The El Dorado Chapter of the NSDAR is proud to provide scholarships for equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) to female veterans who are suffering from PTSD at Hearts Landing Ranch in Granite Bay, California. The first fund-raising event was a craft fair held during the Chapter’s Annual Christmas Tree Decorating Ceremony on December 1, 2021.

According to Home Base, a private-sector clinic devoted to providing mental health care to veterans and service members, roughly a third of the nation’s nearly three million Post-9/11 service members have sustained a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress and related conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder. Additionally, every day, one service member and 20 veterans are lost to suicide.

Many of these men and women, upon re-entry to civilian life, are unable to lead productive lives because of the mental injuries they have sustained. Traditional mental health treatments such as cognitive therapy and medication have not been successful at treating PTSD. However, EAP, which couples therapy with the accepting, nonjudgmental acceptance of horses, has proven to be effective. Horses are the perfect sounding board for troubled clients. The talent for listening that is innate in horses has made them a perfect partner for helping those with PTSD and other trauma induced mental health problems.

Photo L to R: Donna Eckwortzel, President/Founder of Hearts Landing Ranch, receiving scholarship donations from Chris Forté, El Dorado Chapter NSDAR, Women’s Issues Committee member.