Veteran & First Responder Services
HETRA offers a variety of options for the Veterans/Service Members & First Responders in our community. If you are not sure what is the best fit for you please contact us and we can talk you through all of the options! Below is a brief listing of our current programming.
Veteran & First Responders Events
Come for one or two of the activities or plan to spend the day at the barn! These are FREE to Veterans, Active Duty Military, First Responders, Spouses, significant others, caregivers, and children (5 years and older). Reservations are required.
Coffee Hour: Join us for a morning of coffee and connection inside the HETRA Barn. While you’re here, you can enjoy watching our horses in action and see our beautiful facility.
Project Team (Adults only for this event please): The project team works with the HETRA staff and volunteers to tackle a facility project once a month. From painting benches or poles to gardening or landscaping, these projects help ensure our facility is ready for our participants.
Equine Experience Events: This unique experience is designed to engage the senses, learn different communication techniques, and discover what we can learn from our equine partners that can assist us in everyday life. This hands-on activity will have you engaged in activities with the horses such as Herd Dynamics, Leading, and Grooming. HETRA offers a comfortable and supportive environment tailored to meet your needs.
Volunteering
Interested in spending a few hours a week at the barn helping others? Volunteering has been known to counteract the effects of stress and anxiety. Helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person.
HETRA offers both Adaptive Riding and Carriage driving to Veterans and First Responders.
Adaptive Riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals of all ability levels. Adaptive riding sessions are conducted in a group setting with 2-3 participants and are led by PATH, Intl. Certified Riding Instructors
Adaptive Driving is all about imparting knowledge of safety, horses, harnessing, and driving skills using teamwork. All Adaptive Driving sessions are conducted by a PATH, Intl. certified Driving Instructor and are accompanied by an able-bodied whip. It takes 3 to 5 volunteers to make one driving lesson happen!
