Wyoming’s Wild Mustangs Offer Veterans a Path to Healing Through Equine Therapy

Memorial Day brings a time of reflection, but for many veterans, it’s also a stark reminder of battles fought within. In the quiet plains of Jay Em, Wyoming, a unique program is forging bonds between veterans and wild mustangs, offering a path to healing that’s as raw and real as the land itself.

Operation Remount Corporation, a nonprofit rooted in this small town, pairs veterans and first responders with mustangs—horses often carrying their own scars from failed adoptions and traumatic pasts. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that veterans face PTSD, depression, and anxiety at higher rates than civilians, with roughly 6,000 taking their lives annually. Seven percent of veterans will grapple with PTSD in their lifetime, a weight that can feel insurmountable.

Karen Alexander, co-founder of Operation Remount, sees the parallel between these veterans and the mustangs. “These horses arrive terrified of humans,” she says, “but watching them learn to trust again is profound. It’s a two-way street of healing.” The program’s equine therapy doesn’t just benefit the humans; the mustangs, often rejected multiple times, find purpose and connection too.

Take Sean Walker, a Kansas National Guard veteran with tours in Iraq and Bosnia. After struggling to reintegrate into civilian life, he met his horse, dubbed Enduring Spirit Wind. “Spirit’s taught me more than I could ever teach him,” Walker shares. In just weeks, their bond has eased the mental health challenges that followed his service. “It’s like rediscovering a connection you thought was gone,” he adds.

The program’s new red cabin, built in honor of Marine Corps Sgt. B.J. Shepperson, stands as a tribute to those who’ve struggled with the transition back to civilian life. Shepperson’s brother, Baxter, notes that B.J., a horse lover, would’ve championed this initiative. The six-week program allows participants to keep their mustang, forging a lasting bond. With sessions in spring and fall, Operation Remount is now fundraising for an indoor facility to run year-round, even through Wyoming’s brutal winters.

This isn’t just about taming horses—it’s about taming inner demons, one trust-filled step at a time.