Experiences for Veterans at Ironstone Farm in January

Veterans who have experienced combat and trauma are calling an experience at Ironstone Farm “life-changing.” The experiences are available at no cost to veterans, and the next small-group experience will begin during the first week of January.

Experiences led by Ironstone’s facilitators typically include teaching basic horsemanship, goal-setting, interacting with horse in their paddock and around the working farm, leading horses through an obstacle course and taking the lessons learned with the horses and applying them to one’s life. Experiences may or may not include horseback riding; the horses do have weight limits.

Ironstone Farm’s next Veteran Experiences will be offered from the week of Jan. 4 to the week of Feb. 15 on Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., or onThursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Registration is required. Information packets will be mailed upon request. For more information or to register for a Veterans Experience call 978-475-4056 or email carolynburt@challengeunlimited.org.

Experiences can help guide people to be more grounded, connected, communicative, proactive, confident, and able to set and achieve goals. Experiences can be shaped to fit group’s needs and schedules.

Ironstone Farm has indoor and outdoor facilities, allowing it to operate six days a week, 12 months a year. It is located on Route 133 in Andover, between Interstates 495 and 93.

About our program
Ironstone Farm’s equine encounter experience was created by two university professors. It was originally adapted for veterans with input from a former Navy Seal.
The program was started in April 2013 and was the cover story for the fall 2013 issue of “Combat Stress,” a quarterly publication of the American Institute for Stress.

Our supporters

The Veterans Experience is free to all veterans. These equine encounters are supported by organizations such as Operation Hat Trick, Run for the Troops 5K, Veterans Assisting Veterans and Operation Thank You.

MORE ABOUT IRONSTONE FARM

Ironstone Farm is home to the nonprofit organizations Challenge Unlimited and Ironstone Therapy. Its programs combine several powerful therapies into one effective program for children and adults with special needs. Clients are referred to Ironstone Therapy by top doctors and institutions. Ironstone uses the dynamic motion of a horse, which mimics the walking motion of a person and works multiple muscle groups at once. The inviting atmosphere of a farm improves social interactions and makes therapy a “want to” event rather than a “have to” session.

Additional programs at Ironstone Farm benefit people living with cancer, veterans returning with post-traumatic stress disorder, elders with memory issues, teens at risk and others. Clients come to Ironstone Farm from more than 90 communities in the Merrimack Valley, Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire areas. More than 200 people each week volunteer their time because they know their donated work changes lives.

Call Ironstone Farm at 978-475-4056 or visit its welcome center at 450 Lowell St. (Route 133), Andover, MA.