Three horses milled around the Hambden Hills indoor arena Sept. 23, trying to decide how to get to the open bag of grain in the middle.
Three horses milled around the Hambden Hills indoor arena Sept. 23, trying to decide how to get to the open bag of grain in the middle.
The two 1,000-pound bays reared a bit and trotted around while the miniature horse watched the show.
Gathered around the bag were a handful of military veterans and two equine psychotherapists, holding another session in the Operation Horses and Heroes program.
When the therapist gave a few general directions in a scattered fashion, the group was unable to understand, much less follow the orders.
Given the assignment to have the participants keep the horses out of the bag, one veteran directed the rest of the group to set up a perimeter and hold out their arms to shoo the horses away from the area.
After assessing the situation, the horses went to the gate, looking to go back to their stalls or paddocks.
The lesson in communication and the success it can achieve was just one of many designed to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to build skills for dealing with their issues, said OHH founder Susan Parker.
“Each activity they do is different,” she said of the three-day program held at the stable owned by John and Francine Knop in Hambden Township.
Communication and problem-solving are just two of the skills she hopes to instill in fellow vets during the programs she organizes across the U.S.
Part of the agreement with the facility owners is for the vets to do a project the owner needs. In this case, the fronts of the stalls needed to be stained and participants spent an hour or two a day on that, Parker said.
They also learn how to care for and handle the horses, although no riding is included, she said.
Parker keeps two horses at the Hambden Hills barn, so she asked the Gold-Star Knop family if sessions could be set up there.
Despite the 90-degree heat, eight veterans signed up for the weekend and committed to completing the three days of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. sessions, debriefings, the group project and chores.
Besides having a chance to bond with other veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety and adjusting to civilian life, they learn ways to cope with stress.
“Sometimes we create frustrating situations so they learn how to deal with it,” she said.
The idea of an equine-assisted psychotherapy program stems from the fact that horses are big and, for the veterans who have never been around horses, a little intimidating. But they are also intuitive and those donated for the course are well-trained and used to people, Parker said.
“On the first day, there is a lot of interaction and the wranglers from each of the facilities explain each horse’s temperament and history,” she said.
Each veteran is asked to pick a horse with a character like he or she was before seeing combat, one similar to his or her personality, on Day One of the OHH program, and one who has characteristics the participant wants to develop, Parker said.
The clinicians at Hambden Hills were Dr. Michael Renee Godfrey, a combat flight nurse with 16 years of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. She flew in from Marietta, Ga., for the weekend, Parker said.
“Doctor G” was assisted by certified equine practitioner Jinny Cash, who retired with the rank of major from the U.S. Army after 30 years. She also served in Afghanistan, Parker said.
Parker and Jerry Paulsen started OHH LLC three years ago and the program is continuously evolving.
“We tweak it based on feedback from participants. Every program is getting better and better and better because we are implementing what vets tell us they need,” said Parker, who is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Most of the OHH board members are veterans and the clinic is entirely free to the participants.
Parker said the Knops donated the facility for the three days and Guy’s Pizza, Patterson’s Fruit Farm, Cleats and Red Hawk Grill contributed meals.
Out–of-town participants were provided rooms at the Quail Hollow Inn, she said, and boarders at the stable were very considerate.
Donations can be made online at www.operationhorsesandheroes.org to help with the costs of travel and lodging for the vets.
“It’s just a phenomenal program,” Parker added.
