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communication, strength and balance, confident leadership, and an emotional openness to allow a bond to form with their horse. Riding can give Veterans a new hobby or even bring back nostalgic memories from being around animals as a child. It gets Veterans outdoors, physically active, and into a community of not only accepting, caring staff and volunteers, but also fellow Veterans.
We have a herd of 14 horses, all unique in their size, movement, and personality. The horses are donated, bought, or leased by the program, and come from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences. Each horse brings something different to the table. Often, Veterans will bond with a horse through learning about a horse’s background, or finding a personality trait in the horse that’s similar to
themselves. Veterans often find a favorite, but sometimes have the best lessons when they work with a horse who challenges them.
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