Healing, strength, and connection — at no cost to those who served.
At Ivey Ranch, we’re honored to serve those who have served. Horses for Heroes provides Veterans and Active Duty Military with equine-assisted sessions designed to support healing, strength, and connection — completely free of charge.
About the Program
Working with horses requires presence, patience, and non-verbal communication — qualities that resonate deeply with the military experience. Each session at Ivey Ranch is tailored to the individual participant’s goals and may include mounted therapeutic riding, ground-based horsemanship, and grooming activities.
Sessions run 6 consecutive weeks, once per week, for one hour each. Each hour is divided between mounted riding — where lesson strategies are designed to engage the rider’s body and build horsemanship skills — and ground exercises with the horses, guided by a personal action plan each participant helps create.
Emotional Regulation
Horses respond to the energy and intention of the people around them. Working with them helps participants practice staying grounded, present, and calm.
Physical Rehabilitation
Mounted and ground activities support core strength, balance, coordination, and fine motor skills in a way that complements traditional rehabilitation.
Stress Reduction
The Ranch offers a quiet, structured environment removed from the pace and pressures of daily life — a place to breathe, focus, and reconnect.
PATH Intl. Accredited Care
Ivey Ranch is a proud participant in the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) nationwide program for America’s wounded service personnel and veterans. Our PATH Certified Instructors work alongside a multidisciplinary team that may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers — all working together to physically improve, emotionally empower, and socially enhance the lives of veteran participants.
The Rhynard Family Foundation
Since 2013, the Rhynard Family Foundation has made it possible for every veteran who walks through our gates to participate in Horses for Heroes at no cost. Their sustained support has given hundreds of service men and women access to the healing power of equine-assisted care. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to this program and to our veterans.
Any active duty service member or veteran — of any age, branch, or war — is welcome to participate.
Support the Program
Each 6-week session costs $4,495 to operate. We rely on the generosity of our community to keep this program free for every veteran who needs it. Consider becoming a program sponsor and help us reach more service members across San Diego County.
| Program Cost Breakdown | Cost |
|---|---|
| Psychotherapist | Cost$1,350 |
| Physical Therapist | Cost$1,080 |
| Outreach / Program Coordinator | Cost$625 |
| Equine Specialist | Cost$540 |
| PATH Certified Instructor | Cost$540 |
| Horse Maintenance | Cost$360 |
| Total per 6-Week Session | Total$4,495 |
How to Get Started
Horses for Heroes is open to all Veterans and Active Duty Military personnel. To enroll:
Application
Complete the 2026 Military Application Packet.
Contact Us
Reach out to discuss your goals and current session availability.
Begin Your Sessions
Once your application is reviewed, our team will connect with you to schedule your start date.
Riding My Way Back
We invite you to watch Riding My Way Back, a documentary that follows a veteran’s journey with PTSD and the role a PATH Intl. equine center played in his healing. It’s a powerful look at what programs like Horses for Heroes make possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any active duty service member or veteran — regardless of age, branch, or era of service — is welcome to apply. There are no service-era restrictions.
Correct. Thanks to the Rhynard Family Foundation, participation in Horses for Heroes is completely free to all veterans and active duty military personnel.
No prior horse experience is required. Our PATH Certified Instructors and program team guide participants through every step, from their first introduction to the horses through their final session.
Each one-hour session is divided into two parts: approximately 30 minutes of mounted therapeutic riding, with lesson strategies designed to engage the rider’s body and build horsemanship skills, and 30 minutes of ground-based exercises with the horses. Ground activities are guided by a personal action plan each participant helps develop.
Our PATH Certified Instructors work alongside a team that may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, depending on each participant’s individual needs and goals.
Contact our Equestrian Office directly — availability varies by session. We’re happy to discuss scheduling and answer any questions before you submit your application.
Yes. Volunteers play an important role in supporting our riding programs. Visit our Equestrian Volunteers page to learn how to get involved.
Ready to Join Us?
Horses for Heroes is open to all veterans and active duty military — at no cost, no matter when or where you served.
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