Montana

As a child, I grew up in Australia on a ranch…

My father was a professional horse trainer, and I was a horse stuntman in the making. I grew up peeing on electric fences, licking salt licks, and getting chased by calves. Pretty sure I was going to be a cowboy when I grew up. My life plans changed once I came to America; becoming a Navy SEAL was my new calling. It was a great honor to serve my country, and it will be a great honor to now serve Veterans.

From a young age, I loved horses. I love the smell of them and how majestic and beautiful they are. They are also great service animals; our therapy training program utilizes them at Heros and Horses. Did you know that there are only two service animals in America, dogs and horses! Maybe I can take my quarterhorse to the grocery store? #serviceanimal 

I am incredibly excited to be a part of Heros and Horses, a non-profit helping Veterans while utilizing horses. I genuinely feel this is my next calling, and I am fully embracing it. I traded in my levis for wranglers, my 600 HP Chevelle for a 1 HP quarterhorse, flatbill hats for cowboy hats, my apartment for a wall tent (while living on the ranch), hey dudes for cowboy boots, and pullovers for pearl snaps. Jorts will remain in my life – I’ll just put chaps over them. Cowboy blood runs through these veins. The outside might change, but the inside remains the same. I care deeply about helping Vets not to commit suicide and helping them find their peace and purpose; I care deeply about becoming the best version of myself to help others. We rise by lifting others. Hopefully, Mila and I will soon add a horse to our family.

Horses play a vital role as service animals, helping with emotional support, including mindfulness, bonding, and cognitive behavior, including executive function, memory, and attention. 

Emotional Support: Horses have been found to have a calming and therapeutic effect on people with mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Equine-assisted therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of these conditions.

Mindfulness: Horses can help individuals practice mindfulness, which is being present and focused on the current moment. Working with horses requires individuals to be present, aware of their surroundings, and in tune with the horse’s body language. This can help individuals with mental health conditions reduce stress and anxiety.

Bonding: Developing a bond with a horse can give individuals a sense of connection and companionship. This can be especially valuable for individuals who may feel isolated or disconnected from others due to their mental health condition.

Cognitive Benefits: Working with horses can also improve cognitive skills such as memory, problem-solving, and attention. This has been observed in individuals with autism, ADHD, and dementia.

Executive Function: Executive function is the mental skill that helps individuals plan, organize, and complete tasks. Working with horses requires individuals to use organizational function skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, and goal-setting.

Memory: Working with horses can also improve memory skills. For example, individuals may need to remember specific routines or commands when working with their horses. This can help improve their memory skills over time.

Attention: Horses require high concentration and focus, which can help individuals improve their attention skills. This can be especially valuable for individuals with ADHD or traumatic brain injury.

About Heros and Horses:

Founder: Micah Fink (Fun fact: I went through SEAL training with Micah as a student) 

Ranch: Virginia City, MT

Office: Belgrade, MT

Mission: Heros and Horses are a Veteran non-profit whose goal is “to un-program the programmed. To offer combat veterans an alternative solution for defining and approaching their physical and mental scars—a solution that does not include prescription medications or traditional psychotherapy, but rather the opportunity to use tools to redefine their purpose, rediscover their inner strength, and maximize their potential by taking ownership of their lives for the first time since leaving service.”

Vision: Our vision is to provide veterans with the tools to discover what they already have. To thrive, find purpose, and live a life full of meaning. Over 41- days, we use a 360-degree whole-human approach that combines whole-food eating, mindset, breathing techniques, meditation, remote wilderness, and wild horses. Our goal is to break the addiction cycle of looking out for answers and outsourcing the decisions that impact their lives to others. You place a person at a disadvantage by treating only a singular aspect of who they are. The symbiotic relationship between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a human must be considered if a person is to move forward in their life. Our vision looks at how everything works together, creating space so a person can heal.

Our Theory

• We’ve done a great job of turning civilians into soldiers but fundamentally failed at helping soldiers transition back into civilians.
• High unemployment rates are a direct result of a system that is not created to support the redefining of purpose after service. 
• There is a massive issue with the over-prescribing of psychiatric medications as a first line of defense.
• There is an over-reliance on government assistance programs, which also perpetuates a victim mentality among the veteran population.

Thank you for all your support and for reading my blog. Stay tuned for all new adventures from the ranch.

Fishtales from horse trails.