September 2021 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2021 Page 27 Veteran Finds Healing Through Horses meet at the farm, learn about the program and see if it was a good fit for both the program and myself. Since that day my life has never been the same,” said Corey. In working with the horses in this program, Corey has had the opportunity to relearn how to build the bonds he once had with his fellow Marines, and the horses’ natural desire for a leader allowed him to use the leadership skills he gained in the Marines to better communicate with the horses. One horse in particular changed Corey’s life. Kody, a horse that caught Corey’s eye the first day he met him, was willing to build a bond with Corey that would take them through any challenges they faced. If Kody felt anxious about a task, Corey was able to gain his trust and guide him through it. “I had tried a lot of differ- ent therapies for myself and I really never found anything that helped me. I had given up on myself and finding anything that would help me. So, when I saw the flyer for Project Horses for Forces I thought why not, one more wouldn’t hurt,” said Corey. By working with horses, Corey has gained the ability to trust and build bonds with others. Recently, Corey began attending Centenary University and is majoring in Equine Busi- ness Management. The school’s small size and location was very attractive to him. While pursuing a career that will allow him to keep working with horses for the rest of his life, Corey has also been able to remain in the Project Horse for Forces program and maintain friendships that he made in the area. Following his graduation from Centenary, Corey plans to continue his education and get his MBA, as well as become involved in a veteran’s equine assisted therapy program in a leadership role. “I feel that if I can help at least one fellow veter- an get back on the right path, then my degree would be worth it,” said Corey. In a class he recently took, Corey was asked to create an equine facility and business plan. He created a veteran’s program that he called Horse and Veteran, but quickly realized that the dream of building the facility and business from scratch would be an incredi- bly difficult goal to achieve in the near future. Therefore, he created a social media account designed to match veterans with equine assist- ed therapeutic programs and be a general resource to veterans. Corey plans to have Horse and Veteran launch on Facebook on October 1st, 2021. (Continued from page 25) Corey Briggs, a Marine who served in Afghanistan turned college student, found his calling when he discovered Project Horses for Forces, a New Jersey equine assisted therapy program specifically for veterans. He now majors in Equine Business Management and will launch a site to connect veterans with equine therapy programs in October. Photo credit: Olivia Erikson