Horses will help veterans living with disabilities in central Pa.

Horses will help disabled veterans in Franklin County lead happier, healthier and more productive lives through a new equine therapy program. 

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the county's Office of Veterans Affairs are offering free eight-week sessions of the program, Operations Rucks to Reins, to eligible veterans, according to a news release. 

Operations Rucks to Reins incorporates horses and horse care into a veteran's therapy regimen. Veterans will work with staff from Franklin County's Penn State Extension on a three-component program that includes ground lessons, therapeutic riding and therapeutic driving. Participants will be able to develop physical and relational skills in a non-threatening and motivational environment. 

Equine-assisted therapy has known benefits for a wide range of disabilities, including improved psychosocial adjustment, improved balance and coordination, increased muscle strength, a decrease in anxiety and depression, enhanced memory and comprehension, increased utilization of positive coping skills, and improved cardiovascular function.  Veterans with physical, mental and emotional disabilities often find that a horse’s three-dimensional motion facilitates balance, flexibility, muscle control and strength. Those with physical and emotional challenges are able to form a special bond with the horses. 

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“Operation Rucks to Reins will increase hope and success to our veterans,” said Franklin County Office of Veterans Affairs Director Justin Slep. “Through this program, we can use animal husbandry to create a pathway for a positive future and give veterans a new way of looking at life.”

“Veterans form a real, sincere bond with these horses that is hard to explain,” he added. “The horses don’t judge anyone, and veterans don’t have to pretend to be someone else or that everything is OK. The horses truly accept individuals for who they are, which helps reassure veterans that they are not alone.”

Each eight-week session of Operation Rucks to Reins will be open to five veterans, guard members or reservists with a physical, mental or emotional disability. Participants must provide a medical clearance signed by a physician.

There is no out-of-pocket cost for veterans to participate in this program. Operation Rucks to Reins, along with all other programs offered through the Franklin County Office of Veterans Affairs, is funded by community donations.

“We can never say ‘thank you’ enough to our veterans for their service,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller. “Establishing this program is just another way for us to say thanks.”

For more information on Operation Rucks to Reins or other services, contact the Franklin County Office of Veterans Affairs at 717-263-4326 or visit www.franklincountypa.gov.