Veterans Program

The veteran's program at EAT facilitates a relationship and a bond between the veteran and his or her horse. Through our program, veterans are trained in horsemanship with the intent of better preparing their horse for its role in providing therapy to others in the community, while at the same time providing a very unique and rewarding experience for themselves. Horses are incredibly sensitive and perceptive beings, thus in learning how to approach and effectively guide and communicate with their horse, the veteran also learns how to better understand and guide ones self.

Relaxing Environment

Equine-Assisted Therapy is a welcoming, family environment where veterans can get away, relax, and share time with fellow veterans, friendly staff members, and calming animals. This facilitates an environment of understanding and trust, which in turn significantly reduces stress and anxiety in our participants.

Emotional Bond

As prey animals, horses possess many of the same needs and encounter many of the same psychological challenges as a veteran returning from war. Common needs between the horse and veteran, such as group hierarchy, routine, safety, and comfort help to facilitate a trusting bond between the horse and human. And unlike interaction with other humans, the communication that participants have with their horses is nonverbal and nonjudgmental, so through body language alone, participants begin fostering a common bond with their horses that are based upon mutual trust and respect. This bond in turn facilitates the beginning of emotional healing for the participant.

Self Improvement

To facilitate trust, respect, and bond with their horses, participants are challenged to execute many tasks that require the demonstration of initiative, confidence, commitment, honesty, and empathy. Through the experiences gained in applying these attributes, a participant develops:

• Purpose Committing as the horses advocate
• Teamwork Performing as the horses partner
• Leadership Establishing ones self as the horses leader
• Communication Communicating clearly and concisely
• Commitment Never letting down or giving up
• Self-awareness Control of physical movement and posture
• Self-control Controlling emotion
• Self-esteem Building confidence by overcoming fear
• Self-efficacy Experiencing accomplishment through success
• Self-understanding Learning about ones self through horses behavior
• Social skills Using the relationship with the horse to enhance relationships with people

Class Format

Throughout the program, we focus on developing leadership, self-awareness, confidence, patience, consistency, and courage while learning the basics of horsemanship. Once veterans graduate from the program, they are encouraged to continue their time with EAT by helping teach future veteran classes, as well as utilizing their horsemanship skills in supporting all of the other programs and activities at EAT.

If you have questions about our Veterans program, please e-mail us at info@eatherapy.org

To sign up, return a completed Participation Application located on our Forms page