Horse Racing

Saratoga WarHorse War Program Helps Veterans Recover


There is a special responsibility that Steve Houghton, as a program consultant for the Saratoga WarHorse Foundation, has to go through most every time he meets a veteran who has signed up for the company’s intensive three-day matching process. organization.

Not when Houghton went to the airport to pick up veterans or service members, many of whom were living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and struggling to transition back into civilian life. Nor is it in between sessions that veterans work with purebreds.

What resonated with Houghton was when he brought the veteran back to the airport for his flight home and he could feel what he called the beginning of their “transformation.” That’s when he was able to see veterans begin to re-establish the trust gained from working with horses — this innovative rehabilitation organization pioneered helping veterinarians back their lives.

One reason Houghton has been able to see progress is because he is a Saratoga WarHorse graduate himself. The retired US Army sergeant served 20 years, 11 of which were stationed in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Having survived nine attacks and lost an eye to an explosive device during his military service, he returned to civilian life and just wanted to retreat.

Houghton said his lingering physical and psychological wounds sometimes “seemed insurmountable.” For a time he was homeless, living out of his truck in Georgia. And although he has joined support groups and treatment, nothing seems to work. Finally, a military friend Houghton met in group therapy suggested that he join the Saratoga WarHorse program.

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So in March 2017, he did. Entering the round pen with the backing of the retired Equestrian Party was “my miracle,” said Houghton. “I felt completely relieved right away. I really felt like I didn’t have anything to worry about. It was very powerful. I got over my PTSD and was able to pull myself out of the situation. homeless.”

Houghton is hardly alone. Since 2013, Saratoga WarHorse has worked with nearly 1,500 veterans suffering from nightmares, depression, anger, withdrawal, and other issues caused by trauma. Saratoga WarHorse operates on a farm in the Saratoga area; and at satellite locations in Aiken, South Carolina, and Baltimore County Maryland.

The Saratoga WarHorse program developed over three days with an average of five participants. The program is open to veterans and service members from all branches of the military, regardless of when or how long they have served. There is no cost for veterans to join; Travel, accommodation, meals and expenses are covered.

Saratoga WarHorse is not a traditional therapy. It is a therapeutic experience designed to help participants work through the physiological symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress. It started with classroom instruction, followed by the veteran stepping into a pen to meet the OTTB. The purpose is to connect, touch and communicate. By using the silent language of the equine, a mutual trust and deep relationship is established that goes beyond verbal communication.

Allison Cherkosly, chief executive officer and chief executive officer of Saratoga WarHorse, who also served in Afghanistan, says the process, which can take between five and 45 minutes, creates a deep personal connection. between the veteran and the horse, “unlocking” the part of the veteran that has been closed for years. While the duration of the tethering process varies, for the most part, it’s predictable, sequential, and repeatable, she added.

“When I first started with Saratoga WarHorse, I almost couldn’t believe it,” Cherkosly said. “But the activation of the relaxation response occurs when the horse is ready to connect with the veteran.”

Cherkosly emphasizes that the experience can also benefit the horses, all of which are OTTB. “Like the veterans we serve, these retired racehorses are going through a transition,” she said, “and the Saratoga WarHorse program helps them successfully adapt to life outside of the community. race track and find purpose in his new life.”

“It’s an authentic process,” says Cherkosly. “As they enter the round pen, the veteran is emitting a thrill of energy. The horses, the predators, are intuitive and can smell the adrenaline rush. They’ll stay as far away as they can. . Veterans must work their way through response.”

That’s what happened to Saratoga WarHorse graduate John. “I’ve never handled a horse before,” he said. “It was a challenge I was excited to take on. I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of being reliable and trustworthy. My horse companion of the day, Done Done, was a athlete in his racing days He and I were able to find common ground and mutual understanding We both agreed that what we needed in our time in the ring was our together. “

For Houghton, the benefits continue. After going through the Saratoga WarHorse program, he joined the organization to help other vets and continued to heal himself. Today, he and his girlfriend Abby, also a “WarHorse” graduate, live on a farm in Wagener, SC, with 5 OTTBs and a donkey. Houghton is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

“Saratoga WarHorse is something very therapeutic,” says Houghton. “I want every veteran to experience it. It works.”

This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If you have any questions, please contact the organization that produced the release.



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