At Promise Landing Farm, we believe in the healing power of horses. Patriot’s Promise is a program designed to provide emotional, cognitive, physical, and social benefits to those who have given so much for our freedom and safety. Through equine-assisted services, we create a supportive, welcoming, and empowering environment where veterans and first responders can reconnect with themselves, their peers, and the world around them. Participants engage in a variety of horsemanship activities, both mounted and unmounted, individually or in groups.
Our program offers:
One-day clinics – An introduction to equine-assisted services, allowing participants to explore whether it’s a beneficial resource for them.
Weekly group lessons – Providing structure, camaraderie, and skill-building while fostering trust, confidence, and personal growth.
At the heart of Patriot’s Promise is our core value: “Never Give Up.” The skills learned through working with horses— patience, resilience, and self-awareness—translate far beyond the barn, helping participants regain confidence and navigate life’s challenges.
Benefits of Equine-Assisted Activities Include:
1. Targets Many Common PTSD Issues:
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Decreased feelings of isolation
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Self-efficacy and self-esteem building
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Reductions in anxiety Increased confidence
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Trust development
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Self-acceptance
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Decreases in depression symptoms
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Improved management of stress
2. A Sense of Control:
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Combatting Feelings of Helplessness
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Immediate Feedback from Horses
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Empowerment through Direction
3. Long-Lasting Benefits: A recent three-year study found that equine therapy led to long term benefits in treating PTSD.
4. Beneficial Changes to Brain Chemistry: Neural mapping has shown physical changes to the brain following equine-assisted activities. Many treatments that can affect brain chemistry are typically medication-assisted approaches. You can get many of the same benefits without prescription drugs by using equine-assisted activities for PTSD, such as Amygdala changes, prefrontal cortex changes, and hippocampus changes.
5. Development of Trust and Bonding for Civilian Life: Horses can perceive even minute changes in human emotion, reacting with genuine and immediate feedback. This honesty helps veterans engage authentically, understanding that they’re in a space of non-judgment and genuine interaction.
Join us in making a difference. Explore opportunities, get involved, or support our mission today. Visit: www.promiselandingfarm.org Contact: katie@promiselandingfarm.org
1. “Top 5 Benefits of Equine Therapy for Veterans,” TTC Mending Fences, accessed March 22, 2025, https://ttcmendingfences.com/blog/top-5-benefits-of-equine-therapy-for-veterans/.
2. Tasha M. Golden et al., “A Review of Art Therapy Among Military Service Members and Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health 30, no. 3 (2022), https://jmvh.org/article/a-review-ofart-therapy-among-military-service-members-and-veterans-with-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/.
3. Laura N. Taylor et al., “Equine-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Journal of Affective Disorders 282 (2021): 50–57, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032720328536.
4. William D.S. Killgore et al., “Neuroimaging Changes in PTSD Following Therapeutic Interventions: A Meta-Analysis,” Human Brain Mapping 42, no. 4 (2021): 1003–1017, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33547694/.