Sen. Steve Daines and members of his staff toured the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs Equine Therapy Center near Helena on Thursday and learned about how the program helps veterans statewide.
“We’re here to look at therapy that helps out veterans and experience it myself,” he said.
The Montana VA Equine Therapy Center is the only center of its kind in the country and operated by the Montana VA.
The facility specializes in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, which uses horses for mental, physical and behavioral health therapy and personal development and is used to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, depression, anxiety and service-related injury such as traumatic brain injuries.
Carl Cossitt, clinical social worker, said the horses are used to assist people’s growth.
Daines, R-Mont., and staff members were put through some therapy exercises with the horses.