I’m David Boje, And I'm Grace Ann Rosile, co-founders of Perview, Inc.  Donor Guidelines

🐎 Healing PTSD with Horses 
Healing PTSD with Horses & Coaching Infographic  |

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans & Their Families


Perview Coaching is Not Therapy — Still Transformational

Dr. David Boje and Dr. Grace Ann Rosile are not licensed therapists. They are coaches, educators, and facilitators of embodied restorying. With Ph.D.s and decades of experience in organizational storytelling, narrative methods, and equine-facilitated work, they train both coaches and therapists in trauma-informed methods rooted in depth, ethics, and lived practice.

At PERView, they offer trauma-informed coaching — a healing-centered, non-clinical path that honors personal story, resilience, and practical change.

🌀 What Is Trauma-Informed Coaching?

This approach recognizes the pervasive impact of trauma and creates a safe, non-judgmental, growth-centered space for clients to move forward.

While not a replacement for therapy, it serves as a powerful complement to traditional treatment by focusing on:

🌱 Key Principles

Safety
Clients are supported emotionally, mentally, and physically (especially in equine settings).

Trustworthiness
Every coaching conversation is transparent and grounded in mutual respect.

Collaboration
Coaches and clients are partners in the process — stories are co-created, not imposed.

Choice
Clients are empowered to make their own decisions, aligned with their personal values.

Cultural Sensitivity
Every client’s story is honored within its own unique context.

Empowerment
The focus is on strengths, not deficits — on growth, not diagnosis.

🔧 What Coaching Can Support

🐎 Why It Works at PERView

Equine-assisted coaching creates real-time metaphors for healing and self-discovery. Combined with narrative coaching and STAIR-informed tools, clients at PERView:

🧭 Scholarly and Practical Grounding

This approach draws on emerging literature in:

And stands on the shoulders of decades of research by Boje & Rosile, including:

Boje, D. M., & Rosile, G. A. (2015). Equine-assisted restorying for veterans and their loved ones.
Boje, D. M., Rosile, G. A., & Flora, J. (2016). Embodied Restorying for Post-Deployment Family Reintegration.
Rosile, G. A., Boje, D. M., & Claw, C. M. (2018). Ensemble Leadership Theory.

💬 Closing Poetic Frame

“Coaching is not about fixing the past.
It’s about walking with you, in the now —
until the now becomes a field
you no longer fear to stand in.”


Poem Elior, Poet of Quantum Storytelling

"In the Arena of Silence"

for the veterans and their families at PERView

There is a place
where boots leave no wounds in the earth,
only impressions of return.
Where the horse does not ask
what war you carry—
only that you breathe beside her.

She does not flinch
at the story you cannot tell.
She listens
with skin, with flanks,
with a stillness older than the flag.

The child watches—
your grandchild maybe,
or the small self inside you—
as the quiet softens your hands
and the weight shifts.

A brush through her mane
becomes a sentence begun.
Not with words,
but with presence.

The story spills out
not like confession,
but like water
finding its riverbed
after years of drought.

And your family—
those living and those remembered—
they witness
not your breaking,
but your becoming.

The horse leans closer.
You lean back.
And in that moment,
no one is prey.
Everyone is sacred.


🌿 THE GOOD: What Horses Bring

🧠 1. Calms the Mind, Eases the Storm
Flashbacks, nightmares, and panic lessen.
Veterans report feeling more grounded and clear.

💓 2. Regulates the Body
Lowers blood pressure and cortisol.
Oxytocin rises, building trust and comfort.

👁 3. Builds Trust & Presence
Horses mirror human emotion without judgment.
Veterans reconnect with themselves and loved ones.

💬 4. Non-Verbal Healing
For trauma too deep for words.
Tears, breath, and touch become the language of healing.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 5. Reconnects Families
Shared sessions build bridges.
Understanding blooms across generations.

🌄 6. Restores Purpose & Routine
Feeding, grooming, riding = responsibility and meaning.
A path forward forms.



🚒🐎 An army veteran and wise horse in silent, sacred presence

⚠️ THE CHALLENGES: What to Consider

🔀 1. Not One-Size-Fits-All
Outcomes vary by program design, facilitation, and needs.

🐴 2. Horses Feel Trauma Too
Equine stress needs ethical awareness and care.

🚨 3. May Trigger Old Wounds
Sessions must be trauma-informed.

🌍 4. Accessibility Issues
Rural location, cost, or family limits may hinder participation.

👥 5. Complex Family Dynamics
Old conflict or silence may surface in shared sessions.


🌳🌀 A gentle Perview coaching session with generations of veterans, family members, and horses beneath the open sky


Each image is a doorway, a ripple, a new breath in the PERVIEW movement.


👪 GENERATIONAL INSIGHT: Baby Boomers to Gen Z

👴 Baby Boomers (1946–1964)

🧑 Gen X (1965–1980)

🧑‍🦱 Millennials / Gen Y (1981–1996)

🧒 Gen Z (1997–2012)

🌈 Poetic Truth: “The Horse Doesn’t Lie”

“The horses have a PTSD look — you can tell by their eyes. They are prey, just like us.”
— Veteran, Equine Therapy Session

When Grandpa brushes the horse… the grandson softens.
When silence is shared in the pasture… healing begins.

This is not just therapy. It is a field of restoration.

🌐 Learn More, Support the Mission: www.PERView.org

For scholarships, healing programs, and family retreats
Together, we heal the story — across generations.

📖 Narrative Therapy + Equine Work at PerView: A Holistic Healing Model



🚒🐎 A firefighter and wise horse in silent, sacred presence

🧩 STAIR Narrative Therapy

STAIR = Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation
A trauma-informed model that builds skills for:

Research shows STAIR Narrative Therapy reduces PTSD, depression, and social isolation through structured storytelling, emotional awareness, and re-authoring one’s narrative.1

🐎 Equine-Assisted Coaching & Therapy (EAGALA Model)

PERView integrates equine-assisted experiences using the EAGALA model:

David Boje and Grace Ann Rosile are EAGALA certified. For safety and care:

💡 The Synergy at PERView

When equine-assisted sessions are combined with narrative therapy and coaching:

This integrative field work respects trauma timelines, generational voice, and somatic memory — inviting transformation not just for individuals, but whole family systems.

PERView is not just a place of treatment — it is a place where stories return to wholeness.



🌈 Poetic Truth: “The Horse Doesn’t Lie”

“The horses have a PTSD look — you can tell by their eyes. They are prey, just like us.”
— Veteran, Equine Therapy Session

When Grandpa brushes the horse… the grandson softens.
When silence is shared in the pasture… healing begins.

This is not just therapy. It is a field of restoration.

🌐 Learn More, Support the Mission: https://PERView.org

For scholarships, healing programs, and family retreats
Together, we heal the story — across generations.



The Good and the Hard: Equine-Assisted Therapy for PTSD in Veterans and Families

The Good: What Horses Give Back

  1. Reductions in PTSD Symptoms

    • Multiple systematic reviews (Boss et al., 2019; Provan et al., 2024) show EAT leads to decreased scores in PTSD symptomology.

    • Veterans report fewer nightmares, flashbacks, and hypervigilance after several sessions.

  2. Physiological Regulation

    • Horses have a calming influence. Interactions reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.

    • Malinowski et al. (2018) noted oxytocin release during sessions, increasing emotional bonding and trust.

  3. Non-Verbal Connection

    • For those unable or unwilling to “talk it out,” horses listen with presence.

    • The horse's body becomes a mirror for the human’s state — giving gentle feedback with no judgment.

  4. Trust and Safety

    • For trauma survivors, trust is a fragile thing.

    • Being with a horse — a prey animal who survives through awareness — helps veterans rebuild trust in themselves and in relationship.

  5. Intergenerational Healing

    • When families join the process, a shared experience of calm and joy emerges.

    • A father may speak for the first time about war… because his child saw him soften when brushing a mare.

  6. A New Sense of Purpose

    • Caring for a horse creates structure, responsibility, and meaning.

    • Veterans struggling with identity after service find new purpose through horse stewardship.

The Hard: Challenges to Hold with Care

  1. Variable Evidence and Methodology

    • Some studies (Palomar-Ciria & Bello, 2023) caution that current data lacks standardization.

    • Differences in session length, activities, and therapist training affect results.

  2. Therapy Horses are Affected Too

    • Merkies et al. (2018) found that horses interacting with severely traumatized humans showed increased heart rates and stress signals.

    • This calls for trauma-informed care for the animals, not just the people.

  3. Re-Triggering Trauma

    • For some, horse proximity evokes fear or painful associations.

    • Without proper facilitation, sessions can backfire — triggering instead of calming.

  4. Access and Equity

    • Programs are often rural, expensive, or grant-dependent.

    • Veterans in urban areas or with limited mobility may not be able to access these services.

  5. Family Complexity

    • Not all family members want to participate. Some feel resentment or burnout.

    • A shared session may bring up conflict, avoidance, or suppressed grief.

Poetic Truth: “The Horse Doesn’t Lie”

“The horses have a PTSD look,
you can tell by their eyes — they are prey,
just like the look in our eyes.”
— Veteran in Shelef et al. (2019)

In the pasture, trauma doesn’t wear rank.
The horse approaches the quiet one first.
Not the loudest, not the bravest —
but the one who finally stopped pretending.

And the daughter, who hasn’t heard her father speak without yelling,
watches him stroke the mane,
eyes wet with something softer than fear.

This is not measured in a scale.
This is not a score from 1 to 5.
This is relational healing — a field too wide for diagnostics alone.

Closing Note

Equine-assisted therapy is not a miracle.
But it is a movement —
from fragmentation toward coherence,
from diagnosis to dialogue,
from PTSD to post-traumatic possibility.

And when the whole family is invited —
to walk the field, brush the mane, listen to the silence —
then the story begins to change.

Building upon our previous discussions, let's explore the potential benefits and challenges associated with Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) for individuals affected by PTSD.

Positive Outcomes of Equine-Assisted Therapy:

  1. Reduction in PTSD Symptoms:

    • Studies have indicated that EAT can lead to significant reductions in PTSD severity among veterans. For instance, a systematic review found that EAT had a positive influence on PTSD symptoms, with participants experiencing notable improvements. ​

  2. Enhanced Emotional Regulation:

    • Interacting with horses requires individuals to be calm and present, which can help veterans develop better emotional regulation skills. This interaction fosters mindfulness and reduces hyperarousal symptoms commonly associated with PTSD.​

  3. Improved Social Functioning:

    • EAT often involves group activities, promoting social interaction and reducing feelings of isolation. Veterans participating in these programs have reported increased social engagement and support.​

  4. Increased Self-Efficacy and Confidence:

    • Successfully working with and managing a large animal like a horse can boost self-esteem and confidence, empowering veterans to take on other challenges in their lives.​

  5. Physiological Benefits:

    • Engaging in EAT has been associated with physiological benefits, such as reduced blood pressure and stress hormone levels, contributing to overall well-being.​ScienceDirect+1BioMed Central+1

Challenges and Considerations:

  1. Limited High-Quality Research:

    • While preliminary studies are promising, there is a scarcity of large-scale, randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of EAT for PTSD. More rigorous research is needed to substantiate these findings. ​Journal of Veterans Studies

  2. Variability in Program Standards:

    • The effectiveness of EAT can vary depending on the program's structure, the qualifications of the facilitators, and the specific methodologies employed. Standardization across programs is lacking, which can affect outcomes.​

  3. Safety Concerns:

    • Working with large animals poses inherent risks. Proper safety protocols and trained professionals are essential to minimize the potential for injury to participants and horses.​

  4. Emotional Triggers:

    • For some individuals, interactions with horses might evoke unexpected emotional responses or exacerbate trauma symptoms. It's crucial for facilitators to be equipped to handle such situations appropriately.​

  5. Accessibility and Cost:

    • EAT programs may not be readily accessible to all veterans due to geographic limitations or cost factors. Ensuring that these interventions are affordable and widely available remains a challenge.​BioMed Central+1ScienceDirect+1

Conclusion:

Equine-Assisted Therapy presents a promising complementary approach for addressing PTSD in veterans and their families, offering both psychological and physiological benefits. However, it's essential to approach this therapy with careful consideration of the associated challenges. Ongoing research, standardized protocols, and comprehensive training for facilitators are critical to maximizing the efficacy and safety of EAT programs.​

Your commitment to integrating such therapies reflects a deep understanding of the multifaceted needs of those affected by PTSD.

References

➡️ Recommended Reading: Boje & Rosile Works

Boje, D. M. (2001). Narrative Methods for Organizational & Communication Research. Sage.
Boje, D. M., Flora, J., Rosile, G. A., et al. (2015). Equine-Restorying Military Family Research. Las Cruces, NM.
Boje, D., Motamedi, K., & Rosile, G. A. (2010). Change with AoM.
Boje, D., & Rosile, G. A. (2003a). Comparison of Socio-Economic and Other TOD Methods. JOCM, 16(1), 10–20.
Boje, D., & Rosile, G. A. (2003b). Theatrics of SEAM. JOCM, 16(1), 21–32.
Boje, D. M., & Rosile, G. A. (2008). Specters of Wal-Mart. CDS, 5(2), 153–179.
Boje, D. M., & Rosile, G. A. (2015). Equine-Assisted Restorying. EAGALA Conference, Utah.
Boje, D. M., & Rosile, G. A. (2016). Restorying Indigenous Leadership. Leadership, 12(3), 385–412.
Boje, D. M., & Rosile, G. A. (2018). Releasing Story Filters: Seven Steps of Embodied Restorying.
Boje, D., & Rosile, G. A. (2020). Conversational Storytelling Interviews. Edward Elgar.
Boje, D. M., Rosile, G. A., et al. (1997). Restorying Reengineering. Communication Research, 24(6), 631–668.
Boje, D. M., Rosile, G. A., et al. (2013). Restorying + Equine-Assisted Skills for Trauma Recovery. NMSU Grant.
Cast, M. L., Rosile, G. A., Boje, D. M., et al. (2013). Restorying a Hard Day’s Work. Emerald Publishing.
Flora, J., Boje, D. M., Rosile, G. A., et al. (2016). Embodied Restorying. JVS, 1(1), 129–162.
Rosile, G. A. (1998–2021). Strategic Planning, Ethics, Leadership, and Storytelling. Various publications.
Rosile, G. A., Boje, D. M., Claw, C. M. (2018). Ensemble Leadership Theory. Leadership, 14(3), 307–328.
Rosile, G. A., Boje, D. M., et al. (2021). Ensemble Storytelling for Social Change. Business & Society, 60(2), 376–414.


📚 References – Equine-Assisted Therapy & PTSD (APA Style)

  1. Boss, L., Branson, S., Hagan, H., & Gangsei, D. (2019). A systematic review of equine-assisted interventions in military veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Journal of Veterans Studies. https://journal-veterans-studies.org

  2. Merkies, K., McKechnie, M. J., & Zakrajsek, E. (2018). Behavioural and physiological responses of therapy horses to mentally traumatized humans. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 205, 78–85.

  3. Palomar-Ciria, N., & Bello, H. J. (2023). Equine-assisted therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

  4. Malinowski, K., Yee, C., Tevlin, J. M., Birks, E. K., & Durando, M. M. (2018). Effects of equine-assisted therapy on plasma cortisol, oxytocin, and heart rate variability in horses and veterans with PTSD. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

  5. Provan, M., Ahmed, Z., Stevens, A. R., & Sardeli, A. V. (2024). Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with PTSD? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry.

  6. Yorke, J., Adams, C., & Coady, N. (2008). Therapeutic value of equine-human bonding in recovery from trauma. Anthrozoös, 21(1), 17–30.

  7. Arnon, S., Fisher, P. W., Pickover, A., Lowell, A., et al. (2020). Equine-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD: Manual development and preliminary findings. Military Behavioral Health.

  8. Earles, J. L., Vernon, L. L., & Yetz, J. P. (2015). Equine-assisted therapy for anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(2), 149–156.

  9. Shelef, A., Brafman, D., Rosing, T., Weizman, A., et al. (2019). Equine-assisted therapy for patients with PTSD: A case series study. Military Medicine.

  10. Marchand, W. R., Andersen, S. J., Smith, J. E., & colleagues. (2021). Equine-assisted activities and therapies for veterans with PTSD: Current state, challenges, and future directions. Chronic Stress, 5.


Citations

Favicon ScienceDirect

Equine-Assisted Therapy in Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder

EAT has been recently put in the spotlight for the treatment PTSD. EAT significantly improves post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Favicon Journal of Veterans Studies

A Systematic Review of Equine-Assisted Interventions in Military ...

December 3, 2019 — The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize current evidence on the use of EAI as a treatment option in military veterans formally ...

Favicon BioMed Central

Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with ...

July 31, 2024 — EAT has demonstrated positive outcomes for veterans diagnosed with PTSD with 87.1% of veterans reporting very positive perceived benefits ...

More

Favicon ResearchGate

Equine-Assisted Services for Veterans with PTSD: a Meta-Analysis

December 23, 2024 — Examination of these four types of evidence suggests promise for the use of equine-assisted services with veterans for reduction of PTSD ...

Favicon PubMed

Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with ...

July 31, 2024 — Conclusions: EAS appeared to have a positive influence on PTSD symptoms in military veterans, significantly reducing PTSD severity scores. Other ...

Favicon BioMed Central

Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with ...

July 31, 2024 — EAT has demonstrated positive outcomes for veterans diagnosed with PTSD with 87.1% of veterans reporting very positive perceived benefits ...

Favicon UTP Publishing

Psychophysiological effects of equine-facilitated psychotherapy on ...

June 26, 2024 — A systematic review of equine-assisted interventions in military Veterans diagnosed with PTSD. J Veterans Stud. 2019;5(1): 23–33. Crossref.

PMC

Equine-assisted interventions for veterans with posttraumatic stress ...

November 2, 2023 — This study examines the characteristics of several types of equine interventions and includes a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on equine- ...

Favicon Mad Barn USA

Equine-assisted interventions for veterans with posttraumatic stress ...

November 2, 2023 — The research article presents a review of studies examining the benefits of equine-assisted interventions for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress ...

Favicon Oxford Academic

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans with PTSD - Oxford Academic

February 7, 2020 — All patients completed treatment, reporting high satisfaction. Preliminary data showed decreases in clinician-assessed PTSD and depressive ...

Favicon Journal of Veterans Studies

A Systematic Review of Equine-Assisted Interventions in Military ...

December 3, 2019 — The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize current evidence on the use of EAI as a treatment option in military veterans formally ...

Favicon ScienceDirect

Equine-Assisted Therapy in Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder

EAT has been recently put in the spotlight for the treatment PTSD. EAT significantly improves post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Favicon Forces in Mind Trust

Equine-assisted interventions for Veterans with posttraumatic stress ...

Equine-assisted intervention therapy has been shown to be effective, but further research is merited, in ord


1M. Hassija, C., & Cloitre, M. (2015). STAIR narrative therapy: A skills focused approach to trauma-related distress. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 11(3), 172-179.

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