuals with special needs gain greater independence through their involvement with horses. Based on the success of recent pilot programs at Ft. Hood TX, and Ft. Myer VA where the United State Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment Caisson Platoon is headquartered, NARHA wants to use the lessons learned to prepare local centers for these service personnel as they return to their home communities.
Delaware
Horses for Heroes helps disabled veterans
Community News 27 Jun 08 Pine Creek, Del. —
Horseback riding is more than a pastime for Harmon, a Vietnam veteran who suffers from multiple sclerosis and can no longer walk: it is a form of physical therapy. ….Helping disabled veterans is what “Horses for Heroes” is all about, said Carly Thompson, director of therapeutic riding at Carousel Park in Pike Creek…..For injured veterans, the program is a way to improve mobility in a different environment than the VA Hospital. The three veterans currently in the program work in a group, so they socialize with each other and with the horses, Thompson said…..Carousel plans to hold at least two, eight-week therapeutic riding sessions each year and include as many of the 60 community living center residents as possible. Full Story>>
Florida
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has awarded Quantum Leap Farm a grant of $478,567 over the next two years from The Florida BRAIVE Fund.
United States of America (Press Release) March 15, 2009 --
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has awarded Quantum Leap Farm a grant of $478,567 over the next two years from The Florida BRAIVE Fund. Located in Odessa and serving the Tampa Bay region, Quantum Leap Farm provides a variety of therapeutic equestrian activities designed to promote and improve participants’ physical, mental, and social well-being. The organization will use the grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation to assist veterans and active-duty military personnel with injuries, disabilities, and other challenges resulting from their deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq.
War-Torn Troops Soothed by Horses Souls
ZootooTV, Pet Pulse, Miami 8 Aug 08
A crowd of people recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of a new facility. It's got all the features needed to accommodate a growing Equine Therapy Program that
started one year ago. Professional horse trainers and mental health experts work with the Veterans, using a very powerful tool: the love and respect of a horse……The year-old program has been successful in helping treat dozens of soldiers with afflictions ranging from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome to combat-related mental illnesses and physical disabilities.
Riding to Recovery
St Petersburg Times, 12/4/06
ODESSA - Alba Tanner, an Army specialist from Hammond, La., rode in tanks in Iraq until a roadside
bomb tore out his armpit and took his right arm's full use. Maggie, part quarter horse and part Percheron,
rode in weddings and parades until her owner decided to donate her to a therapeutic riding program in
Odessa. The two met there one recent sunny morning, the stoic horse tasked with helping the wounded
soldier. "All right Alba, how are you feeling today?" called out Beckie Wolf, a riding instructor at the
Quantum Leap horse farm. Tanner, 21, spelled out the answer. "F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S."
Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center plans Horses for Heroes Program
The Town Crier Online, 10/07, Wellington FL
Horses for Heroes Program Director Amy Vulpis said the service is a perfect fit. “VTRC’s programs are
not only designed to increase core strength and agility,” she said, “they also help build confidence and
help veterans see the possibilities that exist for them despite their newfound disabilities.”
Healing Wounds. The veterans equine therapy program
Volz, D. Vetsenews.com
This is where Bob Bambury, executive director for the South Florida Veterans Multi-Purpose Center in Davie comes in. For the past 18 years, this program has worked mostly with homeless veterans. About a year ago the Center began the Veterans Equine Therapeutic Project. The program has five horses and works with five to ten veterans at a time.
The Veterans Multi-Purpose Center operates its own Equine Assisted Therapy Program for veterans. We welcome any veteran suffering from an emotional issue to come to one of our events. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with our program.
Gives a leg up to disabled veterans
Jan-Feb 2005, DAV Magazine
They don't gallop with the wind, but some disabled veterans living at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Fla., are Getting their therapy on horseback under a revolutionary program offered at Quantum Leap Farm. The program has been so successful in helping disabled veterans that it has received a Charitable Service Trust grant for $10,000 to expand. "… the VA medical center's chief of recreation therapy is chomping at the bit to expand the program to include veterans with central nervous dysfunction", and cerebrovascular inpatients," said Marbes. The program saddled up in 2000 to provide services to a limited number of veterans at no cost. The Trust grant will enable it to help some of the nearly 900 veterans who could be served in the program each year.
Georgia
Wounded warriors use recreation break for healing - Grovetown
Ft Gordon Signal 27 Mar 09
The sunny, cool day on March 18 provided the perfect atmosphere for a day of relaxation and recreation for a group of wounded and injured service members at Canterbury Trails in Grovetown. Peggy Lichtenberg, the owner of the farm, opened it up all day for the patients and staff to enjoy horseback rides, a petting zoo and fishing in a catch-and-release pond. "I'm thrilled everybody is here," she said. About 45 people including Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center staff and almost all of the inpatients in the active duty rehabilitation unit as well as some outpatients spent the day at the site……Angela Olejniczak, a recreation therapist, said the outing was good therapy for the military service members. "This gets them outside," she said. Retired Sgt. 1st Class William Reese, who is an outpatient at the hospital, said he enjoyed the activities. "This is great," said Reese, who was part of the first group to go horseback riding. Lichtenberg said that horseback riding has many therapeutic benefits. One of the programs at the stables is a therapeutic riding program. Not only does riding a horse provide physical benefits, but the connection between the animal and rider often provides mental health benefits. Full story>>
Hawaii
Wounded Warriors Blaze a Trail
kgmb9.com Waimanalo, Oahu 1 May 08 In the back woods of Waimanalo, a chainsaw hums in the hands of a U.S. Marine going through physical rehabilitation. The workers are part of Kaneohe Marine base's Wounded Warrior Company. The Marines are recovering from war injuries. "I took shrapnel to my face," said U.S. Navy corpsman Devin Kelly. He was riding a Humvee in Iraq when a roadside bomb blew it to bits. Kelly and his comrades are carving a quarter mile riding trail for Patty Silva. Her organization, Manawalea Riding Center, uses quarter horses for therapy rides for kids with physical and emotional disabilities. Full Story>>
Fellows in Their Own Words: Helping Special Needs and "At Risk" Children — and Myself
Center for Citizen Leadership, by Mathew Trotter, CCL Fellow
CCL has provided an avenue for me to continue to develop my abilities that the military helped me obtain.
The slogan of Honor, Courage, and Commitment that the US Navy drills into each and every sailor that
passes though its doors, I still use in my daily life and the duties that I carry out. I honor those fellow
veterans that have been injured fighting for our freedom by offering them a venue to assist with their
recovery. I am committed to strive to improve my abilities to better serve those in need. I have the desire
to take on new and challenging roles at Triple H, to seek out the support needed to run and operate the
services we offer.
Clear Path to Recovery
Injured isle Marines clear a horse trail that will help special-needs kids
Star Bulletin, Vol. 13, Issue 125 - Sunday, May 4, 2008
Kaneohe Marines healing from combat injuries are helping handicapped isle children heal -- on horses.
The Wounded Warriors Unit at Kaneohe is volunteering at Manawale'a Riding Center, hacking through
woods in Waimanalo to create a sensory trail. "I really like the project," said Lance Cpl. Adrian Dillie,
23, of Phoenix, recovering from surgery on his shoulder since returning from Iraq in October. "I'm not
getting yelled at -- 'gunfire.'" And the project "hits home" because he has a nephew with autism, Dillie
said. Marines recovering from injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan chose the project because they were
excited about helping children with special needs, said 1st Lt. Nicholas Perkins, officer in charge of the
unit. The volunteer activity "is an awesome way for Marines who may be wounded or injured to still
provide a good service," said Maj. Kurt Schmidhamer, incoming officer in charge of the unit. "The
community in Hawaii has been so good to us, it's a way to give back." A national association for
handicapped riders is developing a national Horses for Heroes program for wounded service personnel
and veterans, Silva said, adding that she hopes to get the Marine trailblazers on horses when they
finish the project. "I've been wanting to learn," Dillie said.
Idaho
Sun Valley Adaptive Sports - Ketchum ID Higher Ground (Veterans Program)
In partnership with Department of Defense and major military medical centers around the country, higher Ground serves recently injured American Service members who have been severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The purpose of higher Ground is to use sports and recreation as a means of healing and therapy. The program offers two winter snowsports camps, two summer adventure camps, and weeklong customized events serving more than 40 Service members and their significant others each year. The goal is to build physical skills and self-confidence, and to provide a fun, healthy, and meaningful experience, so the Service members can more easily transition into their new lives in their home communities. ( Includes horseback riding… ) SVAS freely shares all it learns about adaptive sports therapy with research universities, adaptive sports organizations, and government agencies to help the returning wounded, and to improve the quality of the entire adaptive industry and those served by it. Program Overview>>
Illinois
Equine Therapy Helps Veterans Heal
Military.com | April 20, 2007
Marge Tautkus Gunnar believes her therapy horses have a healing power that could help wounded
veterans. So she turned to Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs,
a veteran who lost both legs after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq.
With a $100,000 grant from the state, Gunnar is poised to offer programs next month at the sprawling
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center in McHenry County for veterans, particularly
those whose limbs have been amputated or who are paraplegic.
Horseback Riding Therapy for Veterans (with video)
ABC 7 chicago.com 28 Sep 08
“You never have to explain yourself to a horse. So (for) people that come here with emotional issues, there is no issue with the horse, no explanation needed. They just come and be one with their surroundings and with the animals.
Iowa
Horse therapy: Horses’s voice emerges through conference coming July 11-17 (22 Jun 07) theprairiestar
AMES, Iowa - In the film Seabiscuit, a horse helps his jockey heal from an injury that should have ended the jockey's racing career. This really did happen.
People in the horse community have been talking for years about their horses teaching and healing them. Therapeutic riding has been used since the early 1950s in Europe. In 1969, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) was founded, to promote and support therapeutic riding in the United States and Canada.
Today, equine therapy is becoming widely accepted and spreading. The Veteran's Administration is using horses to help heal wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kansas
Horse therapy helps wounded warriors
Army.milnews 5 Dec 08
Spc. Kevin Snow, an Iraq war veteran of the Warrior Transition Battalion, rides "Red" through a variety of gaits and obstacles to improve his balance and confidence. Photo by Lisa M. Medrano
FORT RILEY, Kan. - Equine therapy makes the difference for a Warrior Transition Battalion member and his daughter. Spc. Kevin Snow, an Iraq war veteran of the WTB, and Jazmin, his 8-year-old daughter, look forward to Wednesdays as the day they spend together with the horses. Snow and Jazmin participate in equine therapy at the Hope Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center in Manhattan, Kan.
Kentucky
Kentucky Horse Park
LEXINGTON, KY (July 13, 2007) Children who have experienced the death of someone close don’t always know how to work through their grief. Now, a new program called Healing Hooves will incorporate the use of horses to help facilitate the grieving process for Kentucky children and teenagers ages 7 to 17, who have experienced the death of a loved one. Full Story>>
Maine
National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT)
Offers hippotherapy and equine-assisted rehabilitation services to active duty personnel and Veterans currently being served by the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). Day-long Retreats for Families of the Fallen and for Military and Veteran Couples are also provided. This unique program at NCEFT is provided at no cost to the participants or the federal government.
Maryland
Tranquility Farm Equestrian Education and Renewal Ctr, Inc., Thurmont MD
We also have a special program for American Vets returning from current or old U.S. wars or conflict areas to help them deal with post trauma issues and say thank you for all these men and women do for our country. Full text>>
Injured veterans find comfort on horses
With power of therapy, MD center helps soldiers heal in saddle
The News Journal 11 Dec 08
……….A patient at the Perry Point Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Perryville MD, Sean Mulligan, is reaping the social and emotional benefits of therapeutic horseback riding at Freedom Hills.
Massachusetts
Tierney tours farm where veterans get horse therapy
By David Liscio / The Daily Item BOXFORD - Five months ago, wounded military veterans began arriving at a picturesque farm amid Boxford's rolling hills where they ride horses as part of an innovative therapy program.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney toured the Windrush Farms Therapeutic Equitation Facility and visited with participants in the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association's (NARHA) Horses for Heroes (H4H) program.
The H4H program offers equine therapy treatment to veterans with disabilities across the country. A pilot program started at Windrush Farm in May 2007 has been in operation since March.
"The Horses for Heroes program offers a unique opportunity for veterans to experience measurable therapy outcomes," said Tierney, stressing his firm belief that military veterans "deserve a special place in our society due to their selfless service to our country."
As chairman of the National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, Tierney has held four hearings on the inadequacies exposed in the quality of transitional care that returning soldiers were receiving at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Full Story>> linkhttp://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2008/08/21/news/news17.txt
Congressman Tierney Endorses Windrush Horses for Heroes
Shaking the horrors of war
Haverhill Gazette 8 May 08
When Donald O'Hagan of Haverhill returned from the frontlines of the Vietnam War, his life was never the same. He can't seem to shake the horrors of war, or how it felt when he returned home to hear chants of "baby killer." An Air Force veteran, O'Hagan suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, a severe and ongoing condition formerly known as "shell shock" that develops after exposure to extreme psychological trauma. He tried suppressing his problems with alcohol, a habit he finally kicked. He then started speaking with a therapist. Little did he know that a suggestion from his psychologist to try horseback riding, a notion he at first dismissed, would greatly improve his outlook on life. O'Hagan participates in the new Horses for Heroes program at Windrush Farm in Boxford, where the faint buzzing of flies and the clomping of horses' hooves are the subtle soundtrack to a haven from the chaos and pain in the outside world.
Disabled veterans back on horse
Riding for therapy gives them an outdoors option
The Boston Globe 17 May 2007
Dick Spizziri hadn't been on a horse in decades and wasn't holding high hopes for his ride on Little Bear. It's probably not going to be as good as it was then, because I don't have half my body," said Spizziri, 68, who is a paraplegic after injuring his spinal cord in a 1970 diving accident. But after sitting atop Little Bear and walking around the large arena at Windrush Farm in Boxford for about an hour, Spizziri had a new outlook. "It's the greatest thing I've done in a long time," he said. Spizziri, of Westwood, was one of three disabled military veterans at the farm last week to launch a new program at Windrush, which has been using horse-assisted therapy with physical, emotional, and learning-challenged adults and children for 43 years.
Injured veterans benefit from therapeutic riding program in Boxford
Town Crossings online , June 19, 2007
Michael Guilbault wasn't afraid at all to get up on a horse during his recent trip to Windrush Farms in
Boxford. Though a spinal cord injury left him paralyzed, the Attleboro man says riding a horse gives
him plenty of exercise.
"It's amazing how much you can ride without your legs," he said while at Windrush. "It used muscles
that never get any exercise. When you're paralyzed you can't move your joints yourself. I love doing
exercise that's fun at the same time."
Guilbault is one of many veterans from near and far who are taking part in Windrush Farms' therapeutic
riding program for disabled or injured vets.
It’s Quite a Rush at Windrush
Tri Town Transcript 2 May 08 video
Boxford. Vietnam War veteran Donald O Hagan who suffers from PTSD began riding horses under the Horses for Heroes Program
Missouri
Missouri Veterans find, 'We need you, we still believe in you'
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 7/27/08 stltoday.com
Greitens left active duty in May 2007 and now lectures on leadership, ethics and other topics. He isn't paid for his work with the center. Smith is one of seven fellows the center has underwritten so far. Others include a veteran who worked with an equine therapy program, another who developed a program to teach wounded veterans to alpine ski and a third who is working as a youth mentor….."We needed to challenge these guys," Greitens said. "We weren't going to issue charity, but a challenge that we would help them meet, and that was to continue to serve their community and country. Our belief is everyone has service to give." Link>>
New Jersey
Powerful therapy
By Serdar Tumgoren NorthJersey.com Sunday, June 22, 2008
A pair of equine therapy programs — one sponsored by the Closter Recreation Department and another based in Mahwah — are seeking to create Horses for Heroes programs by fall. They would be the first North Jersey chapters of a program taking root nationwide……Wings of Dreams, a non-profit program that operates out of Garret Mountain Reservation and in West Milford, charges each of its two dozen riders $25 per group lesson…..The largest non-profit program in the region, Pony Power Therapies, …..serves at its Mahwah stable and a satellite facility in Leonia. Pony Power hopes to start a carriage-riding program for veterans by fall and is working this summer with college researchers to explore how equine therapy can benefit people with post-traumatic stress disorder……"We're looking at it with a broad lens, but we have in mind eventually working with the veteran population," said Dana Spett, founder of Pony Power. She said the research can also serve as a basis to justify funding for a growing field of therapy.
New York
Back from war, veterans taming their wild horses (Hilton NY)
Democratandchronicle.com, 13 Jan 2009
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a "new and emerging field," according to Lancia's Web site (www.windhorsefarmllc.com), that "promotes growth and change in people through activities that incorporate horses." It does not, however, involve learning to ride the horses…..…..it's one of the best programs I've ever seen," says Susan Lisi, a recreational therapist with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Canandaigua. "The therapy is more intense than anything I've seen in individual or group practice," says Lisi, who is working to acquire some federal funds to expand the program, which is now a pro bono effort by Lancia.
FullStory>> (enter title in search box for archive)
NYC's Finest: Veterans Turn To Horses For Therapy
Seaside Therapeutic Riding In Brooklyn Helps Veterans, Disabled Heal From Mental And Emotional Wounds 16 Jul 08
Cindy Hsu BROOKLYN (CBS)
…Seaside has helped hundreds of young people, and beginning this week, they're starting "Horses for Heroes," to help local soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Cutler is a Vietnam veteran and says this program helps service men and women get their lives back. "We saw a young man with one leg amputated and schrapnel in his other leg, we saw one young man with his face half-missing," said Cutler, "we put them on horses and they sat up straight and they felt alive and exciting." Arthur Faiella served in Vietnam and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress 30 years after the way…... Link>>
Looking for Riders: Warwick NY, Winslow’s Horses for Heroes
Therapy for Veterans
Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center located in Warwick, NY is actively looking for new candidates for its Horses for Heroes program.…..in the form of individual one-on-one and group therapeutic horseback riding.
Eligible candidates for this program are active duty and separated military service personnel who have been wounded, incurred or aggravated an injury in the line of duty while serving in direct support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), the Afghanistan War (OEF), or the Iraqi War (OIF). Winslow is also opening the program to children whose military service member parent has been killed in the line of duty in support of the GWOT, OEF and OIF. This program is free to applicants who apply and are selected for Winslow’s Horses for Heroes. This program is supported through donations and will continue to be offered while donations are available.
For more information about Winslow’s Horses for Heroes program, please call program chair Mike Luraschi at 845-986-7625 or email mluraschi@yahoo.com.
Therapeutic Horseback Riding at Morgan Farm (24 Nov 2008)
WP AFAP ISSUE 0810 18-19 Nov 08 – West Point
Scope: Therapeutic horseback riding provides great benefits to individuals with disabilities and special needs….. aids individuals with a wide-range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social disabilities. It is proven that individuals with ….. traumatic brain injury; TBI, spinal cord injuries, amputees, learning disabilities, and Attention Deficit Disorder benefit from this therapy. Members of the West Point Community utilizing this therapy are currently required to travel to Warwick and New Paltz. Programs …..aid in learning, companionship, responsibility, leadership, and vocational and educational skills, as well as offering competition venues in the different horse disciplines. Warriors in Transition……could benefit even more if this therapy was offered at Morgan Farm.
Recommendation:
1. Make therapeutic horseback riding available to the West Point Community by partnering with or creating an extension of existing local therapy programs, i.e. programs offered within Orange and Rockland Counties.
2. Establish the program as a coordinated effort with other stakeholders and existing resources, including, but not limited to: the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU), the Wounded Warrior Project, the USMA Equestrian Team and Club, Air Warrior, USMA Faculty in pursuit of scholarship requirements, and the Army Exceptional Family Member Program, as well as the various organizations providing support to those entities.
3. Provide training so that volunteers can staff and enhance the program, e.g. cadets involved with the Equestrian Club, WTU volunteers, Scouts, O’Neill High School student activities, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Ascent from Hell.
EAP (equine assisted psychotherapy) in the treatment of war veterans
Spring 2008. Lancia,J., D.O., EAGALA in Practice (www.eagala.org)
…Initially veterans shared their surprise that my goal was not to increase their medications. I was asking them, instead, to look at their problems in a radically different way to teach them ideally, to take responsibility, if they chose it, for their own healing and recovery….
“Equine Assisted Pyschotherapy requires immediate solutions to problems at hand which, when practiced on a regular basis nurtures an ability to adapt and the development of problem solving skills.”
Oprah’s Big Give CNY : Horse Therapy to Heal.
04/18/08 Pompey, New York (WSYR-TV) linked to video
There was so much about the nomination for this organization that our panel liked. The work Andrea does with these kids, the work the volunteers put in and the work she hopes to do with returning veterans really touched everyone on the panel. So, “From the Ground Up” has been given a grant for $1800 to help…. building the veterans program.
North Carolina
WILMINGTON ACCESSIBLE REC DAY AT UNCW 17 Apr 09
Coastal Riding Equestrian Center…. Wounded Warriors Battalion East… Full Text>>
Keeping memories alive
06/24/07 Jacksonville Daily News
Saturday's reunion and ceremony helped ….. develop healing programs for fallen Marines' families. The result is an alliance with Miracle Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center. Therapeutic riding helps in a number of ways, said Capper, executive director of the center….. Not only does it build confidence by bonding with the horse, it also stimulates body coordination and exercise.
The Fund, started by the fallen Marines families, aims to assist Miracle Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center in their efforts to obtain the necessary equipment, staff and whatever needed to enable them to begin helping our Marine families as soon as possible.
Ohio
Para Equestrian Trainer's Symposium and Classification for Equestrians with Disabilities Workshop - Fieldstone Farms
Horses for Heroes The Free Library by Farlex Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center, Chagrin Falls, OH, had a program in the fall, 2006, working with ten veterans from the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center for eight weeks of therapeutic equine activities. Some veterans participated in non-mounted activities, some in therapeutic riding classes, and others in therapeutic driving…..The Fieldstone Farm newsletter documented some of the successes working with older veterans. "When one of the veterans, whose ability to walk is limited due to residual effects of a stroke, was asked about his involvement in the program thus far, this once fearless soldier proudly noted, "I haven't been able to walk in some time, so when I am up on that horse, I feel free and powerful." For patients with dementia or related short term memory loss, the opportunity to reminisce about their prior horse experience is both exciting and emotional. "One of the riders told me that this was his first time back on a horse in 35 years. His face was glowing with a huge smile, and he hugged his horse," stated Debbie Sords, instructor.
Recently wounded individuals were probably in the peak of their physical fitness. Riding or driving horses can allow them to feel normal and experience speed. As an instructor working with the veterans, particularly those who have been to war, there needs to be an acknowledgement of "dignity of risk." Some veterans do not have the same fear factor as civilians and want to push the limits. Horses can help them accomplish that goal.
Pennsylvania
Storm Harbor Equestrian Center – Slippery Rock 2009
(Right now SHEC works with vets from the Butler VA hospital…range in age from about 20-65…..mostly vets from Iraq and Vietnam….groups of 6-15 vets who come twice a month to groom/tack/ride. If there are other vets who are interested who are not in the VA hospital they could do regular lessons.) The Storm Harbor Equestrian Center offers programs to children and adults of all disabilities, including disabled veterans ….Full Story>>
Horses for heroes in honor of our veterans
Lyons, M., 05/08, Thorncroft Bits n Pieces, Spring/Summer Vol 22/No. 1
The program began as a mere idea last fall. Through some collaborative efforts with the Philadelphia Veterans Administration, the idea was realized last month when three veterans from the VA Poly Trauma Unit joined this new riding program.
“From a practical stand point, it only makes sense to have injured veterans ride horses. With the outrageous amount of service people injured from explosives and suffering from vestibular maladies, there could be no better activity for them to participate in. The horses movement is the most familiar movement for the brain to recognize as a similar movement to the human walk. It encourages the synapses in the brain to re-fire, those functions that might not have had the opportunity to work again, if not for the horse
South Carolina
Servicemen work in the arena with a horse during an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy session
Aikenstandard.com 2/2/09
”An individual may look healthy physically, but it's possible that, even without any physical manifestations, stress and traumatic experiences can take their toll on both humans and horses. ……There is a need to accommodate the increasing demands of effective treatment modalities and diagnostics to help service members who've fallen through the cracks…... It's the military personnel whose symptoms don't show up at first, and now, all of a sudden, they have PTSD, and they're not sure where to go. It's a needs-based program and as people come forth, we're here to help them ……The objective of the program is to provide military personnel and those civilians undergoing treatment with a preventative safety measure. The hope is that the treatment modality will help service personnel make an easier transition from combat to garrison life, and increase coping skills……For more information about Horse Empowerment, call (859) 421-5831 or 643-1850.
Texas
Horse Therapy Helps Injured Veterans
Cnhi news service, The Herald Banner, 19 Aug 08
……Pilot program at Bonham VA and Hannah’s Horseshoes for Hope…..The idea for this remarkable project was hatched by retired officers who saw the effectiveness of horse therapy for returning active duty soldiers who had been injured. “The horse program for returning amputees, Horses for Heroes, has been very successful. One main problem they have after an injury is a loss of balance,” Army Col. Skip Lane said. “They have to rebuild muscles and recover that balance. That can be painful and boring. But you put a man on a horse and something else happens — it’s like they have their life back."
Minis and Friends www.minisandfriends.org
Project Development Volunteers
Dogoodchannel.com Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Thursday, December 31, 2009
In summer 2008, we will be launching out Project Minis Out, Forward Ho program. The program focuses on working with Deployed/Wounded Warriors organization to provide soon to be deployed and injured troops with a special equine experience. We are looking for licensed social workers and/or therapists, as well as occupational/physical therapists to join our team. This project will be an excellent opportunity to give back to our incredible troops. All positions at Minis and Friends are unpaid. Story>> link
Caisson Horse Continues to Serve
US Army Medical Dept, Office of the Surgeon General
Ft Sam Houston PR Feb 09
For one former U.S. Army Garrison Caisson horse, military service is far from over, "Herb" as he is referred to by the Fort Sam Houston Equestrian staff, may not don ceremonial tack anymore, but that has not stopped him from continuing to serve the military community. The 16 hands black Percheron has recently acquired the new, unofficial title as the "Wounded Warrior" horse……. Whether it is parades or trail rides, Herb will continue to fulfill his military commitment for years to come under his new name and position as the "Wounded Warrior" horse, a title he seems to wear proudly. Full Story>>
Wounded Warrior Project's Project Odyssey Aims to Teach Coping Skills for Combating Post-Traumatic Stress in Wounded Warriors 12 February 2009
-Together with the Wildcatter Ranch (Graham TX), warriors to utilize natural surroundings to find peace, rediscover trust and start their personal journey to heal-
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ --
Wounded Warrior Project and the Wildcatter Ranch announced today that they will host 16 wounded warriors as part of WWP's Project Odyssey program to combat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Project Odyssey brings together veterans with PTSD and readjustment challenges for activities that offer healthy support in the healing process. “The ultimate goal is for each participant to return home with a new set of coping skills and exercises to deal with the emotions and behavior associated with PTSD," stated John Roberts, National Service Director for Wounded Warrior Project.
I Will Never Leave a Fallen Comrade
NARHA Strides magazine, Fall 2006
By Nancy Willis O’Meara, PT, HPCS, Georgetown TX
As part of the U.S. Military’s Warrior Ethos, this statement holds a great deal of emotion and meaning
for the men and women serving in our armed forces. More than 10,000 military personnel have
returned from Iraq and Afghanistan severely wounded, putting a strain on the medical staff at military
hospitals. In their struggle to meet the needs of their fallen comrades, some physicians and therapists
have found a new resource: NARHA members. Here are the stories of three members who have found
a way to serve those who serve our country.
……..In the summer of 2005, we received a phone call from 1st Sgt. Scott Sjule of the 1st Cavalry
Division Horse Detachment of Ft. Hood in Killen, TX. The medical staff at nearby Brook Army Medical
Center had asked him about placing injured soldiers on the Cavalry’s horses for therapeutic benefits.
Sgt. Sjule’s first reaction was to call Ride On Center For Kids (ROCK). The Army likes to do things
by the book and he remembered that ROCK was a NARHA Premier Accredited Center, so he
requested our assistance. We were honored. The goal of this pilot program was to offer equine
assisted activities using their horses and soldiers, and document the benefits for the injured soldiers
as well as the soldiers who volunteered. We saw ourselves as consultants to the 1st Cavalry,
providing expertise and the instructors for the sessions.
…….. Last fall, I read about ROCK’s program in Texas. Armed with their information, I approached
the Caisson Platoon at Ft. Myer, VA. The base veterinarian was excited and stated, “How wonderful
it would be for the men and horses who honor people who have died to be able to do something for
the living.”
Out On the Porch Army Horse Therapy
Austin TX News
Beyond the dead in Iraq, thousands of American troops are returning from the war with severe wounds,
including amputations.
At Fort Hood, some of them are healing with the help of Georgetown organization and some borrowed
legs.
Out On the Porch, Jim Swift tells us those legs are on loan from a rather unusual source: horses.
(The following is a transcript of Out On the Porch)………
Sgt. Hill says: "The first time I got on him I was real nervous about it. You know, I had all three guys
around me and stuff and they were holding onto me and everything else. "And the second time I came
out, they were just walking with me and they weren't holding on. And this time, I got rid of them all."
Swift says: "Progress."
Hill says: "Yeah."
And the progress is not just physical in nature; it's emotional, too.
Sergeant Gilyeat says: "Initially, you probably think that you can't get on a horse because you have a
disability. But once you get on and you figure out how to stay on the horse and where your balance
and everything is, it becomes ability."
Fort Hood 1st Sergeant Scott Sjule says: "The bottom line is sometime, probably one of them is going
to fall off. And we try to, you know, set the conditions up where we can teach them, 'Okay, if you're
going to fall off, well, let's kind of have a drill out of it and make sure that we can be as safe as possible,'
and then we're going to turn them loose."
Injured warriors ‘saddleup’ for balance, coordination
Hammonds A. , (09/22/05) Ft Sam Houston News Leader Vol 37, No 38 (pg 1 and 4) Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs, Ft Sam Houston – Home of Army Medicine
Hippotherapy, a term meaning “treatment with the help of a horse,” was sponsored
by the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment, from Fort Hood, Texas. The group brought horses to Fort Sam Houston to facilitate a hippotherapy activity with amputees mounting horses and riding. The Horse Detachment invited Ride on Center for Kids, or ROCK, to be experts on the scene. ROCK is a nationally accredited nonprofit organization created to provide clients with affordable hippotherapy, therapeutic
riding, Special Olympics, educational programs and horse shows. “If we can give them therapy on a horse and they have fun doing it, then why not do it?” said Frank Hanson, ROCK instructor. “We want to accomplish some of the same goals they have with hospital physical therapy.”
Virginia
Great Falls VA. The Great Equine Advantage - Polo is the Perfect Therapy……Great Meadows “military appreciation” polo tournament the Patton-Puller trophy….raised thousands of dollars for NARHA Horses for Heroes..
Horses may help wounded soldiers
2 June 2006 Arlington It's all about soldiers helping soldiers," said Colonel Bob Pricone, commander of the Old Guard. Before they rode, a physical therapist tested the reaction times of Ramsey, Kules, and Sergeant Christian Valle, who lost most of both legs, to simple tasks. They were asked to get out of a chair walk a few feet, then return to sit down. They also stood on one leg to see how long they could balance. Kules, who has done therapeutic riding three times, said he has seen his times improve in both tests. When he first began a few weeks ago, it took him 20 seconds to get out of the chair and sit back down. Friday morning, he did it in 13 seconds. That type of small improvement is emblematic of the dramatic recovery Kules has made since his parents first saw him badly wounded in a hospital bed in Germany six months ago, said his mother, Canice Kules of Scottsdale, Arizona. He has become more comfortable with the prosthetic leg as he adjusts to it, she said. "You see it becoming a part of him," said Kules, as she stood at the fence watching her son ride. "It takes a lot of courage to get up there on a horse with one arm and one leg." Full story >>
Va communities get grants for wounded warriors
By the Associated Press April 10, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. - Community programs throughout Virginia are getting grants to help National Guard and Reserves suffering from combat-related head injuries and stress disorders. Gov. Tim Kaine on Friday announced the $1.7 million in grants for programs to help veterans and members not on active duty. The funding for programs is provided by the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program. The program was created by the 2008 General Assembly to provide serves to veterans and their families. The community boards provide things like outpatient counseling and crisis intervention, and day programs and other support for veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
Riding Program for Disabled Veterans Thriving
1 Oct 08, Powhatan Today (includes PHOTO gallery)
(Lonesome Dove Therapeutic Riding Center)
The Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center’s program of equestrian rehabilitation for veterans has recently doubled its services. ......“The ultimate goal is to have our veterans ride in ...the TRAV Show competition held each October in Lexington, Virginia,” (the director, Arrington) said.
...... the Virginia Racing Commission invited Lonesome Dove and one selected veteran to give a demonstration ride at their Colonial Downs Racetrack this past Fourth of July. And the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has helped out the program by donating one of their Clydesdales. “He’s name is Elvis and he is an absolute sweetheart. He’s just beautiful,” Arrington said.
The ambitious director and his all-volunteer staff have decided to expand their efforts by also offering every other Saturday therapy sessions. "We need volunteers!! They don’t necessarily need to know anything about horses... just be willing to be a team member.”
Lonesome Dove’s goal is 10 teams and 100 volunteers.
Kara Carlson, Recreational Therapist/ Animal Therapy Coordinator at McGuire Veteran’s Center ..has seen definite results...in the approximately 30 veterans who have participated.
....“there has definitely been improvement in balance and range of motion,” .. “their social skills have improved. We see them being more confident....would not have been possible without... Clint Arrington and Lonesome Dove”.
(To arrange for Clint Arrington to give presentations to any group or organization” see www.ldequestriancenter.com - call (804) 357-9251.)
Program offers Veterans Horses – and Hope
Powhatan Today Jan 23, 2008
Lonesome Dove, the brainchild of Powhatan’s Clinton Arrington, is believed to be the only therapeutic
riding center exclusively for veterans in the United States. …..therapeutic riding or equine assisted
activityhas had a significant impact on the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of all age
groups….The natural connection was with Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center
in Richmond.
Therapeutic Riding: Soldiers Helping Soldiers. A pilot therapeutic riding program for wounded soldiers provides more than just physical benefits
EQUUS magazine, Aug 2006.
Using the "soldiers helping soldiers" concept, volunteers from the Caisson Platoon, based in Fort Meyer,
Va., were trained as horse leaders and side walkers. In addition, the horses hand-picked for the program
also received special training.
Horses May Help Wounded Soldiers Walk Again
Iraq amputees try therapeutic riding to get back on their feet
Ft Meyer, msnbc 2006
Soldiers and the horses from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, are part of
a pilot program at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to see if troops with prosthetic legs can regain
some mobility through horseback riding.
Patients Learn Balance, Confidence on Horseback
Walter Reed Stripe, MyArmyBenefits - Article
Just three months after a rocket-propelled grenade took off her lower right leg in Mosul, Iraq, SGT Amanda
Mikulka is back to doing two things she loves - hunting and horseback riding.
She hopes to do a lot of hunting during her 30-day trip home to Michigan. When she returns, Mikulka will
continue to fulfill her passion for horses and recover from her injuries with help from the Old Guard at
Fort Myer, Va.
Since Walter Reed Army Medical Center began a therapeutic riding program in spring 2006, 25 Soldiers
like Mikulka have had the opportunity each week to work on balance and coordination skills courtesy of
the Old Guard's caisson platoon.
Therapeutic Horses of Caisson Stable
Equestrian Travel Articles
Natasha McKinnon is a bubbly 24-year-old chatting away about horses. But it is not your usual equine
conversation. Soldier McKinnon lost part of her leg when her convoy was hit in Iraq. The horses of the
Caisson stable are helping her walk again, gaining strength and confidence in her post-war life.
Working in conjunction with Walter Reed Army hospital and North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA) trained therapeutic riding instructor Mary Jo Beckham, the Caisson horses have
been put into service as therapy horses. The effort has gained national attention and a new lease on
life for wounded soldiers returning from Iraq.
Using Therapeutic Horsemanship To Help Wounded Warriors
August 23rd, 2007, Archive for the 'PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Medical Issues' Category
Horses have been used as a therapeutic tool for many years in different areas. I’ve heard of using horses
to help develop confidence and self esteem in persons who have been in abusive relationships. I’ve heard
of using horses to help children work through grief. So, it’s no surprise to me that horses would be used
as a tool in helping Soldier amputees. Fort Myer, Virginia has been the site of such a program since May
2006. Operated by Mary Jo Beckman, who is a retired Navy commander and licensed therapeutic riding
instructor with the North American Riding for Handicapped Association. Ms. Beckman approached the
3rd US Infantry (Old Guard) at Fort Myer, as well as Walter Reed Army Medical Center personnel about
developing the program, which is now into it’s second year.
Horses Helping our troops
Lubbockonline.com
The new program was so successful that now therapeutic riding is a regular part of treatment for many veterans. Wounded servicemen and women being treated at Walter Reed are brought to stables in Virginia once a week.
Horses may help wounded soldiers walk again
Iraq amputees try therapeutic riding to get back on their feet
06/03/06, Associated Press
Horses get injured soldiers back in the saddle
A different kind of therapy to ease physical and psychological scars
Tapper. J., 09/26/06, Good Morning America, ABC News
"When I get up on the horse, I feel like I have two legs. I don't think about the injury," McKinnon said. "I feel that I can do what I normally do. I think good thoughts, like I'm free." The servicemen and women in the program say that horseback riding helps them exercise muscles that haven't been used in some time. It helps them with balance, and also helps them to recreate the motions of walking, which many of them have not done in months. "Horses have the closest gait to humans," said Cpl. Michael Blair, who works with a horse named Mickey. "I definitely started walking on my own a lot more since I've been riding a horse." The horses also seem to help ease the psychological pain of the soldiers' injuries. "You feel like a cowboy out in the open terrain just riding around, even though you have three guys helping you," Paupore said. "It seems like they are part of the horse. It's wonderful. It clears your mind. You forget about everything, and you just kinda ride on into the sunset."
Horses of the Caisson Stable
Exploring the World on Horseback, equitrekking.com Susan Seligman 28 Feb 08
“McKinnon explains how the riding simulates walking and helps her with her prosthesis.
The idea here is to work on muscle movement. Amputees lose mobility in their muscles, hips, trunks and abs. The horses become an extension of our lower bodies; riding makes us steadier and stronger, helping with balance.”
Horses Get Injured Soldiers Back in Saddle
A different kind of therapy to ease physical and psychological scars…
ABCnews.go.com, Jake Tapper, 9/26/2006
“Paupore is one of more than 450 American soldiers who have lost limbs in the Iraq war. Now he's getting help from an unlikely source -- a horse named Arabiis.”
Video Clips
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson helps injured war veterans (AZ)
Oct 08
Man helps fellow Vets Heal Through Horses (CO)
Dec 08
War-Torn Troops Soothed by Horses Souls
ZootooTV, Pet Pulse, Miami 8 Aug 08
Professional horse trainers and mental health experts work with the Veterans, using a very powerful tool: the love and respect of a horse……helping treat dozens of soldiers with afflictions ranging from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome to combat-related mental illnesses and physical disabilities.
Wounded Marines Help Disabled Kids (HI)
Wounded Marines build a horse trail for disabled kids
Horseback Riding Therapy for Veterans (IL) (with video)
ABC 7 chicago.com 28 Sep 08
“You never have to explain yourself to a horse. So (for) people that come here with emotional issues, there is no issue with the horse, no explanation needed. They just come and be one with their surroundings and with the animals.
FT Hood Hippotherapy program for Wounded Warriors Photos
Equal parts physical and emotional healing, it is a great way to help people recover after traumatic injuries. And of course, few injuries are more traumatic than those sustained by our valiant military men and women overseas. The Horse Cavalry Detachment was truly honored in 2005 to become the very first Army unit to host a hippotherapy program for wounded veterans
It’s Quite a Rush at Windrush
Tri Town Transcript 2 May 08 video
Boxford. Vietnam War veteran Donald O Hagan who suffers from PTSD began riding horses under the Horses for Heroes Program
Miracle Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center , Jacksonville, NC ‘08
Joe and Linda Cappar explain how their horses are helping Wounded Warriors. In Jan 2008 The Independence Fund awarded a $5,000 grant in support of equine programs for injured troops at Miracle Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center near Camp Lejeune (NC)
To view video, click below and choose "Horse Therapy"
Wounded Warrior Athlete Rehabilitation Program NC
Wounded Warrior Battalion-East website:
“The Warrior Athlete Rehabilitation Program is a physician referral based program that provides opportunities for alternative therapies (i.e. therapeutic horsemanship at Miracle Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center) …… Participants experience not only physical benefits but also cognitive and emotional benefits as well.”
Riding Program for disabled veterans thriving
HR TV, Powhatan VA
The Horses of Arlington (VA)
Cbsnews.com, July 2007
The horses of Arlington National Cemetery perform a solemn duty, helping to bring the caskets of fallen
soldiers to their graves. David Martin reports on how they are also assisting the wounded
VA ARLINGTON/FT MYER II
VA ARLINGTON/FT MYER III
GOVT, LEGISLATION, VETERANS AFFAIRS
VA Press Releases:
VA Announces Partnership for NGO Outreach
Peake: VA Tapping the Power of Communities
VA Press Release 07 Jan 09
“ The Dept of Veterans Affairs has announced a new partnership to help non-government organizations (NGOs) plan, improve and carry out their own programs on behalf of veterans, their families and their survivors.” The NGO Gateway Initiative launched today with the Veterans Coalition Inc …… VA will provide a senior-level, career federal employee to serve as an ombudsman to assist NGOs with their programs to serve veterans.
The Veterans Coalition was established in June 2006 …… American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America and AMVETS – to address strategic issues affecting veterans communities in healthcare, services, benefits and related areas.”
Contacts:
President, Veterans Coalition, Harry Walters 202-285-9847 and Jeff Deutsch, President Veterans Innovation Ctr, Armed Forces Svcs Corp 703-379-9311.
Full Story>> (enter “NGO Gateway Initiative” in Search box at top right of screen)
© 2008 M. Holden
All Rights Reserved.
