Franklin, Tenn. Memorial Day, Monday May 30, is all about honoring those who lost their lives while defending America. Loss of life is, of course, the ultimate sacrifice, but it’s not the only one. Injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder are among the afflictions affecting many who survive military service, including those who continue in active duty.
Haygain honors all who serve and sacrifice this Memorial Day by donating a portion of U.S. sales to Cornerstone Equine Therapy Center. The facility in San Diego, CA., is dedicated to saving and restoring the lives of active-duty service members, veterans and first responders, utilizing horses as their “miracle workers.”
Serving Unique Needs
Cornerstone Therapeutic Equine Center was founded in 2007 as an equine therapy program serving children, youth and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional special needs. The program’s commitment to service members began in 2008 when Cornerstone was invited to participate in a pilot program designed to identify and address the needs of wounded, ill and injured military personnel.
Cornerstone founder Judy Beckett explains, “We happen to be really good at the specialized services that benefit those with military-related PTSD.”
Research shows Cornerstone’s alternative therapies result in:
- A 92% decrease in suicidal thoughts
- A 94% decrease in depression
- A 91% decrease in stress and anxiety among those participating in its equine assisted therapy.
Certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Cornerstone became the first equine therapy enterprise in San Diego County to stand up programs specifically for service members. “We felt we could best serve our country by serving them,” Judy explains.
PTSD, suicidal ideations, depression, anxiety, fear, survivor’s guilt, anger, paranoia and loss of a limb are a few of the conditions for which the Cornerstone team is trained to help its clients. Support for family members and care givers is also available, and frontline medical worker COVID fatigue was added to the roster of conditions addressed in 2020.
Horses As Helpers
Horses are often described as great therapists even for those never exposed to severe physical and/or mental trauma. For the huge percentage of military members who’ve been exposed to either and often both, horses can be true miracle workers.
How to Help
The donations will be made on purchases of Haygain’s High Temperature Hay Steamers, the Forager Slow Feeder, ComfortStall Sealed Orthopedic Flooring and accessories — starting Monday May 23 through Memorial Day, May 30. To promote awareness and encourage additional donations, Haygain offers a 5% discount on two of its science-backed horse health products: Hay Steamers and the Forager — during the same period. (The code is “MEMORIAL5”)
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