Thanks to the generous 2012 & 2013 grant awards from the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Good Hope Equestrian Training Center has been able to maintain a joint partnership with the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center to provide free-of-charge equine-assisted programming to inpatient and outpatient clients participating in the Veteran Administration Healthcare Systems, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) & Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Systems of Care.
Equine-assisted therapy for veterans
Recognizing the service gaps within this community, the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s treatment has forged partnerships with innovative community-based rehabilitative programs to assist veterans with their recovery process.
The clientele consists of veterans with limited functions as a consequence of an injury, disease, or impairment due to an injury during their military service.
Recognizing the service gaps within this community, the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s treatment has forged partnerships with innovative community-based rehabilitative programs to assist our service members with their recovery process, while providing unique opportunities for them to be engaged with the larger community and in settings that aid in fostering healthy readjustment to civilian life.
Emphasis is placed on maximal restoration of the physical, psychological, and social functions of the persons served.
“The $15,000.00 of charitable support from the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, makes the Horses Helping Heroes project possible by providing our agency the pecuniary backing to assist disabled veterans across South Florida,” explained Peggy Bass, GHETC Executive Director.
The Horses Helping Heroes program provides rehabilitative equine assisted activities to veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury, and severe wounds, including amputations. Veterans (male and female, ages 18 and above, from all races and ethnicities) will primarily be referred by the Bruce W. Carter Medical Center that provides medical, surgical, and psychiatric services to veterans living in South Florida.
The GHETC Horses Helping Heroes project was launched in 2010 to acknowledge the thousands of Wounded Warriors returning to South Florida following their tour of duty. To date, more than 228 veterans have been served.
While physical, psychological and psychosocial strides have been made by all, several participants have experienced exemplary physical improvements, moving from complete immobility and requiring the use of a wheelchair, to complete mobility with the use of only a cane.
“Our research has shown that equine activities benefit disabled participants through increased mobility, improved balance, posture and core strength, as well as enhanced coordination and flexibility,” said Brooke E. Westmoreland, MS/OTR, therapist for the Veteran’s Affairs Spinal Cord Unit.
The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Inc., is a private grant-making foundation, supporting projects and programs designed to improve, preserve or restore the health and health care of the people in Miami-Dade County.