Horses for Heroes Program
A RIDING PROGRAM FOR OUR WOUNDED WARRRIORS
Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center is a non-profit PATH (PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMENSHIP) Member Center. We have been in business for 5 years teaching children and adults with disabilities how to ride while using therapeutic activities. We offer this program free of charge to our students.
Horses for Heroes is an additional service of FETC designed and dedicated to our wounded service men and women. We offer this program free of charge to our soldiers. It is our desire to give back to the men and women who have given so much.
After coming out of the hospital, many of our service men and women need a way to continue rehabilitation outside the arena of doctors, therapy sessions, etc. Whether their wounds are physical or psychological, it is our desire at Horses for Heroes to be a different avenue - arena for these brave men and women to receive the help they need by providing a recreational riding program designed for their specific needs.
Studies have shown that therapeutic riding programs such as ours helps to improve the soldiers’ physical, mental and emotional well-being, as well as helps them to regain confidence.
Although Faith Equestrian is 5 years old, our Horses for Heroes program is new. As a new program run by volunteers and funded by donations and fundraising, it is our desire to keep our program tuition free for our riders. In order to do this, we often ask for donated items to meet our needs.
Please check our wish list on our Contributions link to the left.
We also accept cash donations to help us purchase grain and supplements as well as cover farrier, dental, and vet costs and other expenses. Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. We thank you for helping us to serve our wounded warriors.
Program Forms
Horses for Heroes e-mail
You can reach Horses for Heroes via e-mail at Horses4Heroes@faithetc.org
Click here to watch the Heroes for Horses video
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NARHA Press Release (excerpt July 2007)
NARHA Horses for Heroes provides Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) and Therapies to returning military and veterans across the United States. For individuals with special needs, EAA has shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development, as well as emotional well-being.
After a meeting at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Washington, D.C. in March 2007, several members of the NARHA Horses for Heroes task force have been involved with national conference calls with the VA and provided information to the Voluntary Services, the Blind Rehabilitation Services and Recreation Therapy Services groups. Each presentation has received positive responses and a pledge for continued support to grow the program. These service groups are divisions of the VA and provide assistance to veterans across the United States.
“This has been an incredible opportunity and honor for NARHA to be working with the Veterans Administration and its service areas to provide Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) to the wounded military returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan and to the many other veterans who can greatly benefit from the various programs all NARHA Member Centers provide,” said Sheila Kemper Dietrich, NARHA’s Chief Executive Officer. “It is a great partnership that we are building with much more good to come in the future.”