Summit Equestrian Center:
Where Hope Begins
At Summit Equestrian Center, we welcome military veterans into a hands-on environment where horses help foster connection, confidence, and hope. Our programs are tailored to provide restorative and educational experiences that honor the service of those who have served our country.
Get Involved
The Cavalry, our program for military veterans, is supported by your donations and our volunteers.
If you are interested in helping us, we look forward to putting you to work.
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The Cavalry
The Cavalry is Summit Equestrian's veteran-focused program that provides...
Give Hope
Your support helps keep The Cavalry running to support for military veterans and the herd at its best!
Thank you for helping us help our community.
Our Vision, Mission and Core Values
Join us in our mission to serve those who have served.
Vision:
A community where the bond between horses and individuals changes lives.
Mission:
Summit Equestrian Center empowers greatness one hero, one horse, one stride at a time.
Core Values:
• Mutual Respect • Compassion • Integrity • Connection with Community • Stewardship
Summit Equestrian Center is committed to enriching the lives of military veterans through the healing power of horses.
We offer equine-assisted programs that support personal growth, emotional wellness, and physical well-being in a welcoming and respectful environment.
We believe in the strength, resilience, and potential of every veteran.
Our dedicated team works to ensure that every interaction with a horse becomes an opportunity for healing, empowerment, and connection.
Whether through volunteering, donating, or participating in our veteran-focused programs, your support helps us provide life-changing experiences rooted in respect, trust, and care.
Sensory
Through creating connections with horses, our clients are able to learn how to focus more clearly.
Social
Social skill building in the arena with horses makes an impact. When you learn the importance of respect, direction following, creative thinking or leadership from a horse, it sticks with you.
Physical
When we sit astride a horse, we use a lot of the same muscles we use when we walk. It’s a great way to strengthen our core, stretch and tone other muscles, while simultaneously improving fine motor skills and balance.
Emotional
Horses know what we feel before we say a word. Working with horses can expose emotional patterns we didn’t realize we had. Developing a healthy relationship with a horse in a judgment-free arena is a great way to strengthen human relationships.
Our Programs
The Cavalry – A Veteran-focused Program
They served and protected us and our country and we are honored to give back to them!
The Cavalry is Summit Equestrian’s veteran-focused program that provides emotional, cognitive, social and physical support for veterans. Some of our volunteers and staff are veterans themselves and understand the challenges veterans face reintegrating into domestic life after experiencing the psychological trauma and physical wounds of war or life after service.
“The difference between connecting with horses versus people is that it all depends on your actions rather than your words. They are watching what you do and listening to your tone. If you’re not earning their trust, they’re going to let you know. It can be very enlightening.” – Sisco
For more information please call us at 260-619-2700 or email programs@summitequestriancenter.org
Why It Matters
Equine Assisted Services can be particularly powerful for veterans. It involves building a relationship with a non-judgmental horse in a safe, outdoor environment instead of the confines of an office. It helps with the recovery from trauma without forcing veterans to re-experience traumatic events. Veterans are given the space and confidence to develop deep friendships through working with horses, fostering physical, emotional, and spiritual health, assisting individuals with reintegration into civilian life.
Veterans at Summit Equestrian have reported benefits including increased self-esteem, self-worth, trust for others and community integration and decreased depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder attacks and self-inflicting thoughts.
Over the course of 6 weekly sessions, offered at no cost, veterans will get to know their horses, how to care for them, basic riding skills and how to put those skills and bonds to work. Veterans are also encouraged to return to help other veterans on their journeys.
Veterans do not need experience working with horses to participate. To ride, there is a weight limit of 250 pounds to ensure the safety of our horses.