Veterans Find Healing Through Rescued Horses at Mountain Sanctuary

A decades-old animal rescue operation in the San Jacinto Mountains is helping veterans recover from the invisible wounds of military service through an unusual partnership: pairing them with rescued wild mustangs.

Living Free Animal Sanctuary rescues animals facing euthanization at overcrowded shelters, providing them permanent homes on open land. Animals that aren't adopted remain at the sanctuary indefinitely, living freely on the mountain property.

The sanctuary's War Horse Creek program extends this rescue mission to include equine therapy for people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. Through the program, staff pair rescued wild mustangs with veterans adjusting to civilian life, along with first responders and others needing therapeutic support.

"We use our horses for equine therapy," sanctuary staff explained. "They're amazing at working with brains that are struggling with PTSD."

The program operates on the principle of mutual healing — the rescued horses, many of them wild mustangs saved from uncertain fates, work alongside veterans rebuilding trust and finding purpose after service. Sanctuary staff say watching participants' fears and insecurities diminish as they bond with the horses demonstrates the effectiveness of the human-animal connection.

On Veterans Day, the program highlights how rescue efforts can extend beyond animals to serve those who served the country.

Learn all about the program by watching the video above.