'A horse makes you live in the now': How BraveHearts helps veterans and others heal through equine services

Posted October 20, 2022 6:00 am

By Kim Becker

Chris Wallen is BraveHearts' 2021 Volunteer of the Year. She progressed up the organization's volunteer flow chart to Mentor Leader this year, which is the highest level. courtesy of BraveHearts

If someone says you have horse sense, it means you have the ability to make good decisions - common sense, so to speak.

But at BraveHearts, a healing horsemanship program in Harvard and Poplar Grove, horse sense takes on an entirely different meaning. The horses sense they are there to help people in need.

According to its website, braveheartsriding.org, BraveHearts offers programs - all for free - for people of all ages with emotional and physical needs. Veterans especially find solace in their services.

The website says equine services provide emotional, cognitive, social and physical benefits for veterans. Veterans who take part in the program have reported increased self-esteem, trust for others and community integration, as well as decreased depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder attacks and self-inflicting thoughts.

In addition to its programs for military veterans, BraveHearts also offers physical, occupational and speech therapy for all ages using hippotherapy, which is led by a licensed therapist. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is also used by a licensed social worker or psychologist.

A veteran gets ready to ride one of the horses during a session with BraveHearts. courtesy of BraveHearts

According to the website, hippotherapy uses the movements of the horse to strengthen the core, for balance, endurance, motor skills and more.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy uses the therapy horse to help with emotional healing due to a plethora of disorders.

While therapists lead these sessions, BraveHearts is always looking for volunteers to help as a sidewalker, leader, exercise rider, as well as helping in the barn, with fundraising, special event support, tack cleaning and even just answering the phones.

Volunteer Carolyn Grieves of Crystal Lake said in a testimonial: “I've been volunteering for a year with Bravehearts. I've also known that horses help heal a person physically and mentally. I always feel like the best version of myself when I'm around a horse. A horse makes you live in the now.

“I've been able to volunteer as a sidewalker and a leader working with OT and lesson classes. I've been able to see first hand how riding a horse helped a young boy learn how to use his words, and when he whispered 'go' he had the power to start the horse moving.

A veteran rides during a session with BraveHearts. Veterans who take part in the program have reported increased self-esteem and decreased depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder attacks and self-inflicting thoughts. courtesy of BraveHearts

“I've been able to walk along side young children who have limited mobility and words and watch them immediately relax and feel the comfort of a horse's movement. I've seen that when the horse stands still the small child who can't walk without assistance can stretch and touch a ball or bell above them, all while building key muscles and confidence in themselves.

“I've been able to help veterans and their daughters or sons get their horses ready for a lesson and see them spend some invaluable time with each other learning how to ride together. I've been incredibly moved to help a young teenage girl who spends every moment of her day in a wheelchair get to stretch her muscles and ride a horse for the first time in years.

“I was once a horse crazy teenager myself, and I would recognize that look of joy on her face from a mile away. While she couldn't verbalize how much that moment meant to her, the giant smile on her face, and her parents' faces, will never leave my memory. I feel very fortunate to get to share a small amount of my time and a lot of my love for horses with such an amazing group as BraveHearts.”

Amanda Bethards, volunteer coordinator for BraveHearts, talks about the organization and the impact it has on its clients.

Q: What is the BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Education Center?

A: BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and is the nation's largest veteran program using equine-assisted services, serving 799 veterans in 2021 alone, all at no cost to our veterans and their families.

BraveHearts also offers speech, occupational therapy and equine-assisted psychotherapy, delivering 13,714.5 hours of service last year. The need continues to grow, as so many individuals within our communities seek the healing power of horses for various therapeutic and recreational support.

Q: Where do the majority of your donations come from?

A: To help support and deliver services with operational intensity and integrity, BraveHearts manages an average of 60 grants per year, with daily correspondences on grant data and financial reports, donor conversations, grant presentations and grant writing submissions.

Grant funding and donor contributions allow BraveHearts to subsidize funding for ALL programs.

A veteran listens to instructions during a session with BraveHearts, which is a healing horsemanship program with locations in Harvard and Poplar Grove. courtesy of BraveHearts

Q: How many people per year do you serve?

A: In 2021:

Veterans - 799

Veterans' family members - 204

Outpatient clinic participants - 80

Therapeutic riding participants - 137

Q: What are some of your programs?

A: Veterans therapeutic riding; Operation Mustang; Speech and Occupational Therapy (Hippotherapy); EAP (Equine- Assisted Psychotherapy); Trail to Zero.

In addition to its veterans programs, BraveHearts also offers physical, occupational and speech therapy for all ages using hippotherapy. Here, a rider learns how to strengthen the core during an OT session. courtesy of BraveHearts

Q: Tell us about your volunteer program.

A: BraveHearts offers a progressive volunteer program that continues to grow annually. Within the nine tiers of volunteer eligibility, there are advancement opportunities, with a strong focus on education and training.

Volunteer opportunities are offered year-round and so are the training opportunities. At BraveHearts, we aspire to continually educate our volunteers, helping volunteers stay engaged in our programs and increase their awareness of their important role, which directly fuels our mission.

Q: How can readers help if they can't sign up to volunteer?

A: Visit our website at www.braveheartsriding.org and click on the Get Involved tab at the top

Q: What else would you like readers to know?

A: In order to support the demands and wait lists at both our farms, BraveHearts continues to recruit new volunteers.

BraveHearts relies heavily on volunteers for sidewalking, farm support, and even office help. No horse experience is necessary, as some volunteers support BraveHearts in many other areas like community outreach, gardening, fundraising, photography and answering phones, to name a few!

BraveHearts

What: A healing horsemanship program that offers programs for military veterans, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy for all ages.

Where: 7319 Maxon Road, Harvard; (815) 943-8226

4950 Route 173, Poplar Grove; (815) 765.2113

Cost: All programs are free.

For details or to volunteer: Visit braveheartsriding.org

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