Military FAR Program, announced in conjunction with Veterans Day, now accepting applications from service members
Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga WarHorse, a not-for-profit organization which uses retired thoroughbred racehorses to work with service members and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress, will now use its successful program to aid individuals mobilized during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today’s announcement of the new Military Armed Forces and Racehorses (FAR) Program was made in advance of Veterans Day which is annually observed on November 11.
The Military FAR Program is designed to assist service members and veterans during the immediate aftermath of trauma and prevent the negative consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress. The immersive program, which will formally launch this December, is currently accepting participants and available to service members who were mobilized during the pandemic at no cost.
Since April, more than 50,000 troops across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have been activated domestically to assist in their state’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, approximately 25,000 retired and former U.S. Army medical personnel have volunteered their service. Their frontline support includes mortuary affairs; serving at community-based testing sites; and creating enhanced medical capacity for hospitals and healthcare professionals.
“Tens of thousands of military troops were called upon to fight this invisible enemy,” said U.S. Army veteran and Saratoga WarHorse Foundation Chief Executive Officer Allison Cherkosly, Ph.D. “Serving in an uncertain environment – unsure whether or not the person you’re trying to help will infect you – is stressful and traumatic. Our Military FAR Program will help spare a lot of service members and their families from the suffering caused by Post-Traumatic Stress by providing early intervention shortly after enduring trauma. With this program, we have the opportunity to make a major contribution to the field of veteran care. Instead of trying to reverse the devastating consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress, we could actually prevent it.”
Saratoga WarHorse is accustomed to working with service members and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress. Since its inception in 2013, the non-profit organization has helped nearly 1,300 veterans move past their trauma by partnering them with retired thoroughbred racehorses and providing a new experience vastly different than equine therapy or any existing treatments.
Unlike other programs, Saratoga WarHorse offers a one-time, three-day experience which culminates with each veteran participating in a procedure called the “Connection Process.” This process can last anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, and has been empirically proven to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress and their negative impact.
The Military FAR Program is currently accepting applications from eligible Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard troops. To inquire or refer a veteran or service member, or for more information about the program, visit SaratogaWarHorse.org.
Donations to Saratoga WarHorse can be made online at SaratogaWarHorse.org/donate.