Name: Program for veterans with PTSD uses horses to help them heal
Uploaded: 2025-11-11T15:56:18.935Z
Duration: 5 min 31 s
Description: The nonprofit War Horses for Veterans near Kansas City welcomes combat veterans for a nearly weeklong, all-expense-paid experience. Veterans take the reins, connect with others and learn to move forward from PTSD.

The nonprofit War Horses for Veterans near Kansas City welcomes combat veterans for a nearly weeklong, all-expense-paid experience. Veterans take the reins, connect with others and learn to move forward from PTSD.

Kansas City

War Horses for Veterans, a non-profit organization near Kansas City, provides a nearly week-long, all-expenses-paid program for combat veterans struggling with PTSD. The program uses horse therapy and peer support to help participants process trauma, build trust, and develop coping skills. 

Founded in 2014 by Andy and Pat Brown, the initiative was inspired by the challenges faced by returning Vietnam War veterans. The program has since expanded to include first responders, offering a supportive environment where participants can connect, heal, and find renewed purpose.

Program for veterans with PTSD uses horses to help them heal

We take you to a sprawling ranch near Kansas City. That's where the non-profit War Horses for Veterans welcomes combat vets to a nearly week-long, all-expenses-paid experience. Warriors take the reins, connect with others, and learn to move forward from PTSD. Natalie Morales got a close-up look at this life-changing experience. They say in war, sometimes the hardest battle is coming home. These former combat Marines know that firsthand. John Tidwell served two deployments to Afghanistan. In total, I got hit by three IEDs in 24 hours. That was a traumatic brain injury for you, right? And shrapnel, yeah, in my upper body and neck and face. Jeremy Sweitzer deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Some of the things that you do, you do it because that's your job and that's what you need to do. And you don't think about the consequences until afterward. And Derek Bibby served more than 20 years as a Harrier pilot deployed to Iraq. On the ground and in the air, I lost friends. Does any of that survivor's guilt come in at all? It still does. Their shared experiences create a deep sense of understanding and trust. During the day, their therapy looks like this. Because most have exhausted traditional ways to treat PTSD. And at night, a quiet chat around the campfire helps them connect on a deeper level. It's teamwork. It's trust. It's loyalty. We're all here for each other. And that's really the best part about it. Studies have shown horses have a remarkable ability to recognize and reflect human emotions. You need to be as relaxed as possible. Former Marine Jake Greenleaf guides the riders. We all have some trauma. And it's not like it ever leaves. You just got to learn how to be able to visit it and healthily walk away. The nearly week-long program focuses on tools for personal growth, improving communication skills, and overall well-being. That was impressive. That was good. Andy and Pat Brown founded War Horses for Veterans in 2014. So your mantra is? Don't pray for an easy life. Pray to be strong. The Browns saw how veterans were treated when they returned home from the unpopular Vietnam War, often disrespected and neglected. That inspired the retired couple to create a space to help all combat vets heal. And we had always both been taught to leave the world a better place than we entered it. So it's our little teeny way of trying to make a difference. Horses were always a big part of our family. And in my way, it was a way of really thanking all those people that have never gotten what they deserved. Sweetser first rode at War Horses three years ago and recalls when his PTSD was crippling. Anger, depression, anxiety. I drank a lot. That's the only way I could sleep. Did you feel hopeless at one point, though? I felt like I'd become a burden to the people around me. I used to tell my wife, I just can't get right. I just can't get right in my head. I had a plan. I was going to kill myself. Horses have helped him heal. And he says the tools he's learned here, the friendships formed, have inspired purpose and peace. It was getting up and getting on the back of a horse, feeling something besides sadness and guilt. It was about being present, being able to love on the horse. And the horse not judging you. In his 36 years as a combat chaplain, Alan Hansen has seen enough death to last a lifetime. War is the foyer to hell. Hell was coming back home trying to deal with your experiences. But now a horse is ministering to him. The horse will make mistakes. I'm going to make mistakes. But it helps you to heal and move on. Taking the reins to move forward. Everybody here just is so willing to help you and guide you in any kind of way they can. And do you feel like a weight lifted a little bit after being here? Yeah, I don't want to go home, really. I want to stay here. It really is such a special place. I didn't want to go home. And you know, men and women come from all across the country to War Horses for Veterans. And after the pandemic, they opened up the program to first responders as well. And War Horses and the Browns, they cover all the expenses for those who are hoping to begin their healing journey. Guys. I mean, Nate, I was thinking about what Nate and I were saying during the story. Natalie, what a perfect story for today. The line that he said about visit your trauma. Visit your traumas, yeah. Visit your trauma and then let it go. And I like the one man who just said, don't pray for an easy life. Pray to be strong. Yeah. It's such a good mantra for us to all live by. And thank you to all our veterans on this day as well. You know, they've sacrificed so much, including their families. My own family is, my father is a veteran as well. So, yes. Well said, Natalie. To all our veterans, we see you. We hear you. We appreciate you. We love you. We appreciate you, for sure. We appreciate you, Natalie. Thank you very much, Natalie. Thank you so much.

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