the W.A.R.R.I.O.R. Horse Pack Trip Program (tm)

As part of Operation Equine’s mission to provide excellent equine therapy services for our nation’s Warriors and Protectors, we have launched a unique program called the WARRIOR Pack Trip. This program combines the best of our organization’s talents with the benefits of experiential healing and wilderness therapy by integrating human connection, equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning, and the great outdoors for our Military, Veteran, and Emergency Responder communities.

W.A.R.R.I.O.R.

Wisdom
Acceptance
Respect
Relationships
Integrity
Own Your Impact
Responsibility

This unique, 6-day * experience includes:

  • Exploring a therapeutic relationship with horses: both on the ground and on horseback.

  • Facilitation of evidence-based equine-assisted psychotherapy and education, as well as groundwork with the horses (based on the Eagala model and Equine Guided Education).

  • Gaining and/or refreshing basic riding/horsemanship principles and skills for trail rides to prepare for the the 2-night/3-day pack trip.

  • Submersion into nature and utilizing its benefits for therapeutic growth: individually and in community.

  • Collaborating as a team to help take care of the horses, prep and cook meals, and set up camp.

  • Building and participating in intentionally therapeutic campfire sessions.

  • Learning and practicing mindfulness skills: both on the ground and on horseback.

    The therapeutic skills that we lean into on this trip are intended to cultivate self-awareness and self-regulation skills. This can help lead to reduced stress, decreased anxiety, increased emotional intelligence, and the ability to communicate in healthy ways. By doing this, we work towards improving our ability to communicate in healthy ways and creating a renewed sense of purpose for self, family, and the community.

    Participants will experience a lifetime of benefits from the camaraderie that comes from having a shared purpose, which will allow them to better reconnect with themselves, their families, and their communities.

“My time with Operation Equine was transformative. The staff's dedication and warmth created a welcoming environment right from the start. Working with the horses was an incredibly grounding experience, their calm presence offering a unique form of therapy and connection that I had been seeking for a long time…This was an incredibly therapeutic [experience] as it mirrored the process of healing from my past experiences in the military, where trust and understanding are crucial yet often hard to come by.”

- Ben J.: Veteran"

 

The WARRIOR Pack trip is a 6-day program that includes two-and-a-half days of ground work with the horses, and three days and two nights consisting of horse trail riding and camping out overnight.

Attending the retreat along with the participants are the Operation Equine therapeutic team, the staff and horses from A.J. Brink Outfitters at Sweetwater Lake Resort, and the staff and horses from Music Meadows Ranch in Westcliffe, Colorado.

"The WARRIOR horse pack trip was truly a transformative experience for me. From the moment I arrived, I felt invested in the journey ahead.  The calming effect of the wilderness and the interactive nature of the trip allowed me to truly connect with myself and those around me.

  • Adam K, Army Veteran

Partner Organizations

Sponsorship and Donation Opportunities

BRONZE DONORS

$50 - Donate snacks and meals for a Veteran for the day
$100 - Donate the cost of a gas card for 1 Veteran
$500 - Donate the cost of meals for 1 program

SILVER DONORS
$800 - Sponsor lodging for the initial days of the Pack Trip

$1,000 - Donate half the cost of the WARRIOR Pack Trip for 1 Veteran

GOLD STAR DONORS

$2,000 - Sponsor 1 Veteran for the WARRIOR Pack Trip!
$4,000 - Sponsor 2 Veterans!
$12,000 - Sponsor the cost of the entire WARRIOR Pack Trip Program for 6 Veterans

 

“This trip changed the trajectory of my life forever. I am excited about the future again, primarily because I am now focused on MY hopes and dreams, not someone else's. I have found my new sense of purpose... I was able to connect with other women in a way that was meaningful and healing. A couple of years ago I lost my shipmate and buddy to covid. While I didn’t serve with any of the women on this trip, they helped me heal from that loss, and I can honestly say I have gained some new battle buddies!”

T.M. - Navy Veteran

“The work we did with the horses allowed me to shine a light on areas of myself I needed to pay attention to that I had never realized before…Forming a bond with a horse is more powerful than the average person is aware of. You can learn a lot about yourself and the horse while doing equine therapy, and I have taken the things I learned…and continued to work on them outside of this trip.”

- L.S. Navy Veteran

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