By Adam Bartelmay — A horse farm in Northern Michigan that specializes in equine assisted counseling and education is looking to expand its services to include more programming for veterans. Peace Ranch near Traverse City recently hired a program director with 25 years of experience in the U.S. Army.

By Laura Michels — Fifty years ago, Allen Watts served as a sniper for the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Five decades passed but the impact remains. Watts goes to Peace Ranch, a horse ranch about 10 miles south of Traverse City. Here, horses and humans heal each other, according to ranch staff.

EAP is an alternative mental health therapy for PTSD facilitated by a Master’s level therapist, an Equine Specialist with equine expertise and horses. EAP is experiential, hands-on, typically takes place in nature, and does not rely on talking.

Eagala will receive $637,700 to fund services shown to improve mental and emotional health of veterans and service members across the United States. This funding, provided by the VA Adaptive Sport Grant (ASG), will serve veterans and Military servicemembers from Oct 2019- Sept 2020 through equine-assisted psychotherapy.

In the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Congressman Barr offered an amendment to the IMPROVE Act—a veteran suicide prevention bill providing grants to community organizations—that would include equine-assisted therapy, adaptive sports, and innovative approaches to the list of services which organizations can receive funding to provide to veterans.

A northern Michigan ranch, dedicated to offering clinical counseling, is being recognized for its service to veterans.

Since 2013 PEACE Ranch in Grand Traverse County has helped heal the lives of more than 500 veterans and their families. Monday those victories were celebrated with an award.

Post-traumatic stress disorder impacts 5.2 million adults every year. On Thursday, 7&4 News held a Your Voice, Your Future Town Hall on PTSD at Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City.