'Horses And Heroes' Offers Veterans New Approach To Therapy

'Horses And Heroes' Offers Veterans New Approach To Therapy
Local Equine Therapy Program Works To Expand
Matt Lupoli, WESH.com
May 4, 2012

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Eight U.S. military veterans in Central Florida have taken a unique approach to therapy. They're riding horses. Over the past eight weeks, eight veterans of various ages who sustained physical injuries or post traumatic stress disorder in Iraq, Afghanistan or Vietnam meet once each week for a three-hour therapy session, thanks to the University of Central Florida, Heavenly Hoofs Therapeutic Riding Center, and S.A.D.L.E.S. Equine Therapy of Umatilla.

"This is definitely a positive, therapeutic thing for veterans and people such as myself," Navy veteran Cliff Burton said. "My comfort level has definitely changed. I can do a whole bunch of stuff. I feel good."

Dr. Manette Monroe, a UCF assistant dean and professor, hopes the schools College of Medicine can develop research that will create best practices for this relatively new form of therapy.
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