Horses for Heroes

Ivey Ranch Park in Oceanside, and Horse Wisdom based in North San Diego County, are collaborating on a program for veterans called Horses for Heroes. Horses for Heroes is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) nationwide program for America’s wounded service personnel and veterans. NARHA Certified Instructors and various professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers strive to physically improve, emotionally empower, and socially enhance the lives of veterans with disabilities.

The program at Ivey Ranch Park consists of 6-week sessions in which a veteran participates at a scheduled time once a week for 1 hour. Participants spend half an hour in therapeutic riding where lesson strategies are designed to keep the horses moving in order to work the riders' bodies and teach horsemanship skills where achievement can be documented. The other half hour is spent doing group activities in ground exercises with the horses. These exercises are based on the action plan that each individual creates.

Any veteran of any war or age, active duty, disabled or able-bodied can participate and there is no cost to the veteran for this program.

We are seeking sponsors for the program. Each 6-week Session costs $4,680. The cost breakdown is as follows:

$ 2160 Salary for Psychotherapist

$1080 Salary for Physical Therapist

$  540 Salary for Equine Specialist from Horse Wisdom

$  540 Salary for Ivey Ranch NARHA Instructor

$  360 Mainenance of Horses

$ 4680 TOTAL

For more information: www.iveyranch.com or www.horsewisdom.org or call (760) 722-4839 to register for a Session.