[November 28, 2021] Near where I live, a few days ago, I visited a “horse farm” called Chestnut Run Farm. A small group of motivated local folks was there helping Veterans heal mentally. They started this non-profit to make a difference. I have discovered that there are good leaders everywhere, sometimes you have to find them; in this case, they found me.
This group of folks is at the Veteran Equine Therapy Stables, just a short drive from my house and easily accessible to anyone, regardless of handicap. Their “mission is to provide an equine therapy facility to active service members, Veterans and their families to help manage PTSD and to minimize the suicide rate among our military.” 1 Other animals are available other than horses. One of their goats took a liking to me.
In early December, I will be going through their program to experience what they do firsthand. I do this so I can explain to other Veterans the horse therapy program from a personal viewpoint. That has always been my philosophy; experience allows you better to discuss the possibilities and realities of any circumstance. For example, in the Iraq War, I spent at least a quarter of my time traveling about the battlefield to understand better what our troops needed, so my Engineers could build it.
In June, I posted an article about another local horse farm that provides free riding lessons for Veterans and first responders. Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center is where several Veterans and myself are taking riding lessons, but, more importantly, we are becoming more resilient, better focused, and happier for it.
Like so many non-profits, both these horse therapy organizations always need donations and in-person help. If you have the desire, please contribute to their cause (of helping Veterans) and if you live local to any of them, give back by serving on their Board of Directors or just helping around their farms.
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Please read my new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” at Amazon (link here).
I’m a long time fan of this leadership blog but have never written in to express my thinking. I just wanted to say that this program, like so many others, are run by some real patriots and I just want to thank them. THANKS!
Best of luck with this therapy type. I understand it has become very popular among older veterans.
There might just be MORE folks helping veterans but I find that they are very hard to find out who and where they are. Is it because they don’t advertise? Is it for some other reason? Getting the word out about what they do is also crucial to delivering their much needed therapy.
Big Al, I’m seeing the same thing. The question to ask is, “How do we get more volunteers to help our communities?”
Keep up the great works, people. Helping vets is a great cause.
Giving back. That’s my motto. When you can, give back to your community. That is what these folks are doing and helping our Veterans too. Hey, volunteer just a few hours a month. Every little bit helps. And, gee, you might actually learn something useful at the same time.
And they need good people on their Boards. This is often where the best leadership is found. Not easy, all hard to do. But a good board of directors helps set the future for success by their vision. Let’s hope they can find people. I live in Wisconsin, so I’m too far but there are local horse farms like this one in New Jersey (where Gen. Satterfield lives). I plan to help them out.
Good for you, DPG. I plan to do the same. And with Christmas time just around the corner, contribute to them as well.
Excellent point but today, too many young people would rather play video games than actually do something for their community. Some think that just means yakking it up on their social media accounts (not much results there).
That is what Americans do best.
Thank you to Gen. Sattefield for again highlighting a worthwhile organization of good people doing good things. Surely, there is no profit in running this type of organization so the value is the fact that they help veterans. Good for them and I wish them the best at Veteran Equine Therapy Stables. I looked them up on the web. Good luck with your mission!!!!!!
… and good luck to them as well. Anyone helping our Vets is someone I would “want in my foxhole.” I just love using Gen. Satterfield’s words like ‘foxhole.’ Kinda makes me happy that I discovered this website. And, I’m personally fond of horses myself, being from Texas and all.
Thanks to Gen. Satterfield for once again showing the leadership – all about success – is everywhere. You just have to have the motivation and some good ideas and the will to never stop doing good.
Is that you, Gen. Satterfield in the thumbnail for your article? What is the horse’s name? Great article, thanks.
Yes, I do believe it is Gen. Satterfield. Go to the Veteran Equine Therapy Stables website for more info on what they do and to see some of their photographs. Their mission is to help our Vets and they have my support. I hope it can make a real difference in our Vets with PTSD and other handicaps.
Yes, a great bunch of folks helping veterans. I hope they are successful. This is the kind of organization that takes a lot of hard work to succeed. I hope they can carry it thru. Many like them fail. I hope they are “spectacularly” successful in their endeavor.
I agree.
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More like this makes me feel better for Americans helping Americans.
Good info, thanks all.
And exactly why I keep coming back to this leadership website by Gen. Satterfield to read more on applied leadership principles. One thing I have learned is that ‘motivation’ makes all the difference. Gen. Sattefield calls it having heart. True!