Wild Mustang Gentling
Veterans and first responders in our country are facing an epidemic. Hundreds of thousands of these heroes have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress (PTS) and countless more have yet to be diagnosed with this invisible wound. The toll of their jobs leaves them with physical and emotional scars deeper than most can imagine, and it is an ongoing fight to help these men and women find ways to heal. Wild mustangs are suffering their own trauma. Measures to manage their increasing population on public lands leads to stress as animals that have roamed free are brought into the proximity of people. Slow and gentle interaction with the veterans and first responders provides healing to horse as much as human.
Mission Mustang®
In 2018, EquiCenter launched Mission Mustang® as part of our ongoing effort to help veterans heal from physical and emotional scars. People with PTS often are hyper-vigilant of their surroundings and struggle to find purpose and mission.
To help them, we partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management to develop Mission Mustang®, a national program that pairs individuals battling PTS with captive mustangs experiencing the same feelings of loss and anxiety. Under the guidance of professional mustang trainers, participants gentle the mustangs, teach them, and prepare them to find new homes. Through this process, both the mustangs and participants find connection and healing.​
If you are interested in joining the program, please visit formstack.io/6AB50