Leg Up Experience

09/02/2026

An event to consider!

The Bureau of Land Management will host a wild horse and burro placement event, offering excess horses and burros gathered from western rangelands, September 24-26, 2026, at the South Congaree Arena in West Columbia, SC.

08/22/2026

Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder?.
The meta-analysis found a statistically significant reduction in PTSD severity. The authors also noted potential benefits, including social connection, learning new skills, and bonding, while cautioning that many of the studies were small or had methodological limitations.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39085783/

08/16/2026

Energy Matters
What happens when we become more aware of the energy we bring into a situation?

Sergeant Joseph Deese of the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office spent the day with Leg Up Experience and discovered how much our energy and emotions can affect those around us.

Working with Prada gave Joe an opportunity to slow down, relax, and see that connection firsthand.

His advice to other first responders?

“Come in with an open mind, ready to learn.”

Thank you, Joe, for sharing your experience—and for your service to our community. 💙

Learn more about Leg Up Experience and our programs for first responders, veterans, and others facing life’s challenges at www.legupexperience.org

08/11/2026

“Come in with an open mind, ready to learn.”
That’s Sergeant Joseph Deese’s advice to other first responders considering a day with Leg Up Experience.

Working with Prada gave Joe a chance to slow down and recognize something we don’t always think about—how our own energy and emotions can affect those around us.

For Joe, that connection with Prada also brought a sense of relaxation and a new awareness he can carry beyond his time with the horses.

We’re grateful to Joe and the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office for sharing this experience with us. 💙

Learn more about Leg Up Experience and how we support first responders, veterans, and others facing life’s challenges at www.legupexperience.org

08/01/2026

Aiken County 911 Communication Supervisor shares her Leg Up Experience.

07/31/2026

Sometimes the most powerful lessons don't come from a classroom—they come from a horse.

When Aeisa Young, a 911 Communications Supervisor with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, arrived at Leg Up Experience, she wasn't sure what to expect. What she discovered was a new awareness of how her own energy affects those around her.

Working with horses taught her how to recognize when to bring calm to a stressful situation and when to project confidence and encouragement—skills she now carries into her work with the public every day.

"I can either regulate it to calm down... or if somebody needs to be motivated, I can bring that energy to help them open up."

We're grateful to Aeisa for sharing her experience and for the work she does serving our community.

💙 Thank you to everyone who supports Leg Up Experience. Your generosity makes transformational experiences like this possible for our first responders, veterans, and others facing life's challenges.

Learn more about our mission or support our programs at www.legupexperience.org

07/29/2026

AC 911 Comms Supervisor shares her Leg Up Experience

07/27/2026

Marine veteran and Aiken County Sheriff's Office Deputy Mason Minnear shares how his encounter with the Leg Up Experience changed his understanding of energy, communication, and emotional regulation.
Leg Up Experience

07/25/2026

Deputy Sheriff/Marine Veteran reflects on his Leg Up Experience.