?Saving Grace Farm, a Rowan County nonprofit that provides therapeutic horse-related activities for people with special needs and disabilities, is adding a program for military veterans.
The farm has gotten funding from the Wounded Warrior Project to provide 12 weeks of therapeutic sessions free of charge to veterans who have received service-connected injuries or illnesses since Sept. 11, 2001, according to a press release.
Saving Grace Farm staff will assist veterans in applying for the program.
In this program, veterans can work with center staff to set up a time each week to visit the farm and participate in the sessions. Veterans will start out learning about horses and horse care, and those interested will move on to riding the horses.
The goal is to allow service members to build relationships with the horses and benefit from the therapeutic atmosphere at the farm, the press release said. The farm also has a licensed professional counselor available for consultation.
Therapeutic horsemanship can help alleviate stress, promote healthy relationships, offer encouragement, empowerment, and more, Saving Grace Farm said in the press release.
Once each service member has completed the Wounded Warrior Project allotted time, the farm has a scholarship fund that may be used to maintain services for those who wish to continue. Typically the farm charges a small fee that supplements the cost of programming. However, all participants can apply for scholarship.
Members of the community can contribute to the scholarship fund.
To sign-up for services at Saving Grace Farm, volunteer, or learn more about the organization, visit savinggracefarm.com or contact Janna Griggs, program director, at 704-798-5955 or janna@savinggracefarm.com .