Saratoga WarHorse Foundation

This was really a awesome experience not really knowing what to expect and then experiencing so much leaving on an emotional high from the program the people that work the program and a participants it is something worth being a part of come on and find out

Not a good charity- horrible management. Really bad changes have been going on. And who knows where the money is going- the CEOs pockets??????

For me Saratoga WarHorse was a confidence-building, fear-releasing experience. I went through the meditated process of bonding with my horse. It was both challenging and empowering.

Attended Saratoga Warhorse on August 28th, 2020. It is a very special treasured memory. Once I stepped in the ring, everything else disappeared. I enjoyed working with my horse, Rift. It was empowering and bonding. I really feel like I can do almost anything now. A tremendous boost to my self esteem.

Tina G

As a 31 year Navy veteran, I retired and found life in the civilian world much different than in the military. I adapted as well as possible but still ran into roadblocks. My PTSD become more prevalent and I unfortunately turned to alternative substances. Things got much worse and then I was offered a slot at Saratoga Warhorse and the rest is history.

Their program is remarkable. The staff members are involved in every aspect of the therapy and allow each veteran to experience their transformation in their own time. The tipping point is something that I will never forget and will cherish for the rest of my life. That horse at SWC changed my entire life. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful

God Bless Saratoga Warhorse.

Excellent experience with Saratoga War Horse clinic. Since the weekend of the 22nd of August
I' be returned serveral times to the facility and planning on being a volunteer

I am a female Veteran who served in the United States Army for thirty years with four deployments. In time I came to realized that I suffered with PTSD. I had become to become a recluse shutting myself off from everyone. I heard about Saratoga WarHorse from another Veteran and I was apprehensive at first but said I would give it at try. It was one of the best things I could have done. The staff and volunteers were amazing. The horse farm was beautiful with some beautiful big horses. I was able to learn how to groom them apply the straddle and find the horse. I didn’t realize how big the horse until I got on the saddle. The time can to an end too shortly, and if given the opportunity I would learn to return. Thank you so much for the experience. You guys Rock!!

As promise I just wanted to share with you the wonderful experience I had with the Saratoga War Horse program, I was able to over come my fear of horses, at least this time I did. I can’t began to tell you all of the emotions that was coming over me but I kept talking to myself and finally when I came face to face with this masses of a animal I talk to him as well and it help the both of us so much. It really did help as our instructor said it would put both of us at ease. But I can’t take all the credit my horse was a champ I can’t speak for him I can only trust what was taught to us by our instructor, when she said that the horse senses our calmness and that put him in a good place and it just made both of us to have a wonderful time. Even though I had issues with my return flight home I will not allow it to ruin this experience for me, so with that been said thank you very much and I hope that even though each person have their own experiences I hope that it was as rewarding to them as it was for me.



William Bullock

My three days with the people at Saratoga WarHorse was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had never met more talented, competent, and yes, loving people.. Learning how a horse, a prey animal, saw me gave me tremendous insight into how I saw other people around me. Learning how to win that horse's trust gave me hope that I could trust myself to replicate that bond---and I was worth the effort. The horse Sparkplug was magnificent with his unique ability to cut through the mental and emotional fog I had allowed to distract me. He got right to the heart of the matter and made me care about the two of us right then and there, as though our lives depended on it. In my case, it probably did.

Cpl. Tom Tully, Vietnam War Veteran, 9th Marines, Quang Nam Province, 1965-1966

I am a US Navy Vietnam era veteran and retired Corrections Officer. I was a participant on August 29, 2020 in the Saratoga WarHorse program in NY State. I can't say enough about what my experience has done for my PTSD and Anxiety. The Connection with my partner "Hot West" was both moving and beneficial to help me deal with day to day. I highly recommend this program , it will help. Thank You WarHorse and my new friend "Hot West"

Saratoga WarHorse Foundation is the first activity I have done as a Wounded Warrior. It was the beginning of a road to healing both the visible and invisible wounds of war. While scary at first, by the end of the program, I was overjoyed with changes in myself I'd begun to see.

I retired from the Navy after 32 years of service in the Coast Guard, Navy, and serving with Marines, with a diagnosis of PTSD.
The adjustment to life after the military was more difficult than I ever imagined, complicated immeasurably by the PTSD.
The opportunity to participate in Saratoga Warhorse could not have come at a better time, and it literally changed the trajectory of my life. I can't say it "cured" anything, but I came away from the experience with a greatly enhanced understanding of myself, and critical tools to help me get back on track.
It also exposed me to the almost miraculous impact of equine-assisted therapies and activities, leading me to get involved with a local equine therapy program for veterans where I live.

I can't say enough about how grateful I am for the opportunity to participate in SW, and what an amazing gift it is to anybody struggling with carrying on after military service and/or trauma.

My name is Mario Ward, I’m 42 years old and I am veteran of the United States Navy. I spent part of my more youthful years as an 8404 Hospital Combat Medic stationed with the Marine Corps. Since then, I’ve been grappling with visible and invisible service-connected disabilities. Some of my disabilities include Post Traumatic Stress, mood disorder, chronic back, neck pain, and insomnia. I was found unemployable by Veterans Affairs September 2018. I found out about Saratoga Warhorse through an online Veterans Facebook support group and knew right away it was something I needed to experience. I was in a cohort of a total of 5 veterans (1 from Michigan, 1 from Virginia, 3 including myself fall transplants to South Carolina within the last couple years). I did not think I would make connections within the cohort, but as time went on we began to affirm each others past service experiences and life happenings over breakfast and dinner, as well as through classroom conversation. We also sharing best positive practices as to how we were coping with our disabilities. I’ll never forget my horse’s name, Cabos. Cabos is a former race horse that never actually won a race. He was chestnut brown with a wide white striped marking in the center of his face about 16 or 17 hands tall. I later found out that Cabos had an incident with one of his caretakers shortly before our pairing and he was not exactly 100% agreeable for an experience that day. According to our instructors, we were all paired with horses that suited our classroom personality, things we had shared, and personal limitations. I believe Cabos was a good fit for me and I for him because our moods change frequently and because we are both susceptible to chronic pain and changes in the weather. I recommend Saratoga WarHorse to any veteran who is in trauma recovery and ongoing treatments who may be interested in adding a non-clinical experience to their process. I continue clinical therapy as needed and I now speak a little more freely about my disabilities and limitations. My partner says that I light up when I share about my experience, and months later I can say that I am a lot less jumpy or nervous when trying something outside of my wheelhouse. I‘be accepted I may never be quite the same as I was pre-service, but it is experiences like this which remind me I have worth and value, and that I am never alone.

My wife called Bob and told her about me. She told Bob about my sleepless nights, my impatience, the way I react when someone touches me in my sleep. Bob told her I would need to be the one to call him and ask for help. After days of thinking this program is for other vets who are "more screwed up" than myself and that I wasn't "that bad" I called Bob. He booked a flight two weeks out so I could notify work. SWH paid for lodging. SWH paid for my food. SWH paid for my flight from Seattle to New York! I would have never gone to these lengths to get better without their help. I woke up every night between 230am and 330am and often had trouble going back to sleep. I was on a few medications too. After I spent time with my horse, Spirit, I was still skeptical that a horse changed my brain. I went back to my room than night, laid my head on my pillow, and slept. I slept through the night. I didn't wake up one time. SWH helped me in the fall of 2016. It's 2020 and I dont take any medications, I am more calm, and I need an alarm clock to wake me up in the morning. Before I met Spirit I talked to 3 different mental health professionals, I was on medication, and I was in a veterans counseling group. None of that helped me, it only brought the past back to life. That horse fixed a breaker in my brain that was tripped and I will always be grateful.

I have been involved with this amazing organization for a few years. I now serve on the Board and have also been through the program. The work SWH is doing to assist our veterans in need is truly inspiring. It is the most rewarding organization I have ever been a part of.
The team is truly dedicated to making a difference in our world. Extremely proud to be associated with Saratoga WarHorse Foundation! Matt

As a volunteer at Saratoga WarHorse, I have found the experience to be valuable and enjoyable. The staff is great to work with and they are extremely dedicated to the mission of helping veterans, helping horses. I have seen and heard firsthand how the Connection Process has changed the lives of veterans and active service members for the better. I recommend that anyone dealing with PTS and other effects contact Saratoga WarHorse today; you won’t be disappointed!