Memorial Day: Wild Mustangs help veterans to heal through the Wyoming Ranch program

Jay Em, Wyo. – While Memorial Day is a time for memory, it can also be a difficult period for many veterans, particularly those who fight with mental health.

A Wyoming program is helping to address those challenges matching veterans with wild Mustangs in a unique approach to healing.

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According to the data of the Department of Veterans Affairs of the United States from 2001 to 2022, veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD, depression and anxiety than civilians. Every year, approximately 6,000 veterans die from suicide.

At some point in their lives, 7 out of every 100 veterans (or 7%) will experience PTSD, according to the United States Veterans Affairs Department.

In the small town of Jay Em, Wyominga non -profit organization called Operation Redount Corporation offers a form of equine therapy that serves not only veterans and lifeguards, but also to the Mustangs, many of which come from traumatic environments.

Karen Alexander, co -founder of Operation Resunt, says that some Mustangs also experience trauma and anxiety, which makes the program a form of reciprocal healing.

“These are Mustangs that went through three adoptions and were not accepted or not adopted,” Alexander said. “When the Mustangs arrive for the first time, they are very afraid of humans. It is really good to see when that animal finally says, I can trust you.”

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The veteran Sean Walker is one of this year’s participants in Operation Moveunt. He says that joining the program and meeting his horse, nicknamed Spirit, was necessary after serving in the army.

Walker, who completed two Iraq tours and one in Bosnia with Kansas National Guard, says only a few weeks with his horse, Spirit, has already had a significant impact.

“We call it durable spiritual wind,” Walker said. “He has probably taught me more than I could have taught him.”

After retiring from the army, Walker said that reintegrating into civil life was difficult. Like many other veterans, he experienced mental health challenges.

The program recently added a new red cabin to the participants of the house during the six -week course. It was built in honor of the sergeant of Marines. BJ Shepperson, who served two deployments and fought with the transition back to civil life in Wyoming.

Shepperson said that his brother BJ loved horses and would really have appreciated what this program is doing to help other veterans.

“After two deployments and return to Wyoming, he had difficulty readjusting,” said his brother, Baxter Shepperson.

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Program leaders say they are working to build more cabins, allowing additional veterans and lifeguards to spend the night during the program while experiencing the therapeutic link with a horse.

“It’s like when you found a connection you’ve lost,” Walker said. “It allows you to have that reconnection and the spirit has been that.”

Operation Resunt allows veterans and lifeguards to keep the wild horse after completing the six -week course. The non -profit organization contains sessions in both spring and autumn.

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The Moveunt Operation team is now working to build an interior installation so that they can offer the program throughout the year, even during Wyoming’s hard winter months.