On the eve of class 1 season 1 for me, class 8 season 6 for Heroes and Horses everything is quiet, wet, and overcast on the ranch. Cabins have been built, the chow hall is cleaned, organized, and ready. We have a brand new sauna heater and a cold plunge ready for freezing fresh water from the mountain and buckets of ice. Saddles are hanging and trailers lined up.
The horses are getting a fresh set of shoes and they seem calm. I have conversations with a few of them. They know that with their winter coat shed, snow melted, and rain dropping almost every day, our season is quickly approaching. New students mean fresh riders for them, but it also means they put on their forgiving, healing, and teaching hats for another season. Their work is just beginning.
Horses have been found to have a calming and therapeutic effect on people with mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Working with horses can also improve cognitive skills such as memory, problem-solving, and attention.
The bond between horse and rider is much like that between a man and his best friend, the K9. The healing powers horses possess are second to none. Their patience, care, and loving energy are essential to our new students.
Heroes and Horses sits on 3500 acres of Montana land. Our herd of 80+ horses and mules have plenty of space to roam, flock, kick, and graze. Our program consists of four summer classes, with eight Veterans per class, spanning 41 days. This is not a vacation.
The Vets will participate in horsemanship, including roping, riding, packing, farriering, and veterinarian lessons. They will also engage in ranch projects, cowboy week, Indian sweats, fire and ice rituals, and our 10-day pack trip, covering hundreds of miles in the Montana wilderness before they receive their graduation Double H belt buckle.
Our morning routines consist of working out, stretching, breathwork, meditation, sauna, and cold plunge therapy, all before breakfast. In the evenings, we have our fire chats where we discuss, analyze, and explore the truth about life, our personal issues, struggles, and how we overcome them to become the best versions of ourselves this world has ever seen. (Have you heard that before?)
This is the beginning of a 41-day journey that will transform the lives of 8 Veterans and 32 total over the course of the summer. This transformation will forever leave a mark on their hearts and change the direction of their lives. This is Heroes and Horses.
Thank you for all your support and for reading my blog. Stay tuned for all new adventures from the ranch.
Fishtales 