OPERATION REMOUNT

At Operation Remount Corporation, we pair wild mustangs with veterans and first responders. Through one-on-one gentling and training, these individuals initiate and build a trusting relationship with their mustang. Veterans and first responders often face traumatic events in their careers, leading to PTSD and symptoms like tension, anxiety, emotional numbing, distancing, and avoidance. These symptoms interfere with their interpersonal relationships and their ability to function at work and in personal lives.
Similarly, mustangs experience trauma when gathered from their wild lands to protect them from starvation, dehydration, overcrowding, or wildfires. These events lead to heightened “Flight or Fight” responses in the mustangs. By working together, the traumatized veteran and traumatized horse help each other heal. Veterans act as therapists to the mustangs, and mustangs act as therapists to the veterans, fostering reciprocal healing.
When veterans gentle the mustangs, they experience a reduction in anxiety and emotional numbing, improved mastery of their fear responses, and a reduction in hypervigilance within a natural learning environment. As the mustang begins to trust the veteran, the veteran begins to trust the horse and, ultimately, themselves.

The Mustang Program is a six-week course located at the Mirrored K Legacy Ranch in Jay Em, Wyoming. The program combines didactic and hands-on learning experiences, providing participants with the skills and knowledge to work with wild mustangs. During class days, all meals are provided at no cost to the participants. Upon successful completion of the program, participants have the opportunity to adopt their horse free of charge, provided they have an appropriate place to keep and care for the animal.