Supporting our Veterans and First Responders through connection and healing.
Horse-Centered Wellness for Heroes
Horse-Centered Wellness for Heroes
Supporting our Veterans and First Responders through connection and healing.
Restoring the Spirit of Our Heroes
You spend your life answering the call for others. This program is about answering the call for you.
We pair Veterans and First Responders with therapy horses to help navigate the unique mental health challenges of service. Whether you are dealing with burnout, PTSD, or simply need a moment of peace, the barn is a sanctuary.
No clinical settings. No white coats. just boots on the ground and reins in hand.
Deb Desantis
I have been involved with horses since the age of five and bring a lifelong passion for equine care and partnership. For the past twelve years, I have worked within equine therapy programs, gaining hands-on experience supporting both horses and participants in therapeutic settings.
I previously volunteered with an equine therapy program in Denver, where I assisted with daily horse care and therapy sessions. Over the last two and a half years, I have focused on retraining and rehoming rescue horses, helping prepare them to become successful equine therapy partners.
This work included groundwork, behavioral evaluation, trust-building, and ensuring each horse was matched to an appropriate therapeutic role or long-term placement.
My approach centers on patience, safety, and respect for the horse, with an emphasis on creating calm, reliable partners capable of supporting therapeutic work.
Ally
Ally comes to Summerwood as a resident from Massachusetts, where she works at an equine therapeutic riding and learning center. During five years as horse care staff and instructor, and while participating in a mounted archery program, she shifted her focus from riding to the benefits of unmounted equine assisted learning.
Ally believes lives can be changed one horse experience at a time. She is certified as a PATH Equine Assisted Learning facilitator and a PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She also holds a certification from the HERD Institute in human-equine relationship development.
Ally continues working toward certification in the Masterson Method of equine bodywork. Having been a Navy wife for twenty-two years, and the mother of an EMT, she holds a special place in her heart for veterans and first responders.
Ally’s motto is: "Everyone shines given the right lighting"
Restoring the Spirit of Our Heroes
You spend your life answering the call for others. This program is about answering the call for you.
We pair Veterans and First Responders with therapy horses to help navigate the unique mental health challenges of service. Whether you are dealing with burnout, PTSD, or simply need a moment of peace, the barn is a sanctuary.
No clinical settings. No white coats. just boots on the ground and reins in hand.
Deb Desantis
I have been involved with horses since the age of five and bring a lifelong passion for equine care and partnership. For the past twelve years, I have worked within equine therapy programs, gaining hands-on experience supporting both horses and participants in therapeutic settings.
I previously volunteered with an equine therapy program in Denver, where I assisted with daily horse care and therapy sessions. Over the last two and a half years, I have focused on retraining and rehoming rescue horses, helping prepare them to become successful equine therapy partners.
This work included groundwork, behavioral evaluation, trust-building, and ensuring each horse was matched to an appropriate therapeutic role or long-term placement.
My approach centers on patience, safety, and respect for the horse, with an emphasis on creating calm, reliable partners capable of supporting therapeutic work.
Ally
Ally comes to Summerwood as a resident from Massachusetts, where she works at an equine therapeutic riding and learning center. During five years as horse care staff and instructor, and while participating in a mounted archery program, she shifted her focus from riding to the benefits of unmounted equine assisted learning.
Ally believes lives can be changed one horse experience at a time. She is certified as a PATH Equine Assisted Learning facilitator and a PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She also holds a certification from the HERD Institute in human-equine relationship development.
Ally continues working toward certification in the Masterson Method of equine bodywork. Having been a Navy wife for twenty-two years, and the mother of an EMT, she holds a special place in her heart for veterans and first responders.
Ally’s motto is:
Everyone shines given the right lighting.
Program Hosted By:
"Summerwood Stables is dedicated to providing adult horse owners with an exceptional, full-service equestrian experience in a serene, beautifully maintained setting.
Our mission is to offer a peaceful retreat where horses receive outstanding care and riders enjoy thoughtfully designed amenities, fostering relaxation, community, and a deeper connection with their horses. Through uncompromising standards and an atmosphere of calm luxury, we support the well-being of both horse and rider at every stage of their journey."
"One Good Deed
Can Change Everything"
© 2025 WeDoGood.org INC - All Rights Reserved
WeDoGood.org INC is a registered 501C(3) Non-Profit Charity
EIN: 85-1323828
PRIVACY POLICY
Program Hosted By:
"Summerwood Stables is dedicated to providing adult horse owners with an exceptional, full-service equestrian experience in a serene, beautifully maintained setting.
Our mission is to offer a peaceful retreat where horses receive outstanding care and riders enjoy thoughtfully designed amenities, fostering relaxation, community, and a deeper connection with their horses. Through uncompromising standards and an atmosphere of calm luxury, we support the well-being of both horse and rider at every stage of their journey."
"One Good Deed
Can Change Everything"
© 2025 WeDoGood.org INC - All Rights Reserved
WeDoGood.org INC is a registered 501C(3) Non-Profit Charity
EIN: 85-1323828
PRIVACY POLICY