Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs (CPEAP)

01/12/2020

Rep. Barr Successfully Includes Equine Therapy In Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Great news
https://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/rep-barr-successfully-includes-equine-therapy-in-veteran-suicide-prevention-bill/?fbclid=IwAR1krWynWyulpmYRCMwcdpqUrqZZgCKqXxqbKbUkWtpD5rnEutgdYum5Yms#.XhYWvx-k-hp.facebook

In the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Congressman Andy Barr's (R-KY) amendment to the IMPROVE Act was adopted on a bipartisan basis with a vote of 26-0. Rep. Barr's amendment added equine assisted therapy, adaptive sports, and innovative approaches to the list of services which community orga...

12/23/2018

Wounded horses, veterans work together to heal

Great article https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2018/12/17/wounded-horses-veterans-work-together-to-heal/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=Socialflow+ARM&fbclid=IwAR3hbUWbMrr0W2CoLtbu60hQOjN8A1ASYlu-DDbp7fAU8Hpjblmcr5QRkcc

Cody Miller often forgot to breathe. A hundred firefights in Afghanistan will do that.

03/08/2018

Veterans with PTSD are turning to horses for healing

Great article. https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2018/03/07/veterans-with-ptsd-are-turning-to-horses-for-healing/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow

As health care professionals seek innovative ways to heal veterans struggling with PTSD, equine therapy has been growing in popularity.

11/12/2017

How Horses Help Warriors in Transition

Horses as healers. http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2015/09/how-horses-help-warriros-in-transition.aspx

Equine-assisted therapy is increasingly being used to help veterans. Here's why it works.

10/25/2017

WIHS | Need To Know

Military Night is Thursday at this year's Washington International Horse Show. If you can't attend in person, you can watch online via Live Stream. http://www.wihs.org/tickets/tickets-info.php#equitation

10/08/2016

Far from the fray: Veterans say trail rides make 'the world stand still for a second'

True wherever one rides. http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/far-from-the-fray-veterans-say-trail-rides-make-the-world-stand-still-for-a-second

The trail rides can help veterans begin to rebuild a sense of community that they miss since leaving the military.w

07/13/2015

Farrier’s Work Keeps Essential Arlington Treasures Moving | DoDLive

Nice article on the farriers for the caisson horses. http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2015/07/farriers-work-keeps-essential-arlington-treasures-moving/

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Salas uses a forge to heat up and reform a horseshoe. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.

07/10/2015

Thank you Larry for your 10 years of hard work and dedication to Wounded Warriors. You created CPEAP and spurred on the creation of 200 new programs nation wide.

07/10/2015

The Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Program is no longer conducting lessons.

Since May 2006 CPEAP has served more than 300 wounded warriors and veterans.

This has been a wonderful program with the support of the Army, The Old Guard, The Caisson Platoon, Walter Reed NMMC and the NICoE TBI Clinic at Fort Belvoir.

We have enjoyed serving our wounded warriors and their families.

Thank you for your support and I hope you will continue to support our American service men and women.



Sincerely,

Larry Pence

05/23/2015

Please take time this weekend to reflect on the sacrifices made by those service men and women who have given their lives in defense of this great nation so that we may enjoy our freedoms and way of life.

11/19/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 19 November 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Robert F., Jorden, Chad, Christopher, Jonathan M. & Ryan
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Leading the horse
5. Mounted lesson: Musical Rings, obstacle course
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students awarded completion certificates
9. Cookout for students, families, volunteers and Caisson Platoon personnel
10. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. All students participated in the ground lesson which was leading their horses to warm up the horse and the students. Students then tacked their horses, helmeted and mounted their horses for the end of the year games on horseback. The games were musical rings in which when the music begins then stops and the students walk their horses around cones & pillars. When the music plays again the students must guide their horses so the horses halt with their front hooves inside a ring. This exercise works on leg aids, verbal commands, steering and controlling their horses. The next game was an obstacle course where the students circle a cone while picking up a small ring from a volunteer, then guiding their horse over ground poles and around another cone while handing the ring to a different volunteer and then back over the ground poles to the finish line. This game also focuses on steering, balance, sequencing and horse control. All the students did very well and really enjoyed the games. Following the games the students dismounted and were awarded their completion certificates and a picture was taken of the students with their horse. The next exercise for the day was enjoying the delicious meal prepared by the volunteers, medical team and members of the Caisson Platoon along with great conversations and discussions. This was a great way to end another successful season of the Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Program.

11/12/2014

The Real “War Horses”

A read worthy article on the healing power of horses for veterans shared this Veterans Day evening 2014. http://www.horsecollaborative.com/the-real-war-horses/

A growing number of veterans with post traumatic stress disorder are turning to equine therapy to help them cope; and it's working.   For centuries, horses assisted humans engaged in war. Although long rendered obsolete in most modern militaries, horses remain as critical as ever to the warriors of…

11/06/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 5 November 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Jorden, Chad, Christopher & Owen
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/practice previous lesson riding inside of cones then inside/outside of cones/pillars
iv. Teach/demonstrate circling cone then circling pillars from halt between cones
v. Practice the above task
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss
viii. Dismiss
b. Student in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones and around barrels
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. Practice backing up, turning on the inside leg, going over poles with eyes shut
vii. Dismount
c. Student in East Turnout
i. Student correctly tacked up his horse, saddle pad, western saddle & bridle
ii. Student was accompanied by SPC Kesselring, practiced riding in pairs
iii. Student learned how to ride up hill and down hills – how to position his body to best support the horse
iv. Student rode trail through the wood-line
v. Student walked and trotted
vi. Dismount, remove tack and brush horse
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle and Robert practiced round pen work. . Michelle mounted bareback and rode in the large arena where she practiced those tasks in b above. Robert did very well mounted today and so did John D. practicing and learning the tasks in c above. Jonathan M., Chad and Jorden rode in the covered arena. Christopher groomed his horse and also practiced leading. It was Owen’s first lesson so he groomed only and observed the round pen work.

10/24/2014

Tonight is Military Appreciation Night at WIHS!!!

10/22/2014

Washington International Horse Show back in DC

Hope folks in the DC area are able to enjoy this weeks Washington International Horse Show. If you are out of town it's being streamed live online. Meanwhile here's a local news segment with a Caisson Platoon member talking about Friday's Military Appreciation Night. http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/26855877/washington-international-horse-show-back-in-dc

While it's the nation's premier equestrian event - it's still a lot of fun for horse lovers of all ages. FOX 5s Holly Morris checked out the Washington International Horse Show!

10/14/2014

Caisson Platoon: Solemn duty of honor and respect

Great article on the Caisson Platoon. http://www.army.mil/article/135988/

Before the sun peeks over the horizon, the Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), are already hard at work preparing the caisson horses for the day's solemn duties.

10/02/2014

Article in The Sun - Program teaches post-9/11 veterans horse-handling skills

A related article on a Florida based program. https://www.ocoos.com/me/horse-in-miracles/blog/article-in-the-sun-program-teaches-post-9-11-veterans-horse-handling-skills-1621

Dan Bassett, Lugene TharpeDan Bassett, who served in the Coast Guard, puts a lead on Dreamer while Lugene Tharpe, who served in the Marine Corps, look

10/01/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 1 October 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Nickolas, Jorden, Chad, Ryan, Bobby P., Dylan & Christopher.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/practice previous lesson for eye focus, voice and hand aids
iv. Teach/demonstrate halting then walking on between cones
v. Practice those skills in the arena using designated cones
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss
viii. Dismiss
b. Students in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. Practice pairs riding
vii. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle, Robert, Chad, Bobby, Christopher and Dylan practiced round pen work. Robert improved tremendously over last lesson. Chad also improved dramatically as did Bobby. Michelle did well and both Christopher and Dylan need continued practice.
Michelle and Robert mounted and went into the large arena where they practiced walking around the cones and across the poles. Michelle worked on steering and turning the horse while at the walk and she trotted a very short distance. Robert paired up with SSG Goodrich and they practiced on several horsemanship skills and it seemed like a very positive experience for Robert. Ryan and Nickolas observed round pen training and then participated in the lesson for students in pads. Jonathan M. mounted again today and while he had a little trouble with his upper body balance he did very well and was very positive. Ryan also mounted and rode for a short time very successfully. There was noticeable improvement for both Jonathan and Ryan today. Christopher groomed and then worked in the round pen for the first time and did fairly well. He also participated in the mounted exercise and did very well. He was involved today and communicated well. Jorden arrived late so only groomed today.

09/24/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 24 September 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Nickolas, Jorden, Chad, Ryan, Bobby P., Dylan & Steven K.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/practice previous lesson for balanced & centered seat
iv. Teach/demonstrate eye focus, voice and hand aids
v. Practice those skills around arena at designated pillars
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss
viii. Dismiss
b. Students in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle, Robert and Dylan practiced round pen work. Robert did much better today as we discussed the tasks/sub-tasks in sequence then he repeated them to me and then conducted the exercise. Dylan seemed to understand the tasks however had difficulty in executing them.
Michelle and Robert mounted and went into the large arena where they practiced walking around the cones and across the poles. Robert also rode in diagonals and along the fence line. Michelle worked on steering and turning the horse while at the walk. Jorden, Chad, Bobby, Ryan and Nickolas observed round pen training and then participated in the lesson for students in pads. John D. worked 1 on 1 with Jorden which seemed to work very well. Jonathan M. mounted today and while he had a little trouble with his upper body balance he did very well and was very positive. Ryan also mounted and rode for a short time successfully. Steven K. attended for only a short time as he had another appointment. He and Christopher are now 2 full lessons behind the other students and will have a difficult time catching up.

09/23/2014

Reining in PTSD with Equestrian Therapy

Great article on the benefits of the outside of a horse for the inside of a warrior http://www.va.gov/health/newsfeatures/2014/September/Reining-In-PTSD-With-Equestrian-Therapy.asp

Veterans participating in the residential treatment program at the Bedford VA, in Massachusetts, are being given a chance to spend a day riding horses, or just walking through a quiet pasture.

09/18/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 17 September 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Nickolas, Jorden, Chad, Ryan, Bobby P., Dylan & Christopher
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Teach/demonstrate a balanced seat
iv. Practice arms extended exercise for balanced seat
v. Teach/demonstrate centered posture
vi. Practice exercise with stick in crook of elbows
vii. Cool down to music once in each direction
viii. Line up to discuss
ix. Dismiss
b. Students in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle, Robert, Jorden, Chad, Bobby and Dylan practiced round pen work. This was the first experience in the round pen for Jorden, Chad, Bobby and Dylan. Bobby and Dylan did very well. Chad & Jorden had difficulty with mobility, lateral movement and sequencing.
Michelle and Robert mounted and went into the large arena where they practiced walking around the cones and across the poles. Robert learned one-rein stops, riding diagonals and along the fence line. Robert also worked up to a trot today. Jorden, Chad, Bobby, Dylan and Nickolas participated in the lesson for students in pads. Ryan & Christopher both groomed their horses today and Jonathan M. groomed his horse and did some extensive ground work showing positive improvements. This was the initial lesson for 8 of the ten students and we were very impressed with their aptitude and desire to learn. It was wonderful to welcome 4 new volunteers; Crystal, Carrie, Geoff and John. We are very glad to have them on our team.