Horses for Warriors TM 

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers"   - Jose Norosky

Horses for Warriors 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 we have been working with both active duty military and veterans near Camp Pendelton in Oceanside CA, most recently with the Wounded Warriros 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, Growth & Learning 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 experienctial basis (practice) for continued well being. 

One of the unique aspects of this program is volunteers who are either active duty military, or veterans, who are able to offer participants a level of understanding and support during the therapeutic process which helps facilitate healing. The EAP program utilizes peer-mentors who work closely with participants, alongside our professional staff. The Horse Wisdom staff are licensed mental health professionals and EAGALA certified Equine Specialists. 

We believe this unique and positive approach to be a highly effective way to support service members as they reintegrate into family and community life.  

Locations: Camp Pendelton base stables (STEPP), Valley Center and in Rancho Santa Fe. New sessions begining every 8 weeks. Write to horsewisdom.org@gmail.com to inquire.

Check back for schedule of 3 day retreats in San Diego county for families coping with deployment, or inquire for your group.

The following video is from a military program in Florida:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WftDbkbRbk8    See below for information on a documentary done about our program. 




 

'The Long Journey Home'

We are very excited about the documentary 'The Long Journey Home',  a film by Victoria Bry and Anh Nguyen, an OIF vet, about the benefits of equine assisted therapies and our program working with horses for service members, veterans, and their families. We are offering screenings of the 18 minute film to groups who might benefit from EAP, or who would like more information about it.

From Dr. James Spira, PhD, MPH, ABPP
Director, National Center for PTSD, Pacific Islands Division
Veterans  Health Administration; Dept of Veterans Affairs

" I have reviewed the DVD and companion manuscript entitled The Long Journey Home.  I hope that this DVD will be used to inform the active duty and veteran community of an important resource that has the potential to assist with their recovery and reintegration following the wounds of war.

Not all returning combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder or TBI who could benefit from counseling feel comfortable addressing their issues in traditional psychotherapy or rehabilitation sessions, and instead may be more willing to seek assistance through more experiential approaches, including equine therapy.  This video, portraying combat veterans pursuing this approach is well done, and I urge you to share this with those who care for wounded warriors in the military and the veterans administration so that they can share this with their patients.  Again, the more options they have, the sooner they will get back to the quality of life they deserve."

We also have programs available for children and spouses that address the challenges inherent in the military family structure and lifestyle. 







Content copyrighted by Horse Wisdom January 2011





"Veterans are the light at the tip of the candle, illuminating the way for the whole nation. If veterans can achieve awareness, transformation, understanding and peace, they can share with the rest of society the realities of war. And, they can teach us how to make peace with ourselves and each other, so we never have to use violence to resolve conflicts again." -Thich Nhat Hanh