On Wednesday morning at 9:30am, a group of veterans and their entourage, a mix of therapists, staff, and volunteers, assembled for the first session of NCEFT’s new adaptive horsemanship program. Working to overcome the effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries, these veterans will spend the next 8-weeks learning the aspects of horse care and riding they’ll put to use at Lava Lakes Ranch in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Day one of the program found them in the arena grooming their therapy horses. The lesson included memory challenges like recalling the order of grooming tools, and some work on flexibility and range of motion by asking them to bend down and pick hooves or brush their horse’s belly. Then it was on to a leading session, each veteran gaining the confidence to leave their helper behind and lead their horse independently through a set of weave poles.
Check out a video of the day’s session and tune in next week for the group’s first mounted lesson!
