Veteran Aid

Suicide among service members and veterans is a national security crisis. We owe them, their families, and their fellow service members and veterans a better, more coordinated response to address the military and veteran suicide crisis. Ensuring access to evidence-based care for mental health greatly reduces suicide risk among those with behavioral health problems, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction. 

“Through horse-human interaction, veterans can relearn how to recognize their feelings, regulate emotions, and better communicate, as well as build trust and come to trust themselves again—all valuable tools to help them succeed with family, work, and social relationships,” Dr. Prudence Fisher, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Special Needs Community

Equine therapy gives a disabled child a physically enjoyable experience (learning to ride a horse) that helps develop muscle tone, balance, and coordination. It also helps the child develop and improve hand-eye coordination. EAT is often used in treating a wide spectrum of conditions, among them substance abuse, behavioral disorders, learning difficulties, ADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger’s, grief, loss, trauma, bipolar disorders and depression. “Horses have no preconceived expectations or motives, and they are non-judgmental, highly intelligent and exceedingly perceptive, so they connect with people in a completely new way. This is different from anything these children have experienced at school. It is not about discipline or grading but about facing something entirely foreign and reaching their own milestones. Witnessing the confidence and pride that comes with accomplishing something so new to them is exceptionally rewarding.” - Alexa Rostovsky, Harvard University.

Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy: the list of cancer treatments are endless. Treatment is also available to treat the psychological, social and spiritual side effects of the disease. For some, the answer comes through equine therapy, specifically the unmounted, psychological rehabilitation with horses. Whether learning something new or having the ability to do something by oneself, equine therapy can be an extremely empowering experience for cancer patients. Patients involved in this type of therapy often express feeling a sense of control and the ability to overcome fear and nervousness. Allan J. Hamilton, a Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona, holds equine therapy retreats for cancer patients. He explains, “the idea is that a large animal like a horse can become a metaphor for something powerful and potentially out of control,” much like cancer and similar life-threatening diseases. Dr. Hamilton adds that the metaphor can be used, “to start talking about how we approach cancer, and the values and attitudes we want in order to bring about a successful survival.”