Veterans
Having served thousands of veterans since 2003, Horse Sense has developed a specialization in issues of PTSD & Trauma, substance abuse, military sexual trauma, anger management and depression/anxiety.
Horses provide veterans and their families a door into working through challenges great and small, whether improving communication, increasing responsiveness to the needs of self and others, or practicing skills related to managing trauma and anxiety.
Stay up to date at “Veterans HorsePlay WNC” Facebook Page
Programs offered:
Individual weekly therapy for veterans, their spouses and children
Open and closed group sessions
Weekend and day retreats, including retreats for spouses and caregivers
Contact us for more information
Veterans Events:
Fall-In Fridays is held the first and third Fridays each month throughout the year, from 10am-11:30am. Fall-In Fridays is an opportunity for Veterans, First Responders and their adult partners/caregivers/companions to check out what we do without having to schedule an appointment. Contact us to learn more
Plug in to all our events and stay updated on new offerings through our Facebook page (Veterans Horseplay WNC).
Veterans Retreats: 2-3 day onsite events
Current scheduled dates are available on our Events page. Contact veterans@horsesenseotc.com if you have any questions or need any further information.
Does it work?
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Equine Therapy / Animal-assisted Therapy "has shown to be effective in treating patients, including combat veterans, with PTSD, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorders and other chronic mental illnesses."
Many services for veterans & first responders available at low to no cost.
We are pleased to offer programs for veterans and first responders throughout Western North Carolina through the support of Heart of Horse Sense, a 501c3 that fundraises to support equine therapy for veterans, first responders, their families. We also have a limited number of individual therapy spots available to veterans through various other grants, including the Adaptive Sports Grant from Congress administered by Eagala to Military Designated programs, of which Horse Sense of the Carolinas is one.
How does it work?
Horses are the original “trauma brain,” wired less for well-thought out responses than for quick reactions to stimulus and potential threat: it’s how they have survived for centuries in the wild. They, like humans, have fight-flight-freeze impulses in the face of danger. Horse psychology and the horse’s brain structure is built first and foremost for survival in a rough, predator-heavy world. The pathways of the brain that say “Run first and ask questions later” are the strongest, with neural pathways for survival that look like super-highways rather than dirt roads.
And yet, horses are part of the fabric of daily life for many, incorporated into all kinds of regular activities for people, from high-level Olympic competition to multi-million dollar racing operations, to scenic trail rides and backyard ponies. They are doing it with grace and ease that belies their “prey animal” status. How do horses–prey animals–learn to live and thrive in the midst of the human predator world? The answer is it’s not easy to be a horse in human-ville. It takes time, flexibility and repetition. And it’s not easy to be a Veteran in a civilian world. Adaption takes time.
How can we support Veterans who are living and responding from the impact of trauma on their brain? The same way we help horses become partners with humans. [Read the entire article here]
Why Choose Horse Sense?
Horse Sense of the Carolinas has been providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Learning services in Western North Carolina for more than a decade. We are the oldest, most experienced and most professional dedicated Equine Assisted Practice in WNC. Horse Sense staff are Eagala-certified, Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy trained & certified, and have staff with thousands of client-contact hours in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, having served more than 3000 veterans through the years!
Horse Sense enjoys being a leader in the field and the standard by which other Equine Assisted Practices are gauged. We are routinely sought after for presentations and trainings all over the world by and for other Equine Assisted Professionals, offering continuing education credits for Eagala, PATH International, and other Equine-Assisted certifying organizations.
