Veterans Find Healing Through Horses

September 3, 2024

At Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), a unique program is helping veterans find healing and renewal by connecting them with horses.

The Center for Equine Recovery (CERV), a partnership between the Veterans Recovery Center (VRC) in Murfreesboro and MTSU Horse Science, has been making a profound impact on the lives of veterans since its inception in 2013.

Center of Equine Recovery for Veterans

The program works by teaching veterans about basic horse behavior and body language, offering therapeutic benefits that go beyond traditional methods. Through interactions with these sensitive animals, veterans are able to gain a better understanding of their own behavior and internal processes. Horses, known for their ability to mirror the emotions and physiological states of those around them, become a powerful tool for veterans to process their emotions.

One veteran, who suffered from severe PTSD, shared how the program helped him recognize and manage his anxiety. Before participating in the CERV program, he struggled with even simple tasks like walking to the end of his driveway to get the mail. His constant state of anxiety was so ingrained that he could not identify it. However, when he began working with a horse, he noticed the animal would become nervous when he was anxious. This instant biofeedback prompted him to calm himself, which in turn relaxed the horse. Over time, he learned to recognize the signs of anxiety and apply these relaxation techniques in other areas of his life.

Joanne Parchetta is another veteran whose life has been transformed by the CERV program. She joined the program in 2024 and quickly realized the profound impact it had on her mental and emotional well-being.

"I know that you are not defined by chronic illness or physical disability, but it can demoralize you and cause you to give up. This class with horses showed me that I can still achieve, and I can still dream," Parchetta said.

For Parchetta, working with her horse, Penny, became a lesson in patience and trust.

"She wasn’t judgmental, but expected me to do my part with confidence," she shared. The staff at the CERV program, experts in their field, provided the guidance and support needed to build her confidence. "You have to work as a team with your horse emotionally and physically for it to work. When trusting in this amazing animal, it makes you trust in yourself and rediscover things in yourself you thought were lost," Parchetta added.

Beyond individual healing, the CERV program also helps veterans develop social skills, enhancing their ability to engage with others. As veterans interact with horses, they learn to communicate more effectively, an essential skill they can carry into their daily lives.

The program fosters a sense of hope, trust, self-esteem, and relaxation, allowing veterans to reconnect with themselves and the world around them.