Several equestrian programs that benefit veterans and their families will be held in December.
Equest’s Hooves for Heroes hosts a free program, Horsemanship 101 (H101) for veterans, active duty military members, and their families. The Dec. 8 program is from 1 to 4 p.m. at Texas Horse Park. Their address is 811 Pemberton Hill Road in Dallas. Registration for the free program is required at equest.org/events.
Horsemanship 101 allows participants to sample different programs that Equest offers. Several stations will focus on different areas, like Equine Facilitated Counseling through herd behavior observation. Other programs are horsemanship, Equine Assisted Learning through grooming, and more.
The program empowers veterans and military families to take charge of their civilian transitions. These veteran program services are offered at no cost to active duty service personnel. Also free to Guard or Reserve members, or any veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and their immediate family members. To learn more about Hooves for Heroes, visit equest.org/veterans.
Equest
Founded in 1981, Equest provides equine assisted learning, therapies and counseling. The program is for children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities. Also to veterans with adjustment challenges. Services include physical and occupational therapy and equine facilitated counseling. Also equine assisted learning, therapeutic carriage driving, and therapeutic horsemanship and competition. With 30 therapy horses, eight instructors, four therapists, three counselors, and 700 volunteers, lives are changed for more than 2,000 annually. Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas. It remains one of the largest in the country. Equest offers an engaging volunteer program providing 30,000 hours of direct program service opportunities each year.
This article originally appeared in Focus News Daily, North Texas e-news, White Rock Lake Daily, PaperCity, Do214, Plano Magazine, Oh So Cynthia, Visit Dallas, and Patch Dallas on November 29, 2019.