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When you give to Horses of Warriors, you’re investing in hope, purpose, resilience, and transformation. Our mission to help veterans, first responders, and their families heal from the effects of PTSD and provide a sense of self-worth and purpose depend on donations from our community supporters like you.
With your help, we can:
Expand our reach to serve Warriors in need
Provide continued care for our horses, the heart of our program
Significantly impact the lives of veterans and first responders who may be experiencing financial hardship, including those needing assistance with housing costs, paying bills, or providing food
Your generosity is more than a donation – it’s a lifeline for those who’ve served us.
Did you know that 7% of Veterans will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime? Did you know that PTSD is a very common condition for Veterans after serving in the military? In a study conducted in 2022 by the Rutgers Equine Science Center, they found Veterans with PTSD often dwell in the past and exhibit a hypervigilance to what is going on around them and what might be coming.
“In the study, the veterans had to perform tasks requiring them to be very much in the moment. They were keeping themselves calm, and centering on the activity that was right in front of them – talking with the horses, brushing them, leading them. This kind of present-moment focus is a skill that can be developed and may help the symptoms of PTSD to feel more manageable.”
In the beginning of the study, Veterans reported any recent symptoms of PTSD, which may include flashbacks of traumatic events, anger outbursts, feelings of being under attack and sleep difficulties. Veterans reported more positive interactions with their horses starting in week 3 and this change was retained through the end of the sessions. In addition, scientists conducting the research also found preliminary evidence of a phenomenon known as co-regulation, in which the body rhythms of the veterans and the horses they worked with started to sync. MacPherson, Kitta. “A Rutgers study may open a new frontier in mental health treatment.”Rutgers, 2024. https://www.rutgers.edu/news/horse-caring-helps-veterans-ptsd#:~:text=A%20study%20by%20Rutgers%20University,outlook%20and%20easing%20of%20symptoms.