Local Therapeutic Horse Center to Help War Veterans

By year's end, war veterans in Los Angeles will be able to take advantage of therapeutic horseback riding services provided by Dream Catcher of L.A., a nonprofit center located in South Gate.

Open for about two years, the center received approval from the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with veterans from the West Los Angeles Medical Center.

Joan Blank, founder of Dream Catcher of L.A. and a certified therapeutic riding instructor, said the veterans will not be charged for the sessions.

“We believe that they’ve given enough to this country and this is just one of the ways that we can give back,” said Blank.

The center offers various types of therapies for the veterans, including equine-assisted activities, equine-facilitated psychotherapy, ground lessons and leisure riding that can help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Blank says the center will also welcome veterans' families to participate in certain activities.

“We want to be able to integrate them not just into society but to bring their families here and have family days,” said Blank.

Along with the program for veterans, the center provides therapeutic riding and hippotherapy to those with disabilities.

Both therapies can serve special-needs children and adults with medical conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and impairments like poor postural control or decreased mobility.

According to Blank, the therapies can help participants develop better motor skills, including verbal communication, balance and eye-hand coordination. Horseback riding can also strengthen the body’s core muscles.

“We’re also giving these older horses a new lease on life…and it keeps their minds active,” said Blank.

The walk of a horse and the walk of a human are almost identical, according to Blank. Riding can help those who cannot benefit from that type of movement in other therapies. “They may get physical therapy and other therapy but they don’t get that actual walking movement [such as] when they get on a horse,” she said.

For Pam Schmidt, 51, riding horses has reinforced other exercises and helped her balance and strength following a hip replacement.  

“Now, according to my doctor, I have bionic hips so he cleared me for riding,” said Schmidt, a Westchester resident who also volunteers at the center.

She said the amount of encouragement that Blank and other instructors give her creates the right balance between safety and pushing her limits. “You don’t want a crazy person or someone babying your fears,” says Schmidt.

The center has no paid staff but relies on volunteers ranging from age 10 to 75 in age. There are four certified therapeutic riding instructors who, along with the non-certified volunteers, serve about 30 center participants.

The center charges $38 per half-hour session. Beginning next year, it will follow the standard 7- to 10-week session that most therapeutic riding centers offer.

Blank has received some donations for the center's work and is now affiliated with the William and Elizabeth Shatner’s Horses for Heroes All Glory Project, which will be able to fund the veteran's program.

But the money raised from session fees only covers about 25 percent of the operating expenses of the center, Blank said, meaning that she will now be focusing her attention on fundraising.  

Despite the work, Blank is excited to help and have others helping her.

“We’re all donating our time for this, I think, very worthy cause.”

Dream Catcher of L.A. operates out of the Imperial Equestrian Center at 5543 Leeds St.

For more information on Dream Catcher of L.A. go to its website or contact Joan Blank at 310-350-1311 or email info@dreamcatcherla.com.