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 volunteers used as horse leaders and side walkers in this program are active duty military personnel.  The concept for the program was originally developed by Mary Jo Beckman, NARHA Advanced Certified Riding Instructor.  It has seen great results in Ft. Myer, VA, with the Caisson Platoon, 3RD U.S. Infantry, in Barnesville, MD, with Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding, and in Georgetown, TX, Ride On Center for Kids.  

This program will be the first of its kind that is a holistic approach offering two program components: Therapeutic Riding, which is being provided by Ivey Ranch Park, and Equine Assisted Growth & Learning (EAL), which will offer life skills that support emotional well being for our service members.   Horses and humans use a similar motion and gait when walking.  Horse movements cause riders to respond using natural body movements.  Exercise equipment works specific muscle groups, where horseback riding promotes integrated “whole person” flow of movements.  Participants with physical disabilities improve their muscle strength, balance, flexibility and coordination.  Ivey Ranch horses are also friendly, nonjudgmental companions.  Their gentle natures improve mental and emotional states.  The bond that develops between a horse and rider inspires a sense of teamwork, responsibility, communication, caring and joy.  

Equine Assisted Growth & Learning (EAL) 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. It is a unique and positive approach to support service members as they reintegrate into family and community life.  EAL also promotes teamwork and develops leadership skills. Sessions will be designed specifically to empower clients to take responsibility and ownership of their futures by creating their own goals and being accountable for the results.  

The Horses for Heroes program at Ivey Ranch Park will consist of 6-week sessions in which a veteran will ride at a scheduled time for 1 hour.  Participants will 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 will be doing group activities in ground exercises with the horses.  These exercises will be based on the action plan that each individual will create. The plan will reflect measurable goals with steps included on how to reach each goal. The activities are fun and encourage creativity and problem solving for each individual and for the group as a whole.  

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 $3,000.  Some service providers are donating their time for the program to keep the costs as low as possible.  

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