‘Horsing around’ can help heal
Staff photo by Mary Kemper
Bruno Diaz, an Army veteran from Palm City, makes friends with miniature horse Lily, at the Unbridled stables near Palm City Feb. 21. Diaz, along with other veterans and military associates, was invited by Courage on All Fronts to learn more about equine assisted learning, that can potentially help veterans suffering from PTSD or other issues.
For Veteran Voice
Sometimes horsing around is about serious medicine for the soul. Palm City’s Courage on All Fronts hosted a demonstration of its Equine Assisted Learning program on Sunday, Feb. 21. Alicia Cheplick, president, said horses are helping veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and troubles adjusting to post-military life.
“They learn how they can improve their communication with other people though horses,” she said.
If other horses, or people, do things they dislike, horses show it. Equine assisted learning, which involves what equestrians call “ground work,” gives people a chance to get honest opinions about their verbal tones and body language. Ground work is non-riding response training—training a horse to respond to commands.