HEROES AND HORSES INC
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
45,000 veteran-related non-profits exist in the US.
Millions of dollars are spent on PTSD-relief initiatives every year.
Yet, 20% of veterans with PTSD become addicted to drugs or alcohol, and 22 veterans commit suicide every day.
Something isn't working.
It's time for a new approach.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Veteran Rehabilitation Program
Heroes and Horses is a unique program that uses the remote wilderness and the horse/human connection to challenge and inspire personal growth in combat veterans suffering from mental and physical scars.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Heroes and Horses is a three-phase reintegration program that uses the remote wilderness and the horse/human connection to challenge and inspire personal growth in veterans suffering from mental and physical scars.
This innovative program utilizes expedition-style progressive horse pack trips to teach self-reliance, teamwork and perseverance. Experienced instructors, many who are combat veterans and program graduates themselves, lead teams of veterans and their pack animals into the wilderness on epic, life-changing journeys of discovery.
Unlike any other program, the self-efficacy principals applied through the Heroes and Horses program are proven. Heroes and Horses inspires veterans to move beyond the difficulties experienced from years of war, towards a life of restoration and hope. The remote wilderness challenges these individuals, invokes change, and helps them to develop new ways to approach and solve problems. By challenging what challenges them, veterans can make peace with their past and replace devastating memories with positive ones.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
PHASE ONE (STRESS INOCULATION PHASE)
During the first phase of the Heroes and Horses program, participants travel to Montana where they attend the Heroes and Horses Training Camp for 5 days of instruction in horsemanship, riding, and pack training. Upon the completion of the Heroes and Horses Standard of Training, the expedition team embarks on a 7-day progressive journey of overland, high mountain travel through some of the most remote and rugged wilderness in North America. The training they receive will progress them to Phase Two.
SURVIVAL BREAK
Students will depart Heroes and Horses for a 5 day "break" at wilderness survival school. There they will receive instruction from industry professionals in the art of wilderness survival. Participants will be trained in tool making, foraging skills, as well as shelter and fire building. Upon completion of the "survival break" students will walk away with the necessary foundation skills to deal with some of the toughest environmental challenges.
PHASE TWO (APPLICATION PHASE)
Phase 1 graduates of the program return to Heroes and Horses base camp to apply what they have learned, this time in the Beartooth Mountains. Phase 2 begins with advanced horsemanship, comprehensive pack training, wilderness first aid, driving trucks and trailers, basic farrier work, equine medicine, loping, ranch work, and working with chainsaws. The expedition team departs to the high plateau for 10 days of high-altitude travel to remote lakes, which provides them with a chance to practice their acquired survival skills while working in small teams. During the last two days veterans are separated into groups of two, and they spend two days alone making their way back to base camp.
PHASE THREE (INTEGRATION PHASE)
In Phase 3 participants have the opportunity to take the skills that they have acquired through the completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the program, and work with either a wilderness outfitter as a hand, learning horsemanship, or working cattle on a ranch in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, or Utah.
Heroes and Horses program is available to qualified veterans at no cost. Applicants are referred from a combination of sources, including the American Legion, The Veterans Administration, military hospitals, military family support units, etc. If you or someone you know is a combat veteran and a candidate for our program please contact us.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As the longest veteran program in the United States (40 consecutive days), we have a unique and effective curriculum that continues to be life-changing for the individuals who come through our program. With the assistance of a capacity grant issued by the Arthur Blank Family Foundation in 2017, we were able to grow our team in 2018 to accommodate the growth of the organization, and we are on track this year to finish out at about $1.1 Million in revenue, far surpassing our goal of $750,000.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2017 we ran 2 classes with 8 students each (16 students total). This year we ran 3 classes with 8 students each (24 students total), and we plan to grow to 4 classes by 2020. We have also grown our herd to about 60 horses, which include wild mustangs that have been trained for our program.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
HEROES AND HORSES INC
Board of directorsas of 11/11/2022
Micah Fink
Heroes and Horses
Bob Weiss
Micah Fink
Heroes and Horses
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data