Alaant is dedicating the month of November to honor our nation’s heroes. We have had the honor and privilege to work with many local veterans and we’d like to extend our sincere appreciation for their service. Each week during the month of November, we’re spotlighting local veterans and the organizations that support them.
This week we salute: Saratoga WarHorse
One of the biggest challenges facing veterans returning to civilian life is the effects of post-traumatic stress (PTS). All too often, this disorder impacts veterans trying to adjust to everyday life and re-enter the workforce. This is why programs like Saratoga WarHorse are critical as they play an instrumental role in helping veterans find confidence and support their well-being.
Daniella Nordin, Director of Outreach at Saratoga WarHorse shares more about the organization and its mission.
Saratoga WarHorse Foundation is a veteran-run, nonprofit organization serving military veterans and service members living with PTS throughout the United States. Our participants’ trauma is most often a result of combat experiences, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and/or transitioning from military to civilian life. We help these veterans to move past their trauma by partnering them with rescued and retired off-the-track Thoroughbred racehorses. There is NO cost for veterans to attend the Saratoga WarHorse program. We pay 100% of travel, lodging, meal, and program expenses.
Veterans that have gone through our program are changed for life. I’d like to highlight three veterans turned their lives around after participating in our program.
- Steve Houghton: He survived nine attacks from explosive devices during his military deployments for the Army. He suffered from PTS and was homeless for a time. After participating in the Saratoga WarHorse program, he was able to find happiness and health again. He now works as a Veteran Program Facilitator for Saratoga WarHorse.
- Nanci Travis: After serving in Afghanistan, Nanci returned home feeling out of place, lost, and fighting with friends and family. She greeted each day with explosive anger, helplessness, and hopelessness until she came to Saratoga WarHorse.
- Donna Bell: Suffering from PTS, Donna had tried antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, which did not provide relief from her symptoms. Her doctor suggested the Saratoga WarHorse program. Initially skeptical, she credits the program with saving her life.
Recently, Alaant team members Denise Anderson and Michelle Conn had the opportunity to visit Saratoga WarHorse. They provided dinner to participating veterans and staff. When they arrived, the participants had just finished the program and their smiling, happy faces said it all. It was a pleasure and honor to see this wonderful program in action. The beautiful thing about this program is not only are the veterans benefiting from time with these beautiful animals, but the horses are also being cared for and rehabbed to hopefully one day be adopted. In a way, these wounded warriors are nursing each other back to health. Check out the pictures of our visit on our Facebook page.
Donate to keep Saratoga Warhorse thriving.
To all of our nation’s veterans we thank you for making a difference in the world. Read our salute to other local veteran: Adam Britten, Tiffany Orner, John C. Lyons and the Stand Up and Play Foundation and the veteran family members of the Alaant team.
Make a Difference for a Local Veteran by Donating to the Veterans Miracle Center
The Veterans Miracle Center’s provides Veterans and Active-Duty Military Personnel clothing, personal care and hygiene products, houseware items, ambulatory equipment, toys for their children and much more free-of-charge.
About the Author
Miriam Dushane, Managing Partner, Alaant Workforce Solutions
Miriam is all in when it comes to doing whatever she can to help the area grow and thrive. She is passionate about the work she does helping talented professionals find the right job opportunity and her work in the community is focused on furthering this area as a center for economic growth and vitality. Miriam likes to garden and take care of her pets and animals. She is a member of an adult only skate group where she roller blades every week. She loves the Mets! And she is completely obsessed with vacuum cleaners; she really likes to vacuum and has 6 right now.
