V.E.T.S moving ahead into the future on horseback
V.E.T.S begins offering Mounted Programs.
Veterans Equine Therapeutic Services had worked diligently for many years to reach one special goal. We wanted to offer the veterans in our Ground Program an opportunity to graduate to the next phase in life and skills training at the barn. The natural progression from the sixteen weeks of the Ground Program training prepares our vets for a Mounted Program, a program we couldn’t afford. Thanks to the support and caring of many of our benefactors and volunteers, this goal became a reality in 2020.
The Power of Together 2
Since V.E.T.S. started in 2015, we’ve offered a Basic and Advanced Ground Program. These programs consist of two, eight-week sessions where the veterans learn what a horse is, how they communicate, human relationships with horses and how to work with and handle these gentle giants. The expense of insurance, paid instructors, safety equipment and many other financial limitations prevented us from adding a Mounted Program. That all changed when we met the Power of Together 2 in Mystic, CT in 2020.
Due to their generous support, Veterans Equine Therapeutic Services was able to cover all the expenses of adding a therapeutic Mounted Program. This program allows our veterans to expand their equestrian and life skills to new levels while learning to ride on horseback. We hired a professionally certified therapeutic instructor to oversee every mounted class and upgraded our insurance. We were able to purchase student safety equipment, new helmets and other key pieces of equipment required for this program.
Without the amazing support of Power of Together 2, this Mounted Program would still only be a distant reality.
Thanks to our volunteers
As we look to the future, it is our hope and dream that we can shape Veterans Equine Therapeutic Services into a premier, nationally recognized veterans’ therapeutic facility that our supporters, our community and our vets can be proud of.
If you know any veterans or active duty personnel who could benefit from any of our programs, please have them contact Craig McCalister, our V.E.T.S. Executive Director.