Healing Our Patriots With Equines

FOUNTAIN, FL – Dave Trogdon, Director, founded HOPE (Healing Our Patriots with Equines) Project, to help wounded warriors and veterans who are struggling. 

They have some of the best horse people around who rescue horses that have had their own trauma from abuse or neglect, and make them healthy and happy. They help an average of 300 to 350 people a month, who are struggling with trauma, PTSD or grief, including children, first responders, veterans, abuse victims, special needs children and adults, and family members of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

Trogdon said, “We know each horse’s personality. Horses are a beautiful part of God's creation. They read your facial expressions, your body language. They know your emotions because they are emotional creatures themselves. Every part of a horse's body is as sensitive as your fingertip. If a fly lands on them anywhere, you may see them twitch. Horses can hear your heartbeat up to four feet away.” 

They have been very blessed that the horses they rescued have all been amazingly kind and gentle. They take Dolly, a miniature horse, into nursing homes. “She's a diva. She loves attention and knows her job.”

One lady was terrified of horses. This big horse called Chevy, a Tennessee Walker, rolled over in the field. The lady caught him in mid roll and was laying on his stomach, with the horse on his back, his hooves straight up in the air, all four of them. He stayed like that for five minutes. Afterwards, the lady was no longer afraid of horses.

One 8-year-old girl had found her mom after a drug overdose. Then her father broke her jaw. DCF intervened, after which her Grandma brought her to HOPE Project. On the first session, they let the girl introduce herself to the horses in the field and name them. Her favorite horse was a 2,200 hundred pound Belgian that she named Boomerang. She started walking around the field with this 2,200 pound horse following her, and four other horses close behind. Then she started running and Trogdon got nervous because this little 8-year-old girl was running around in a circle, followed by this 2,200 pound horse and four other horses. The equine specialist said, “It's okay, they know she's there.” After a while Trogdon asked, “How are you able to get Boomerang to run like that?”  She answered, “That's because Boomerang is my mom and she has angel's wings.” She would help feed Boomerang, spend time with Boomerang, and cry when she had to leave.

All of these services are free of charge. Every penny they raise goes to feed the 13 horses, 2 donkeys, 2 poppy pigs, 6 goats, and 4 barn cats, just about all rescues, to the tune of $400 to $500 a month plus veterinarian bills.

Trogdon finds peace through prayer, “The closer I am to Jesus, the better I do.”

Questions: 850-896-4868

Information and donations: https://hopeprojectinc.org/