The battle for freedom was won on the back of a horse
Coming H.O.M.E.©
H.O.M.E. = Horses Offer Military Ethos
Coming H.O.M.E. is a specifically designed workshop program for members of the armed forces including but not limited to: active duty, reconstitution, reservists, veterans and incoming recruits.
At Spring Reins of Hope we have carefully considered group exercises that are explorative and supportive in nature to aid military personnel with transition typically associated with military life. On the ground activities with the horses are designed to mimic real life issues. This allows the warriors and facilitators to "see" where the challenges are and find solutions that work. The warriors quickly recognize unhealthy patterns, acknowledge their personal strengths, and enact new behaviors. A facilitated process, such as this, can serve as a buffer for potential emotional distress and impairment.
This approach has a tremendous impact on "Maintaining the psychological health, enhancing the resilience, and ensuring the recovery of service members and their families are essential to maintaining a ready and fully capable military force."
Report of the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health, June 2007.
Benefits of this
experiential modality include:
Fostering resilience - experiential activities re-create frustrations, stressors, and relationship problems. Warriors learn to adapt, improvise, and overcome perceived stressors as effectively at home as they do on the battlefield.
Adaptability - warriors must respond to the unpredictability and inability to "control" the horses and discover ways to make relationships work.
Solution-focused - warriors must find their own solutions to proposed exercises through hands-0n experience; they learn to rely on themselves and their team members.
Action, not talk - principles of healthy transitions are practically applied and practiced.
Knowing when to reach for help, recognizing signs of trouble, and enhanced self-awareness are also areas covered in this exploratory, support-based workshop.
Coming H.O.M.E. workshops at Spring Reins of Hope are designed with the group atmosphere in mind; however we do offer private/individual, couples and family sessions within our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program. If this is of interest, or you feel you may need some extra "help", please inquire with us for more information, or see our Operation 4H (Horses Helping Heroes Heal) located on the EAP section of this website.
RESOURCES ON MILITARY RECONSTITUTION WITH HORSES
Coming Soon… Additional SROH Workshop in Development
- THE WARRIOR HORSE
(Combat Ready Skills Enhancement Training for Military Personnel and Soldiers/Cadets in Training)
Please check back with us periodically, or call/email us for more information as this course develops further.