Groundwork Wellness · Palm City, FL
Horse Centered Wellnessfor Heroes
A five-session wellness journey for Veterans, First Responders, and their family members. Time alongside horses, guided groundwork, and space to slow down and breathe.
The Program
A quiet journey beside a horse.
Horse Centered Wellness for Heroes is a five-session wellness journey for Veterans, First Responders, and their family members. Through guided groundwork and time alongside horses, participants have space to slow down, become more present, and build meaningful connection in a supportive outdoor environment.
No clinical settings. No white coats. Just boots on the ground and a horse beside you.
Five sessions
A complete groundwork journey
1:00-2:30pm
90 minutes per session
Groundwork only
No riding, ever
One-to-one
One participant, one handler, one horse
No experience needed
No prior horse experience required
Summerwood Stables
Palm City, Florida
Group capacity details will be shared once confirmed by the program director.
Who It's For
Created for those who spend their lives showing up for others.
Veterans
For those who have served and are seeking a quiet space to decompress, reconnect, and find steady ground after service.
First Responders
For the people who answer the call every day: firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement, and dispatch, who carry the weight of others' hardest moments.
Eligible Family Members
For the partners, parents, and loved ones who hold things together at home. The people who show up for those who serve deserve space to breathe too.
Do I have to complete all five sessions?
You do not need to complete the sessions in order, though we suggest taking each of the five sessions one time to experience the full journey. Sessions can be taken as your schedule allows. To register, submit the interest form and a member of the program team will follow up.
Why Horses
They listen without words.
Horses pay close attention to what we communicate without words: our movement, posture, breathing, and the way we enter their space. Their natural responses give participants an opportunity to slow down, become more aware, and practice clear, calm connection.
Through guided groundwork, participants spend time beside the horse at their own pace. There is nothing to perform and no perfect response expected. Sometimes, the most meaningful connection begins without saying a word.
The Five-Session Journey
Five sessions. One steady path.
Finding Your Footing
Begin with the basics: meeting your horse, learning how horses are built and how they experience the world, and finding your footing in the barn. A gentle first step that sets the tone for everything that follows.
Reading the Room
Slow down and learn to notice. Through grooming, you'll practice reading what your horse is telling you without a single word, and start to notice your own patterns in the quiet of it.
Wash It Away
Water, warmth, and a little hard work. Bathing invites release as you care for your horse, with time afterward to reflect on what the simple act of tending can loosen in us.
Holding the Line
Practice clarity. Through halter work you'll explore communication, boundaries, and the space between asking and listening, skills that travel far beyond the arena.
The Next Trail
Step back and watch the herd. Observe how horses move together, hold space, and lead, then close the journey with presence, reflection, and what you'll carry forward.
1:00pm - 2:30pm
90 minutes per session. Groundwork only. One participant, one handler, one horse.
What to Expect
A calm, unhurried pace built around you.
- A calm and unhurried pace
- Clear instructions before each activity
- Choices throughout the experience
- No pressure to discuss personal experiences
- A handler nearby during horse interaction
- Activities adjusted to individual comfort
- Thoughtful horse pairing by the program team
The program team pairs each participant with a horse based on safety, comfort, temperament, and the needs of the session.
Registration
Small groups. Room to breathe.
Each class is intentionally kept small so every participant has time to become comfortable, receive individual guidance, and work alongside their horse without feeling rushed.
Because each participant is thoughtfully paired with a horse and handler, space in each five-session journey is limited. If you're interested in participating, submit the interest form and a member of the program team will follow up about availability.
Location
Summerwood Stables
3333 SW 66th Ave, Palm City, FL 34990
Attendance
Five sessions. 1:00 to 2:30pm. Groundwork only. Take them in any order, once each.
Upcoming dates will be confirmed by the program team after you submit the interest form. You'll receive a confirmation email, and a team member will follow up about availability.
The Herd
Sometimes, one just calls to you.
Meet the horses at the heart of the program and discover the personalities and stories that make each one unforgettable.
Browsing the herd does not determine a participant's program pairing. The program team handles pairing separately based on safety, comfort, and the needs of each session.
Leadership & Partnership
The people and partners behind the program.
Horse Centered Wellness for Heroes
The program identity and experience: a five-session groundwork wellness journey designed for those who serve and the people who love them.
WeDoGood
The nonprofit that stewards the program, sustains it through community support, and helps keep it free for the heroes it serves.
Summerwood Stables
The host location and equine partner, providing the barn, the covered arena, and the horses at the heart of each session.
Meet the program director and handlers
A full introduction to the program director and our handlers, including their titles, roles, and experience, lives on the leadership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good questions, plainly answered.
Still have questions or ready to begin?
Submit the interest form and a member of the program team will follow up.
Join the Program