Who We Are Helping
The cries for help are numerous and often silent but transform into other ways of being heard. Past or present military service renders wounds that can affect bodies, minds, spirits, families, and futures. The trauma inflicted by literally or figuratively serving in the trenches for the United States of America imposes damage that must be attended to.
Whether immediate or delayed, the men and women of the military suffer emotional and psychological upheaval often too complex to understand on their own. Too many soldiers return home without any assistance to help navigate their transition. Forced to reintegrate into civilian life exposes a type of profound struggle that is unique, yet has been present sense the beginning of this country and beyond.
Unfortunately, the negative stigma of suffering mental health issues lessens the chances that a veteran will seek help, which can lead to a worsening of the condition, and/or an escalation to taking one’s life. Many are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or similar symptoms.
In an effort to illustrate the real-life experiences and root causes of the trauma suffered by the veterans and active military we serve at Rise Canyon Ranch, please consider their stories:
“I was in a trench for 48 hours covered in red ants and bombs were going off all around me. I didn’t know if I would survive.”
“I had to kill a child because it was either me or them.”
“When I got home, the drive to my house is the same landscape as where I was in Baghdad.”
“There were sections where we were being shot at 24/7. When we went to our superiors, they didn’t believe us and downplayed the entire incident saying the enemy was just shooting at the birds.”
“I wanted to kill myself and they told me, ‘Go ahead, you’re not worth living anyway’.”
“I am a female in the military and I got raped, but there’s no one I can go to. If I speak up I’m a disgrace to the uniform.”
“I have all my arms and legs so how could I have PTSD?”
“I came back to civilian life and no one tells me what to do. I’ve been told what to do for many years now. So, I don’t know what to do at all.”
“I look normal, but I cannot be in a crowd. I’d like to go out with my family to the movies but I can’t keep an eye on the whole room.”
“At any given moment I may break into a cold sweat.”
“The public doesn’t want to know what I’ve done. If you knew who I became and the things I did to give you the freedoms you have, you would not like me.”
Through the AT EASE program offered at Rise Canyon Ranch, we’ve had great success relieving veterans and active military members from this level of pain, inner turmoil and suffering.
The AT EASE Program at Rise Canyon Ranch
Answering Trauma (with) Equine Assisted Service & Effort
The AT EASE Program is an EAGALA Military Services Program. This designation indicates that our treatment teams have extensive military-focused training and a proven track record of success working with service members.
We focus on providing Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) services to military members regardless of ability to pay. Active duty members, reservists and veterans can attend an 8-week EAP program free of charge, based on available funds. The attention we give to helping military service members address their mental health concerns is paramount to our overall mission. We are dedicated to providing an emotionally safe place for them and their families.
Together, with an ideally-matched horse, Equine Specialist and Licensed Mental Health Professional, individuals and families engage in ground-based activities that focus on:
• Addressing the unique needs of current and former service members
• Preparing a person for deployment
• Teaching returning men and women how to bridge the gap from combat to civilian life
• Regaining productive skills such as entering the workforce, rejoining their families and furthering their education
• Discovering the benefits of the horse-human connection and how vital it is to the healing of trauma
• Sustaining effective life management skills
• Fostering awareness and emotional regulation skills
Each client is administered an assessment of symptoms and quality of life measures as a pre-test before the program. A second assessment is administered after the 8-week program to determine improvement and need for further services. Impact to both individuals and families are considered in this process to ensure that a positive sustainable outcome has been attained.
Current Need
If it is determined that further services beyond the 8-week duration are needed and would be beneficial, funds for the extension of the program are necessary. Unfortunately, some clients are unable to afford additional services. It is for this specific reason that Rise Canyon Ranch is seeking financial support for the AT EASE program.
The AT EASE program is an existing program that has been funded successfully via a combination of grants. This will continue to be the preferred method for ensuring that vital EAP services are provided to veterans, military members and their families today and in the future.
