Stars and Stripes is a program available to all veterans, free of charge at Shining Stars Therapeutic Riding Program. This stress-free and relaxed program gives veterans the opportunity to connect with each other in a beautiful equine setting in South Central Pennsylvania. The men and women in our military work hard to ensure that our country, the United States of America, remains safe and protected, and they do it at all costs. At Shining Stars, the sentiment of “leave no soldier behind” is firmly upheld as we offer a space where no veteran should feel alone. Our program offers its participants a chance to build a bond with their equine partners and share time, stories, and experiences with their comrades.
Stars and Stripes is a program for both active and retired veterans. The relaxed program allows the participants the opportunity to connect with other veterans who may have had similar experiences while serving. There may be physical or psychological conditions that are difficult to deal with when returning from stressful situations. This program can help to alleviate some of the stress by not only offering fellowship with other veterans but also by allowing them the opportunity to connect with the horses. They can rebuild trust, self-confidence, and muscle strength while enjoying a recreational activity.
Equine therapy also plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with mental disabilities. For veterans suffering from trauma, horses can create a safe and non-judgmental environment. Horses are highly perceptive animals that can sense and reflect human emotions, allowing our veterans to establish trust and develop coping mechanisms. By engaging in grooming, mounted and cart riding, and other activities, veterans can experience a sense of control, empowerment, and self-esteem, ultimately facilitating their journey toward healing and recovery. This therapeutic approach has a powerful impact on individuals’ overall well-being.
Our mission is to provide therapeutic horsemanship programs to children, adults, and families with special needs to improve physical, mental, emotional, and social areas of their lives. The goals are to embrace our community with hope and unconditional love by serving individuals with special needs to develop strength, build confidence, and achieve goals. At Shining Stars, families get the therapy they need from the horses they love.
Shining Stars is fully committed to this program both in its growth and conducting experiences that will instill our love for these wonderful individuals who gave so much for our freedom. Our Executive Director, Dolly, is growing this program through many outreach endeavors and has built a committee of dedicated volunteers to assure the program’s success.
As we continue to increase the number of participants, we have outgrown our current farm to serve the needs of our program capacity. The purchase of the new property was the first chapter in our continued expansion for the creation of a “Forever” home with sustainability for the future. The overall project includes a Veteran’s Community Room. Please refer to the attached Capital Campaign Brochure for an overview of the project.
Please join us as we continue to serve our Veterans for their dedication and love of our Country.
If you are a veteran who is interested in checking out this program, please give us a call. Or just come—no pre-registration is necessary! This program takes place every other Saturday. For further information on the Stars & Stripes program, contact Dolly at (717) 451-9509.
