This Great American Warrior article is brought to you by our partner, philanthropist, and LEO supporter Trudy Jacobson.
STILLWELL, KS - Everyone in the law enforcement, first responder, and military community understands just how stressful those lines of work can be. If they aren’t suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress (PTS), they most certainly know someone who does.
But what many of them don’t understand is how to combat and overcome post-traumatic stress.
Unfortunately, many of America’s heroes turn to unhealthy alternatives to deal with post-traumatic stress (whether they realize it or not) - alcohol, risky behavior, even drugs and is often tied to the severity of the PTS.
But there’s one alternative to dealing with PTS that works quite well: working with horses.
And no one knows that more than Pat Brown of War Horses for Veterans, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Her program is systematic.
“We bring in veterans, first responders, or special forces and run them through typically a six-day program working with horses and each other. Mostly we're dealing with men and women in pretty severe PTS,” Pat told LET.
Pat also understands just how effective working specifically with horses is over other animals.
“When you put anyone in a confined area with a 1000 LB animal, you can literally see them have what I call a brain dump where they can't be thinking about anything else except that animal,” she said.
Her program includes a wide range of activities and amenities, like focused breathing, communication skills, personality assessments, even meals.
“We try to cover all bases. We work on nutrition, we have chefs that come and cook healthy meals for the guys and gals and we brainstorm. Most of the groups have psychologists on staff as well,” she added.
Since she started War Horses for Veterans in 2014, her program has regularly changed and adapted to meet the needs of the participants. She feels her program is “just right.”
“We've changed the program from one day first responder programs and three day veteran programs to where almost all of the programs now are six days. And they're small, four to five people because that seems to be what works,” Pat said.
The structure of Pat’s nonprofit has changed over the years as well. Pat and her husband started by funding everything out-of-pocket. But because of the success of their programs, they now have more support.
“We have some grants but we have a lot of just super generous donors who really believe in the program. It's totally free, all of their expenses are covered – airfare, housing, food, everything's covered,” Pat said.
War Horses for Veterans started with only helping combat veterans. But now they have expanded to include police officers.
“The captains of the police departments or peer support, heads of the police departments choose who’s coming through. They try to select people who really need the help and want the help,” she said.
And police officers need the help just like anyone else. And at War Horses for Veterans, they will find it.
During a trail ride, one police officer participant discovered the therapeutic effects after maneuvering through a very dangerous, steep ravine with his horse.
“He got back to the farm, and he said, ‘I could have died out there. I thought I was going to die, but I realized I had no control, I had to trust the horse.’” Pat quoted.
The results of the program speaks for themselves. They have helped countless LEOs, veterans and first responders and won’t stop anytime soon.
To learn more about War Horses for Veterans visit their website, https://www.warhorsesforveterans.org/ , follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
To watch the full interview with Pat Brown on YouTube, click HERE.
A Message from Trudy Jacobson
“Horses are among the most majestic, beautiful creatures on earth. To be able to use them to help our heroes is truly remarkable.” – Trudy Jacobson
To learn more about Trudy Jacobson and her support of female first responders, veterans, and entrepreneurs, go to www.TrudyJacobson.com
Also subscribe to Trudy Jacobson’s YouTube channel to watch the other Great American Warrior interviews at https://www.youtube.com/@trudyjacobsonta
-------------------
Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
STILLWELL, KS - Everyone in the law enforcement, first responder, and military community understands just how stressful those lines of work can be. If they aren’t suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress (PTS), they most certainly know someone who does.
But what many of them don’t understand is how to combat and overcome post-traumatic stress.
Unfortunately, many of America’s heroes turn to unhealthy alternatives to deal with post-traumatic stress (whether they realize it or not) - alcohol, risky behavior, even drugs and is often tied to the severity of the PTS.
But there’s one alternative to dealing with PTS that works quite well: working with horses.
And no one knows that more than Pat Brown of War Horses for Veterans, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Her program is systematic.
“We bring in veterans, first responders, or special forces and run them through typically a six-day program working with horses and each other. Mostly we're dealing with men and women in pretty severe PTS,” Pat told LET.
Pat also understands just how effective working specifically with horses is over other animals.
“When you put anyone in a confined area with a 1000 LB animal, you can literally see them have what I call a brain dump where they can't be thinking about anything else except that animal,” she said.
Her program includes a wide range of activities and amenities, like focused breathing, communication skills, personality assessments, even meals.
“We try to cover all bases. We work on nutrition, we have chefs that come and cook healthy meals for the guys and gals and we brainstorm. Most of the groups have psychologists on staff as well,” she added.
Since she started War Horses for Veterans in 2014, her program has regularly changed and adapted to meet the needs of the participants. She feels her program is “just right.”
“We've changed the program from one day first responder programs and three day veteran programs to where almost all of the programs now are six days. And they're small, four to five people because that seems to be what works,” Pat said.
The structure of Pat’s nonprofit has changed over the years as well. Pat and her husband started by funding everything out-of-pocket. But because of the success of their programs, they now have more support.
“We have some grants but we have a lot of just super generous donors who really believe in the program. It's totally free, all of their expenses are covered – airfare, housing, food, everything's covered,” Pat said.
War Horses for Veterans started with only helping combat veterans. But now they have expanded to include police officers.
“The captains of the police departments or peer support, heads of the police departments choose who’s coming through. They try to select people who really need the help and want the help,” she said.
And police officers need the help just like anyone else. And at War Horses for Veterans, they will find it.
During a trail ride, one police officer participant discovered the therapeutic effects after maneuvering through a very dangerous, steep ravine with his horse.
“He got back to the farm, and he said, ‘I could have died out there. I thought I was going to die, but I realized I had no control, I had to trust the horse.’” Pat quoted.
The results of the program speaks for themselves. They have helped countless LEOs, veterans and first responders and won’t stop anytime soon.
To learn more about War Horses for Veterans visit their website, https://www.warhorsesforveterans.org/ , follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
To watch the full interview with Pat Brown on YouTube, click HERE.
A Message from Trudy Jacobson
“Horses are among the most majestic, beautiful creatures on earth. To be able to use them to help our heroes is truly remarkable.” – Trudy Jacobson
To learn more about Trudy Jacobson and her support of female first responders, veterans, and entrepreneurs, go to www.TrudyJacobson.com
Also subscribe to Trudy Jacobson’s YouTube channel to watch the other Great American Warrior interviews at https://www.youtube.com/@trudyjacobsonta
-------------------
Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
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