Equines for Freedom

The Inspiration

In 2005, our local community suffered a heartbreaking loss when five Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers were killed in a single day in Ramadi, Iraq. Their loss was felt deeply by families, friends, neighbors, and an entire region that understood the cost of service in a very personal way.

​

At the time, our founder, Ann Lewis, was volunteering in mental health with the American Red Cross. Through that work, she became involved in supporting the families affected by this tragedy. That experience stayed with her.

​

Several years later, Ann attended a conference where Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, better known as EMDR therapy, was being discussed as a treatment for trauma. After hearing Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR therapy, speak about its effectiveness, Ann felt called to bring this type of care home to serve returning veterans in our community.

​

​

The Vision

Ann had worked in the field of trauma since 1985. She became trained and certified in EMDR in 2008 and saw firsthand how powerful it could be for people working through painful and traumatic experiences.

​

The vision for Equines For Freedom grew from a desire to combine EMDR therapy with the calming, grounding presence of horses. It was not something that came together all at once. Like many good things, it began with a few unexpected turns, the right people, and a whole lot of faith.

​

​

A Horse Named Smitty

In 2013, Ann was planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies and hoped to ride horses while she was there. She had no experience with horses, so a friend encouraged her to take riding lessons at a local barn.

​

What started as a few lessons quickly became something more. Ann began to understand the bond that can form between a person and a horse. Around that time, she had been saving money for a cruise featuring Christian singer Michael W. Smith. Instead, with some encouragement from her friend, she decided to buy a horse.

 

She named him Smitty.

 

At that point in her life, Ann was 63 and asking some big questions about purpose and direction. She had spent decades helping people heal from trauma, and she knew EMDR worked. She found herself asking God, “What do I need to do between now and death do me part?”

​

Not long after, the idea for a nonprofit began to take shape — one that would serve military members, veterans, first responders, and their families through trauma therapy supported by horses.

 

​

Community Support

Ann knew this work could not happen alone. In June 2014, she invited local community members to a meeting to talk about starting a program. Around 20 people attended.

​

That meeting became an important beginning. Some of the people in the room would go on to play key roles in the training, planning, and early work of the organization. From the very start, Equines For Freedom was built through community effort.

 

​

Specialized Training

The founding team wanted to do this work responsibly and well. They connected with Sarah Jenkins, an expert in combining EMDR therapy with horses, a treatment approach known as equine-assisted EMDR.

 

Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, members of the team traveled to Arizona in late 2014 for specialized training. That training helped ensure the program would be grounded in best practices and prepared to serve veterans and first responders with the care they deserved.

 

​

Becoming Equines For Freedom

In early 2015, the organization began meeting at Keystone College. Veterans involved in the program helped choose the name Equines For Freedom.

​

The name also carries a special military connection. The acronym “QRF” stands for Quick Response Force, a term familiar to many who have served. In Equines For Freedom, the letters are reflected in the name itself: eQuines foR Freedom.

 

It was a name that honored both the horses and the people the organization was created to serve.

 

​

Building the Foundation

A board was formed, bylaws were drafted, and a professional logo was donated. Like many nonprofits, the early days came with plenty of challenges, paperwork, learning curves, and long hours.

But the mission mattered, and the people behind it stayed committed.

 

On November 8, 2015, Equines For Freedom received official approval as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was an important milestone and a meaningful step forward.

 

​

Growth and Mission

Equines For Freedom began with three clients and borrowed horses. Since then, the program has grown to include seven horses and has served more than 225 veterans and first responders.

​

That growth did not happen because of one person alone. It happened because of a dedicated board, trained professionals, faithful volunteers, generous donors, community partners, and people who believed this work was needed.

 

Over time, that support helped Equines For Freedom move from a small beginning into an established program with its own facilities and a continued commitment to serving those who have served others.

 

​

Today

Today, Equines For Freedom remains deeply grateful for the many organizations, groups, families, and individuals who have supported this mission along the way.

​

Our story is a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with compassion and purpose. It is also a reminder that healing does not always happen in expected places. Sometimes it happens in a quiet arena, beside a steady horse, with the right support and the courage to take one step forward.

​

Equines For Freedom continues to serve veterans and first responders with respect, humility, and hope — helping them find tools for healing, renewed strength, and a path forward.