This project will allow us to provide equine assisted activities and therapies such as therapeutic riding, and equine assisted mental health programs at no cost to Veterans and their families. Our Willis Ashley Foley, Jr. Warriors and War Horses program brings the powerful healing nature of horses to Veterans living with PTSD, disabilities, and other physical and emotional issues that make the transition from military service, to civilian life difficult.
Each day, Veterans of recent conflicts return from service. When they return home they are expected to return to their life before service as if they had never left, while struggling with undiagnosed physical and mental health wounds. It is estimated that untreated mental health problems among returning troops will cost the nation up to $6.2 billion over two years in medical costs, lost productivity, and lives lost to suicide. An estimated 5% of American, more than 13 million people have PTSD.
This program helps Veterans and their families find their inner power and peace, build self-esteem, battle the effects of depression, improve health and wellness, improve functioning for those with physical special needs, and treat the effects of PTSD. Through our understanding of the horses behavior and herd dynamics, we learn about the horses social and behavioral patterns, which can in turn, teach us about our own behaviors, and assist in the transition to civilian life.
If our goal is reached we can provide 20 Veterans with 8 weeks of private equine assisted learning and mental health wellness programming in 2015. With each session they will experience improved health and physical well being, including improved daily functioning and a decrease of the challenging effects of PTSD. They will learn techniques that help develop positive relationships after leaving service, and are encouraged to remain as volunteer mentors to new clients and their families.
