{"id":1810,"date":"2023-01-15T17:23:54","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T17:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horseycounsel.com\/?p=1810"},"modified":"2023-01-16T17:48:10","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T17:48:10","slug":"army-veteran-taps-into-her-connection-with-horses-to-heal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/horseycounsel.com\/army-veteran-taps-into-her-connection-with-horses-to-heal\/","title":{"rendered":"Army veteran taps into her connection with horses to heal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s common knowledge that horses were used extensively during wars in humanity’s previous ages, but fortunately, we’re far removed from such barbarous acts in our modern days. These days, horses can be a force for healing, especially for army veterans such as Seyward McKinney, who served in Iraq as a surgical technician, helping combatants from both sides.<\/p>\n
One of her most prominent patients was Saddam Hussein, who was working out in his jail cell and pulled some muscles, requiring a hernia intervention from Seyward McKinney herself. Unfortunately, Seyward had her own health issues to deal with later in her life, including a twisted mass of blood vessels connecting McKinney\u2019s arteries and veins that were disrupting normal blood flow.<\/p>\n
She went through five surgeries, three related procedures, and two radiation treatments, and just when she thought the worse was behind her, she suffered a stroke.<\/p>\n
While she was recovering at the\u00a0Walter Reed Army National Military Medical Center, Seyward was introduced to horses and to a non-profit in Boones Mill, Virginia named Healing Strides<\/a>. This organization offers equestrian therapy sessions for veterans and other people. They work with licensed clinical social workers and mental health professionals along with professional trainers to teach veterans how to ride.<\/p>\n