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Veterans with Polytrauma Disabilities Getting Therapy with Horses

A therapeutic horse riding program run by the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) has been helping civilians with mental and physical disabilities for over 40 years with improving motor, cognitive and social skills. In 2007, the team turned their focus toward helping improve the recovery and lives of our disabled veterans.

Their new program involves week-long trips at a ranch in Sun Valley, Idaho. The veterans involved are referred to the ranch by the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System and one of only 5 facilities to offer support for polytrauma disabled veterans.

During the camping excursion, aside from the riding therapy, counselors help veterans work on social interactions and setting new life goals as part of recovery from their injuries. The program is being run as a collaborative effort between the VA, the NCEFT, and rancher Brian Bean who has donated the use of his Lava Lake Ranch for the trip. There is no cost to the veterans due to the combined efforts of these organizations.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the many serious disabilities that can impact veterans following a severe injury during combat. When an attack results in multiple injuries to a soldier, they’re often faced with disabling conditions of both body and mind that require extensive treatment and therapy to recover from. These disabilities can often qualify a veteran for disability benefits.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans’ disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.