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Wounded Warriors Project – introduction to equine therapy
June 26, 2021 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
FreeThe WWP’s mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors who incurred a physical or mental injury, illnesses, or wound, co-incident to your military service on or after September 11, 2001. You may also be eligible for the program if you are the family member or caregiver of a Wounded Warrior.
On June 26, 2021 from 11a to 3pm come to Forever Amber Acres and learn about “An Introduction to Equine Therapy – EAP & EAL” Please register for this hands on event and BBQ lunch. Let us know if you will be bringing plus one guest?
*If you are already a registered WWP Alumni, please sign up through your weekly newsletter beginning 6/1.
**If you aren’t a registered member of WWP, but a veteran, please register through Forever Amber Acres link here:
https://foreveramber.org/product/comrades-in-arms-equine-assisted-learning-workshop-for-military-veterans/
Agenda for the day as follows (11a – 3p):
11-3pm: Jennifer Sharpnack PEMF Therapy and Thermal Imaging
11-11:30am: Welcome Tent, Sign in, Sign ups for demonstrations, Sign ups for further program information, Marketing Materials/Handouts
11:30-12nn: Tour the barn, come meet the herd (conducted by our veteran volunteer barn buddies)
12-12:45pm: Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) hands on group demonstration (sign ups at welcome tent for participants, 10 veteran participants can sign up to, others can observe)
- This is a hands on opportunity for warriors to experience hands on what an equine therapy session could look like in an individual or group atmosphere; it will be an obstacle course activity in our indoor arena where warriors team up with each other and the horses to achieve a goal our treatment team (Janna and I) challenge them with. This is a metaphorical, experiential activity (for an example it could look like “Together, Build what is blocking you from living a stress free life”) or something of that nature…
12:45 – 1:30pm: Break for lunch – lunch catered by Mission BBQ and provided by WWP
1:30 – 2pm: Herd Observation (up to 20 participants can join in that demo)
- Using the “Horses in the Room – Horse Path Therapeutic Cards” our treatment team will conduct a herd observation where warriors relate to certain behaviors demonstrated by our herd of horses, as well as seen on the therapeutic cards we use as a tool for discussion. We’ll be looking for Shifts within the herd, Patterns, Unique behaviors, etc that the veterans will be able to relate to…
2:05-2:30pm: Join Up Demonstration (we can take up to 3 participants)
- Through Join–Up® and other equine-assisted activities, horses teach participants how to learn to regulate their emotions and return to their pre-war behavioral selves. In this exercise, a horse and a veteran are teamed up in the round pen sand arena together. The horse is at liberty (with no restraints). Through body movement, body positioning and eye contact the horse is first driven away by the veteran and will begin running round and round until the veteran and the horse make a connection and the horse stops and chooses to follow the veteran at liberty.
- For an example and further understanding of this exercise, please watch our news piece recently aired on NBC WKYC who came out to see first hand what we do here with veterans. https://youtu.be/sk-
xmj4hyR8
2:40 – 3:00pm: Herd Meditation & Mindfulness Round Circle with Yoga Instructor Lydia Benson
(up to 20 participants)
Description: *Focus is on self care and why it’s so important!
- Because horses live entirely in the present, they are a living study of mindfulness. Their acute ability to be in the moment allows them to pick up on our subtle body language cues and emotions. This equine unbiased feedback gives us the ability to see ourselves better and challenge us to steady ourselves.
*throughout the event we will also have corn hole boards set up in the garden/picnic area for family members and horse grooming activities in the main barn (led by our volunteer barn buddies)