How Horses in Maple Park Can Help Veterans Find Their Way Back to Health

kanecountyconnects / November 12, 2014 / Comments Off / Animal Care and Control, Health, Veterans

On this Veterans Day week, when we pay tribute to those who have served and continue to serve in America’s Armed Forces, a newly reinvented Kane County-based psychotherapy program is gearing up to offer veterans “Hope and Promise.”

According to a recent post on Facebook, the intensive therapy program — formerly known as Boots and Hooves — uses ground work with horses to help servicemen and servicewomen who are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, injuries and reintegration into civilian life.

The program will start back up this coming spring and run through the fall. It is offered free to participants and caregivers.

Members of the general public are invited learn more about the program, meet the board members, tour the renovated facility and participate in demonstrations with the horses during an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Promise Equestrian Center, 45W050 Beith Road, Maple Park. A light lunch and snacks will be served.

According to the Facebook post, Gerald (Jerry) Paulsen resigned from the board of Boots and Hooves. Since then, new board members have been added and set up the spring program.

“The name of the organization has changed to Hope and Promise, but the mission remains the same,” said the organizers.

Hope and Promise Board members include Gary Kempiak and Matt Ruddick, owners of Promise Equestrian Center, Susan Koeslter, Jordan Howell and Dan Nagel.

The main focus of the program is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, which involves working with horses in an enclosed arena.

“It is NOT horseback riding, the Facebook posts says.

Greg Kersten, the founder of EAP, says to program is an innovative way to help veterans learn to trust and reach out following physical, mental and/or emotional issues as a result of their service.

“We entrust horses to show us the way back to health,” he said. “Work and observation in the horse world lends itself to extremely powerful metaphors into our own patterns, strengths, and the nonverbal messages we send out.”

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