DONOR GIVES SAMPSON’S SHADOW, A GYPSY VANNER HORSE VALUED AT $12,000 TO WORK VESSELS FOR VETS FOR TEXAS EQUINE THERAPY FARM FOR INJURED VETERANS

Written on 15 January 2020.

MYSTIC, CT and CLEVELAND, TX “What a thrill to see a magnificent horse help injured veterans recover in an equine therapy program,” exclaimed Cathy Cook, Executive Director at Work Vessels for Vets. “We are delighted to match the inkind donation of a therapy trained horse valued at $12,000 with a new agritherapy program in Cleveland, Texas! The donor is happy, the veteran awardee is happy, the injured veterans are happy and the horse is happy!”

“My horse mentor came to me after several talks about my goals on my farm here and told me she wanted to donate Sampson to be a therapy horse here,” remarked Ramona Harding, a US Navy veteran who sustained injuries in her military career. “The donor needed to partner with a nonprofit to conclude the transaction, and I turned to Work Vessels for Vets who responded immediately! Sampson’s Shadow has the perfect disposition for this work and has been specifically trained to be calm and responsive to veterans with PTSD, TBI and other injuries. Gypsy Vanners are particularly good therapeutic horses because of their gentle nature and Sampson will be a critical addition Pine Shadows Farm as veterans enjoy a therapeutic agricultural environment and equine therapy program. Giving back to other veterans heals us all,” says Harding. “Sampson is a magnificent and unique breed Gypsy Vanner horse. He will be utilized as therapy horse for myself and my fellow veterans on our Texas agritherapy farm. We plan on acquiring a couple other horses with therapeutic personalities. We also plan on having a few goats and a guard llama, all with personalities suitable to be therapy livestock. We will also be doing gardening and some classes on growing vegetables. A regular drum circle and poetry jams. Samson will also help with being a part of our future organic gardening projects.