Horse-Centered Wellness for Heroes
Supporting our Veterans and First Responders through connection and healing.
Supporting our Veterans and First Responders through connection and healing.
Horse-Centered Wellness for Heroes
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.
Leigh S. Hayden, LCSW
Leigh is a Licensed Master Social Worker, with over a decade supporting clients and professionals, as well as a Certified Equine Mental Health Specialist. She maintains multiple certificates and trainings to support individuals through the many life transitions and traumas every one of us experience.
In 2012, Leigh began her training with horses as healers. This was just the beginning of Leigh following her curiosity, passion and call for purpose. The training models that partner with horses enhances her work. For the past decade, she traveled North America studying the horse through the lens of different therapeutic/educational equine curriculums.
Three certifications she holds that really stand out are: EAGALA, SkyHorse EGE, with Ariana Strozzi Mazzucchi (founder of Equine Guided Education and Coaching) and Natural Lifemanship. EAGALA is an equine assisted growth and learning model. SkyHorse EGE is a somatic based method of coaching with horses that emphasizes senate, experiential learning and encompasses body, mind and spirit. Natural Lifemanship is an Equine Assisted Service model based on the science of relationships, attachment and partnership developed for a partnership of a licensed therapist and an equine specialist.
Leigh recognizes that as the world evolves, so too must her practice. She values both the science and art of healthy relationships. She is known for delivering a humanistic, relationally oriented and trama-informed psychotherapy model founded on the ethical inclusion of horses. This ensures the horses' subjective experience is included, to protect horse welfare.
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.
Leigh S. Hayden, LCSW
Leigh is a Licensed Master Social Worker, with over a decade supporting clients and professionals, as well as a Certified Equine Mental Health Specialist. She maintains multiple certificates and trainings to support individuals through the many life transitions and traumas every one of us experience.
In 2012, Leigh began her training with horses as healers. This was just the beginning of Leigh following her curiosity, passion and call for purpose. The training models that partner with horses enhances her work. For the past decade, she traveled North America studying the horse through the lens of different therapeutic/educational equine curriculums.
Three certifications she holds that really stand out are: EAGALA, SkyHorse EGE, with Ariana Strozzi Mazzucchi (founder of Equine Guided Education and Coaching) and Natural Lifemanship. EAGALA is an equine assisted growth and learning model. SkyHorse EGE is a somatic based method of coaching with horses that emphasizes senate, experiential learning and encompasses body, mind and spirit. Natural Lifemanship is an Equine Assisted Service model based on the science of relationships, attachment and partnership developed for a partnership of a licensed therapist and an equine specialist.
Leigh recognizes that as the world evolves, so too must her practice. She values both the science and art of healthy relationships. She is known for delivering a humanistic, relationally oriented and trama-informed psychotherapy model founded on the ethical inclusion of horses. This ensures the horses' subjective experience is included, to protect horse welfare.
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