Eagle Veterans

Interested in the B. L. S. program?

Download the registration below and email it to lindsey@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org

or mail it to PO Box 31595 Bellingham, WA 98226

The Veterans Program is for any veteran who wishes to explore their feelings and interactions while returning to civilian life.

Equine-assisted therapy can provide a range of therapeutic benefits for veterans, helping them to heal from physical and emotional challenges. The interactions with equines can foster a unique sense of connection, grounding, and support. Here are some specific ways equines can help veterans:
  1. Emotional Regulation and Stress Relief: Equines are incredibly intuitive and can help veterans develop emotional awareness. The calm and non-judgmental presence of horses can aid in managing anxiety, PTSD, and depression, providing a sense of peace and emotional stability.
  2. Building Trust and Confidence: Working with horses can help veterans rebuild trust and improve self-confidence. Horses are sensitive animals, so they respond to a person’s body language and emotions. This interaction can teach veterans how to build trust in themselves and others.
  3. Improved Social Skills: Group sessions or working with a team can help veterans develop communication and social skills. Horses provide a shared goal that helps break down barriers and fosters connection among peers who may have similar experiences.
  4. Mindfulness and Focus: Being with a horse requires presence and focus. Horses are highly attuned to their environment, and this can help veterans practice mindfulness, stay in the moment, and manage hypervigilance or rumination often experienced with PTSD.
  5. Empathy and Compassion: Interacting with horses can cultivate empathy and compassion. Caring for a horse requires attention and emotional sensitivity, which can help veterans reconnect with their emotions in a safe space.
In essence, equine-assisted therapy is holistic and can address both emotional and physical needs, promoting overall well-being and recovery. It’s a therapeutic approach that supports healing in a way that feels natural and nurturing.
The EAGLE Vets program offers weekly or bi-weekly, one-on-one or group equine therapy sessions with our instructors, therapists and our team of equines. These sessions are conducted onsite at our peaceful, secluded farm, and are tailored to the needs of each participant.
Please contact Katie Rohwer at program@animalsasnaturaltherapy or 360-671-3509 to learn more.

Get Involved

Please call our office at 360-671-3509 or contact us by email for a confidential intake & program information. We offer some Wounded Warrior funding for qualifying participants and are happy to assist new clients in accessing other financial resources.

Veteran Experiences at ANT

Veteran Experiences at ANT

Testimonials

“ANT’s EAGLE Program has made my return to a normal civilian life possible. My work with team members and the horses has allowed me to feel whole again.”
-John M, Bellingham

“Sienna is 100% right on, right on the money. She changed my way. My relationship with my wife is much, much, much improved. What you do here really works.”
-Adam, Bellingham

“I loved horses already. I never thought they’d teach you all this stuff. They understand you and read you. How you [staff] read them is amazing. It is not simple stuff. I’ve learned to read body language in my wife and my family because of this.”
-Adam, Bellingham

“I am thankful for the introduction to equine therapy. Each time I look forward to engaging, something inside me changes. When I physically and emotionally interact with my favorite horses, I become calm and grounded.”
-Frank, Bellingham

“As the wife of a veteran, the effects of war are horrid before, during and after deployment.  Anything that was your norm as a family was re-defined from the experience.  The anxiety-ridden memories that are re-lived over and over by the veteran are the worst.  ANT’s Veteran’s program with the dedicated professional staff and animal-facilitated learning introduced good coping techniques for PTSD.  Through personal insights discovered & healing exercises, finding enjoyment in day-to-day living became the priority in our home.”