Local horse ranch supports Team Beale

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bobby Cummings
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Airmen and Family Readiness Center recently organized a horse camp for Beale youth to attend at Batti Ranch in Lincoln, Calif., and it concluded on Aug. 2 with an awards ceremony.

Batti Ranch hosts a number of programs for Airmen and their families. According to the ranch owner Dawn Batti, 95 percent of those involved with programs on the ranch are from Beale.

As for the horse camp, Beale Airmen volunteered throughout the week-long event to work with the children and aid with the children's development with horses.

"We taught the children how to ride and act around horses," said Airman 1st Class Equasha, 48th Intelligence Squadron. "They learned calming exercises and how to properly groom their horses."

In addition Batti Ranch also hosts a program called 'Warrior's Soul.' Warrior's Soul provides opportunities to facilitate physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being by utilizing the unique interaction created between horse and human.

Many of the attendees to Batti Ranch suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Batti applies Equine-Assisted Therapy to help those who suffer from PTSD.

Equine-Guided Education provides a supportive learning environment for participants to learn about themselves, heal, and reconnect. The horse is the guide in this process of learning, reflecting and exploration.

"A lot of what a horse does is help regulate a person to become present in the moment," Batti said. "A person becomes more aware of their surroundings and reconnects to nature. A renewed sense of humanity is obtained, which impacts our daily life in a positive way."

Batti is one of many believers that Equine-Assisted Therapy has positive results. Another person very knowledgeable regarding such therapy is Maj. Michelle, 427th Reconnaissance Squadron.

Previously Michelle had employed Equine-Assisted Therapy with soldiers diagnosed with PTSD for the warrior transition unit in Fort Carson, Colo. Moving forward she hopes to have the opportunity to work with Airmen at Batti Ranch.

"Equine therapy is an applicable and effective alternative form of therapy," Michelle said. "I encourage those who feel they may need some form of therapy to not be afraid to at least explore Equine-Assisted Therapy as an option. Those interested are always welcome to Batti Ranch."