Veterans from Joseph’s House are getting equine assisted therapy thanks to a program being held at a farm in Spring Valley that uses horses to help vets deal with mental health issues.
The Warriors in Step with Horses program goes beyond facing fears. It’s therapy for veterans who are dealing with mental health challenges.
“My friend told me they did equine therapy at Joseph’s House, so I was like, I get to work with horses?” said retired Marine Ryan Kodros. “That sounds pretty cool because initially I was terrified of horses.
Fear is something Ryan knows all too well. Facing those fears is something he has been trained to do.
“I’m the type of person who runs at fear instead of shying away from it,” he says. “That’s how I initially felt about it and I didn’t want to be afraid of horses anymore.
“Therapeutically, it’s excellent. As soon as I came back and it became an option for other veterans at Joseph House, I was like, ‘You want to do this!’
“That’s a lot of what the horses teach us: It’s being present in the here and the now. It’s big, big…huge, especially when you’re dealing with trauma, PTSD and whatever other mental issues we are dealing with.”
Clarence Johnson, a retired Army veteran, went through the program and is now a part of it.
“It’s been life-changing,” he says. “I never thought my life would be this good, but I get to help other veterans every day, and I like coming up here and seeing the horses.”
Executive director Stephanie Llacuna says the results of the program are not just encouraging — they are life changing.
“Through the connection with the horses in this intimate group setting, they can have a safe space to talk about their feelings,” she says. “They realize that’s something they can take back with them and proactively develop a community for the rest of their lives.”
The program is free and open to all veterans and first responders. To find out more information, please, contact Joseph’s House.