Horseback riding can be fun recreation, and it is also great therapy for wounded warriors at Spirithorse Chisholm Trail Center near Comanche.
Jan Smith, Spirithorse owner and equine therapist, established the program in May of this year to provide therapy for Soldiers suffering from the trauma of combat.
"For some of the Soldiers who are familiar with horses, it's a way to get back in touch with that, and for those who are not familiar with this it is a way to have a new experience. And you know, these horses just enjoy being with the Soldiers," she said.
Smith has eight horses that she uses in the program, but since she is currently the only certified equine therapist, she usually has only one or two horses in the arena at a time so she can keep an eye on things.
Another program for military members is Horses for Warriors which was developed by Horse Wisdom specifically to focus on emotional support and treatment for issues which are unique to our OIF/OEF service members, such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
For the past two years they have been working with both active duty military and veterans near Camp Pendelton in Oceanside CA, most recently with the Wounded Warriors Battalion.
The contributions of the participants in the development of our program have been invaluable and helped to further our understanding of how best we can be of service in this critical area.
Equine assisted psychotherapy incorporates horses experientially to facilitate emotional growth and learning. The horses naturally help people to drop their barriers and are able to effectively mirror human behavior in a way that is powerful yet non-threatening emotionally.
EAP is considered a "brief therapy" which can be used as an adjunct to traditional therapy. It can also be a first step in the therapeutic process for those who are not yet ready to participate in traditional therapy.
Horse Wisdom integrates mind-body psychotherapy and the most recent advances in neuro- science to help clients focus attention on the biological and physiological strategies which motivate their behavior. This allows for self-directed reorganization of neuro processes and provides an experiential basis for continued well being.
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