“I cannot explain to you how happy I feel to be with the horse. I am waiting all week for my therapy session.”

The soldier who wrote this testimonial suffers from PTSD, one of the many conditions that can be healed by therapeutic horseback riding. Riders at the Israel National Therapeutic Riding Association (INTRA), founded by Anita and Giora Shkedi, seek relief from brain injuries, blindness, neurological impairments, emotional disorders and other debilitating conditions.

Therapeutic riding works because a horse’s gait closely approximates a human being’s stride; the horse’s movements stimulate muscles and nerves normally unaffected by traditional therapies. The rider’s connection to the horse and sense of competence also contribute to emotional healing. INTRA’s latest project is a major international study to help soldiers with PTSD.

Our funds underwrote veterans’ therapy, a joint program between INTRA and Camp Shutaf and a riding program for two blind children. A portion of our donation was donor-directed.