By Brenna Angel
Lexington, KY – War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder may soon find relief in the form of equine therapy. Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, a Georgetown-based non-profit, is launching a new program called Horses for Heroes.
"It's going to be a very small pilot program with four veterans and will be a learning curve from there, hopefully," says CKRH Executive Director Pat Kline.
Participants will be referred to the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope program by the Lexington VA Medical Center. Artist and equestrian Elizabeth Shatner, who is actor William Shatner's wife, is supporting Horses for Heroes and is helping with fundraising efforts.
"I can speak from personal experience; horses have come through for me many times in my life. And I want to share that with our veterans, and that's why I feel so strongly about it," says Shatner.
The new veterans therapy program will benefit from a large grant that was also announced Wednesday. CKRH is the recipient of a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant, which allow for improvements to the therapy center located at the Kentucky Horse Park.