For U.S. Coast Guard veteran Skyla Luckey, healing came through an unexpected partnership with a retired therapy horse named Tara.
On her second day in Operation Warrior Resolution’s Equine-Assisted Healing Program, Luckey described feeling an immediate connection.
“Her energy was calm and stable. I got grounded in the present moment, and I made sure my energy matched hers because I didn’t want to take her out of her Zen space.”
As the weeks progressed, that connection deepened.
“Today was very special with Tara. We’ve built more trust in each session, and today I felt protected by her,” Luckey wrote. “This beautiful creature where there is mutual trust offered me safety in that moment.”
The program also challenged her to explore leadership and boundaries. During one session, Tara repeatedly became distracted by another horse.
“My trainer had me redirect her by walking her in circles whenever she tried it. Simple, but powerful. It showed her I was in control and that we had a job to do.”
When motorcycles later startled Tara, Luckey remained calm and grounded.
“Today reminded me whether it’s horses or life, distractions will come, emotions will rise and things will try to pull you off track. But if you stay steady, set clear boundaries, and lead with calm confidence, that’s your control and you get through it.”
At the completion of the six-week program, Luckey reported that her emotional well-being had “significantly improved” and that she felt “much calmer and more manageable” emotionally. She credited the program with improving her communication, helping her maintain healthy boundaries, and giving her greater confidence to protect her own energy.
“The whole program from Day 1 to the end positively impacted my life,” Luckey wrote. “Communication and sticking to my boundaries. Having the confidence to check in with myself first and protect my energy. And it’s made me more gentle in my communications.”
She added, “This did more for me than talk therapy ever did.”
Luckey’s experience reflects the goals of Operation Warrior Resolution’s Equine-Assisted Healing Program, in partnership with Suncoast Therapeutic Equine Partners, which provides veterans with a supportive space to engage in meaningful experiences that foster personal growth and resilience. Through thoughtful interactions with horses, veterans build trust, deepen self-awareness, strengthen emotional regulation, and reconnect with themselves in a judgment-free environment. The program helps participants develop lasting partnerships with their equine companions while guiding them toward greater balance and well-being.
Unlike traditional riding programs, the focus is not on horsemanship skills. Veterans participate in ground-based activities that mirror real-life challenges and relationships. Because horses are highly sensitive to human behavior and emotion, they provide immediate and honest feedback, helping participants recognize patterns that may contribute to stress, relationship challenges, or difficulty regulating emotions.
The curriculum is intentionally structured, with each lesson building on the previous one. Veterans begin by learning about herd dynamics, safety, and the horse-human relationship before progressing through connection, confidence, trust, respect, leadership, self-awareness, gratitude, and moving forward with intention. Activities include breathing exercises, grooming, leading horses through obstacles, and practicing nonverbal communication. Horses provide immediate feedback, helping participants understand how their thoughts, emotions, and actions influence both the horse and themselves.
For many veterans, healing begins when they feel safe enough to reconnect—with themselves, with others, and sometimes with a horse that quietly shows them the way forward.
