Horses Help Heal Veterans' Invisible Wounds | National Geographic

Serving in combat can affect soldiers long after they return home from war. For some, the wounds are physical and visible. For others, they go deeper, affecting their mental health. Staff at Boulder Crest Retreat in Bluemont, VA, use horses—equine therapy—to help veterans heal these invisible wounds.

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Read more about the retreat and equine therapy:

PRODUCER: Jason Kurtis
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Ashleigh DeLuca
VIDEOGRAPHERS: Jason Kurtis, Ashleigh DeLuca, and Shannon Sanders
EDITOR: Nick Lunn
SPECIAL THANKS: Boulder Crest Retreat

Horses Help Heal Veterans' Invisible Wounds | National Geographic

National Geographic

[piaandersen]

This should be available to anybody in need. Animals are such healer’s. I wish you the best.

[purugigi]

Brings a tear to my eye when people don't appreciate what veterans did for us...and what they went through to make us keep this liberty...

[Riverbugger]

Being retired from the military myself and a current LEO, I see a lot of what happens when people suffer from PTSD in my current position. It is awesome to see these stories and what people and horses are doing to help save lives and giving our veterans another option. Thank you for what you do!!!

[Christian_Girl]

Horses are WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL animals. I love being with them and spending time with them. Being prey animals, we have to convince them that they are safe with us. Once we do that, we have a friend for a very long time! God bless these veterans who have done so much for US. And now it's time we do something for THEM. They deserve that much! With a horse, they can see right through you. There is no lying to a horse. They KNOW what you are feeling. And many of them want to show you their love.

[firefliesecho]

This needs to be seen and appreciated more

[Tommaso_Squarzoni]

Those veterans breaks my heart.

U can see the pain in their eyes, I wish they can get better n be happy again

[lifevlog]

Boulder crest changed my life, as a veteran so sufferers from anxiety, and depression. What they do is life changing this is a small part of the week long process but nonetheless forever grateful that they turned me around

[douell]

"Our lives are a sine wave." Truer words were never spoken.

[Turboy]

Horses have a way of purifying your soul. This is because their souls are naturally pure. If you are not a totally broken human being, broken beyond any hope of healing, working with horses can help you put things back into perspective. A horse lives in a simple manner and requires you to break down your behavior to the simple essentials in order to deal with them well. There's no dishonesty with horses. They react to you according to how you act around them. That reminds me, I need to get back in the saddle myself. I'm not getting any younger and I want my life to have more horse time in it.

[Abelsaxky]

I've attended Boulder Crest Retreat myself and can say that is has been a huge part of my recovery journey.

[haroldcale]

I joined the Marines in May of 67' and discharged in May of 73'. Served in Vietnam from Nov. 67 to May 69. I've been broken ever since. I cry a lot with hurting inside. I have PTSD, and only 30% disability which should be a lot more in my humble opinion. I live one day at a time, and pray God will keep his hand on me until I leave my body. Like to have been able to take a horse back trip on the trail from here KY to Alaska. But now I don't know if that will ever come to light.

[mallorys]

Shocker! The nation uses them and then throws them away into the dirt under their feet. Thank God for the horse am I right! They can make your feel a way no other animal can, they make you see who you really are. They look you straight in the eye and see right through you no matter what kind of wall or mirror you put up against other people, they see through you and you can't hide anything from them.

[lyndage]

Horses are another Amazing gift from God... 💖🐴😊

[HoneyHollowHomestead]

Yes, horses *mirror* us.  There is no lying to a horse, and they don't lie.

[danielpotter]

Respect to you guys for keeping going through the hardest times and to the power and beauty of the horses.

[xXrumbaXx]

I love the simplicity of animals, no complicated feelings, just a pure soul that's born knowing nothing but kindness.

[wyominghorseman]

Thank you for sharing this and thank you for your service.

[kingdomfreedom]

Since the beginning horses have shared themselves with us..they have shared the wind with us beneathe blue skies in granted escape towards freedom.., given us their strength, their acceptance in trust...finally the gift of hope realized in having faith in us.., well worth endeavoring always our great benefit to deserve it...

[Skeptical]

Wow, how impressive and beautiful. We can be healed, but we must listen deep, almost to a voice that is not there we will hear & be healed, but you must be totally still because there is a voice deep down in our souls.

[sergerobillard]

great animals helping great guys who lost a lots at the war, great job for helping humans and animals too. I can't believe some dudes don't like this video?, that's therapy and caring for others, , life suppose to be good for all kind of living on this planet