Special Horses Assisting with Miracles in Recovery Offering Comfort and Kindness: Healing people through horses is the mission of Shamrock Reins. Founder/Executive Director Janet Brennan launched the nonprofit during February 2014 to provide equine-assisted therapy for military veterans, active duty/reserve service members and first responders, plus their families, especially families of fallen heroes.
"Our military service members, first responders and their families make significant sacrifices for the freedom and safety we're fortunate to have in the USA. Shamrock Reins believes we have an obligation and responsibility to take care of, and give back to, our service members and their families by helping them reintegrate into civilian life, by providing comfort, and by helping them heal," explains Janet, a former emergency/trauma nurse. "Through our support actions, we hope to demonstrate we're worthy of their life-saving services on behalf of others."
Military personnel frequently return home post-deployment with various physical or mental injuries. Transitioning back into society after active duty can be exceedingly difficult. Janet reminds, "Our veterans, military members and their families struggle to adjust and cope. Likewise, our first responders experience many of the same injuries and challenges. Our horses can help."
Factors with which this equine-anchored program can assist span flashbacks, survivor's guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, nervousness, panic attacks, combat stress, sadness, pain, fatigue and brain injuries that cause chemical imbalances.
By interacting with a horse, Shamrock Reins' participants form a unique relationship that assists them with the physical and triggering emotional challenges they face on a daily basis. This compassionate and respectful group, headquartered in Pipersville, provides a safe haven, with a calm, peaceful, nonthreatening, nonconfrontational place devoted to healing.
Each participant starts with equine-assisted psycho-therapy, and can elect to continue with therapeutic horsemanship. The group's dozen staffers, 25 volunteers and 14 horses encircle participants with customized approaches that may include equine art, accelerated therapies, self-awareness treatments or rhythm and sound techniques.
"Our horses are truly our main therapists. They mirror our emotions and obstacles," says Janet. "By establishing trusting relationships with the horses in this program, participants identify good, healthy coping skills they also can apply when away from their horse."
An example of a coping option is synchronized breathing with their horses. Another calming technique is to carry pictures or mane/tail ropes of their horses for around-the-clock physical connectivity.
Janet shares, "Equine-assisted activities and therapies literally change lives. Many veterans who've participated in our equine activities stated the horses actually saved their lives."
"I've always loved horses and their interactions with people," admits Janet, who began her nursing career in the cardiac unit at Bryn Mawr Hospital, followed by being a clinical nurse in the emergency department of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Prior to incorporating Shamrock Reins, Janet spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical biotechnology outsourcing industry serving in various leadership and management roles. She's a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
Shamrock Reins is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so donations are tax deductible. This year, the group has been celebrating their 10th year of service, and was one of four organizations recently spotlighted in the Voices of Veterans national program via the Tri-State Buick GMC Dealers.
Monetary donations to Shamrock Reins can be made at various amounts, and any donation may be “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” a veteran, military service member, first responder, fallen hero or special person. Janet says they operate an intentionally lean operation, with 99% of every donated dollar going to the program.
The group operates through the generosity of volunteers for program sessions; horse feeding, training and conditioning; barn care; property maintenance; pasture care; administrative office support; fundraising; and event planning. Minimum age requirements for property maintenance, barn chores and horse handling is 16 years old. Minimum age requirements for program session volunteers is 25 years old. Volunteers 18 years and older are required to submit a criminal background check.
Janet says some participants have been coming since 2015 to learn things about themselves through the horses. She says Shamrock professionals also offer one-day introductory retreats and workshops for specific issues such as bereavement.
"We never, ever will understand what servicemembers actually go through, but we can understand 'the why,' while we help them learn to trust again and to release negative emotions. We have endless stories of the goodness our horses have done," summarizes Janet, who knows firsthand from her father being a Vietnam veteran and former firefighter.
215.766.4988
ShamrockReins.org
"Everyone can interact with a horse. Horses are perceptive, responsive and loving. They do not judge." ~Janet Brennan, Shamrock Reins
"Horses are truly the main therapists in our program. They mirror our feelings and behaviors, and show us our obstacles. They seek trust in us, and realize everybody heals on their own time."