DeSoto County-based nonprofit uses equine therapy to help veterans, first responders battle PTSD

OLIVE BRANCH – A nonprofit is using the empathetic nature of horses to help local veterans and first responders recover from the unseen wounds of service.¹

WarHorses for Heroes, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2015, provides equine-assisted therapy for individuals struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-related challenges. Many participants are referred through the Memphis VA.

“A horse is a naturally empathetic animal. It’s not going to judge you,” said Trey Lawson, co-founder of the organization. “It’s going to respond to you according to your emotional state.”

Lawson’s mission is personal. He promised his family he would not enlist just before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. When his friends returned from deployment with PTSD, he began taking them horseback riding to get them “out in the country.”

“That led to actually using horses to treat PTSD,” Lawson said. “I found other ways to provide service.”

The program, which also serves first responders, helps participants who are often self-isolating to socialize and build connections. Lawson said he measures success by observing the bonds formed between the veterans and the animals.

“It’s something to see a bunch of grown men and women showing up excited as kindergarten kids to be out for recess, coming to see these horses,” Lawson said. “You start to see them come out of their shell.”

The therapy is not limited to mental health. The program also incorporates “horse yoga,” a series of stretches on horseback to help veterans with physical therapy, core strength, and balance. The horses selected for the program, regardless of breed, must have a gentle, social, and positive attitude.

WarHorses for Heroes will host its annual Veterans Day Picnic fundraiser on Nov. 9. The event is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lichterman Nature Center, 5992 Quince Road. It will feature a silent auction, a wine pull, food, and a Missing Man Ceremony presented by the Mid-South Veteran League.

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Key Takeaways

• WarHorses for Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that provides equine therapy to veterans and first responders.
• The program, which partners with the Memphis VA, focuses on helping participants with PTSD by using the non-judgmental nature of horses to help them socialize.
• The organization is holding its annual Veterans Day Picnic fundraiser on Nov. 9 from 1-4 p.m. at the Lichterman Nature Center.