HORSES & HEROES INC

H&H was founded in 2014 by Julie Baker, a military wife, mother, and horse lover. From an early age, she recognized that traumatized horses require the same elements as people to heal from neglect, trauma, and broken trust. These include emotional safety, physical security, time, and trust.

Grounded in principles of integrity, trust, and healing, H&H has been offering integrative, alternative, no-cost behavioral health services to military personnel, first responders, and their families since its inception. The organization is committed to evidence-based, alternative whole-body therapies that have been shown to alleviate biological and physiological symptoms linked to unresolved trauma. H&H believes systemic change is necessary for long-term positive outcomes and empowering our children for successful adulthood. Its educational and therapeutic programs play a crucial role in raising awareness.

H&H provides a path to recovery for individuals who may not seek traditional counseling and are struggling with traumatic memories or physical and emotional pain. The organization uses baseline behavioral health scales to measure suicidal ideation, unresolved trauma, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, all of which can indicate a high risk for suicide. Supportive programs include peer support training, group workshops (both clinical and non-clinical), regular alumni recreational activities, community hours for veterans connected to diversion programs through Veteran Treatment Courts, and individual professional counseling for military and first responder families. H&H is frequently invited to the Kansas City VA (KCVA) to enhance veteran outreach and networking efforts. Due to its strong female leadership, H&H also caters to a significant population of veteran women who may feel uncomfortable in male-dominated programs.

H&H is one of more than 600 EAGALA-certified programs and one of 30 national programs holding the esteemed Military Designation. H&H provides the following alternative services to the market not available from other organizations:
• Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)
• Equine Assisted EMDR(EAEMDR aka EquiLateral)
• Therapeutic Massage (TM)
• Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

Hope is the anchor of healing. At H&H, we foster an environment that encourages new possibilities for growth and wellness, as shown by the inspiring stories of veterans who have completed our program. Here are a few words from our past clients:
"I was so blessed to find Horses & Heroes during a time when I was feeling lost in the shuffle at the VA. As a disabled veteran, I received all of my care through the VA and was concerned about the costs involved in seeking help elsewhere. A friend recommended Horses & Heroes, and I am SO GLAD he did! Not only did I receive top-notch therapy (at no cost to me), but I was also able to make some horse friends! Being in the field with the horses during the sessions is an incredible experience. Petting the horses helped me stay grounded when I was sharing difficult things, and through observations of their behaviors, I could see parallels in my path to recovery. I have beautiful snapshots of that field and those horses I can revisit whenever I struggle. I will continue to recommend H&H to my peers highly. Thank you!"
-Kara, Army Veteran

Another female veteran who lost her husband to suicide shares, “After my traumatic event, I longed for peace. I would never have guessed I would find it in a group of horses who shared my trauma. These beautiful creatures taught me how to be calm, how to be present, and how to be congruent within myself in a way I was unable to achieve with more traditional therapy alone. I will carry the experience with me always.” -KBI Officer and spouse. Her daughter also expresses her experience after going through the H&H program. “I have been in therapy for around three years, and no treatment has brought me a greater sense of peace than being around the horses. You are so kind and easy to trust, and I am so grateful to have had this experience. Thank you”. A child who lost her first responder-dad to suicide.

Our clinical protocol is thorough and consistent, allowing us to provide, monitor, and assess the best possible outcomes for our clients. Our licensed clinical counselors administer pre- and post-behavioral health assessments, which we analyze to ensure that our programs are effective and impactful. With your support, we can significantly improve access to our unique resources, making you an essential part of this empowering journey.