A Warrior Transition Unit Soldier greets Leah, a horse owned by Rose Smith, right. Smith is an equine specialist for Turning Point Growth & Learning Center where WTU Soldiers participated in an equine-assisted psychotherapy program.
Photo by Nichole Riley, Moncrief Army Community Hospital. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army.
Horses have a long history of being used in programs aimed at rehabilitating individuals suffering from emotional, physical and mental health wounds. One particular therapeutic riding program known as
Horses for Heroes—which is provided through PATH International—is gaining popularity as an alternative therapy for servicemembers suffering from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other physical wounds sustained in combat.
(Searching for Horses4Heroes facilities that offer horseback riding programs for the entire military family? You can find that information here.)
California Facilities Offering the Horses for Heroes Program
Ivy Ranch Park
Location: Ivy Ranch Park, Oceanside
E-Mail: iveyranch@yahoo.com
Phone: 1-760-722-4839
Dream Catcher of L.A. Therapeutic Riding Centers
Location: Marina Del Rey, CA
E-mail: info@dreamcaterhla.com
Phone: 1-310-350-1311
Queen of Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center
Location: Mira Loma, CA
E-mail: kilcoyner@live.com
Phone: 1-951-734-6300
Dream Power Horsemanship
Location: San Martin, CA
E-mail: dreampowerhorsemanship@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-408-686-0535
Stable Hands
Location: Yreka, CA
E-mail: info@stablehands.org
Phone: 1-530-842-3082
Back to Horses for Heroes State Directory page.
