On May 18, 2023, we welcomed 4 female veterans to Camp Harris for our first horsemanship workshop of the year.  This group was extremely receptive to the program and picked things up very easily! We were super impressed with each one of our visitors.

The group worked with four of our mustangs; Emmylou, Libby, Hawkeye, and Trapper.

Libby and Trapper are extremely sensitive and can be timid with strangers. The two veterans who were handling them, Keisha and Brandy, both kept a quiet and tranquil energy when working with these horses. Trapper and Libby both responded very well to them. Specifically, Keisha and Libby formed a special bond and Keisha will be back soon to visit her new friend.

Jessica, who has experience around horses, was the perfect pairing for EmmyLou. And Denice remarked that her 3 years of training her dog helped her connect with Hawkeye.

This group were such quick learners and we finished our arena exercises early almost every day. That gave us plenty of time to have some extra fun; such as going to visit Lake Hemet, visiting the kennel and the cattery, and taking the horses on a small hike in the canyon here on property.

This group of veterans also bonded quite a bit while they were here. They spent lots of time around the campfire, playing games and laughing.

Susan Webner came to teach her class on re-wiring your brain and teaching yourself to live a happier life. One of the things that Susan focused on was the process catching yourself saying and thinking negative things, and to redirect yourself into more optimistic thoughts.

Overall, it was a fantastic workshop and we can’t wait to welcome these four veterans back to Camp Harris.