Soldiers who have returned from Iraq and other war-torn areas are finding solace in horses at the Ivey Ranch Park Association in Oceanside, Calif., not far from the Camp Pendleton Marine base. Ivey Ranch for the past year has participated in the North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA) Horses for Heroes program, helping veterans of all ages recuperate.

Active-duty soldiers and able-bodied veterans volunteer to help their injured brethren at Ivey Ranch. That provides even more support.

"If the veteran wants a conversation, they are surrounded with like-minded people," Tonya Danielly, Ivey Ranch's executive director, told the San Diego Union. It's a fabulous way for them to reconnect with a population that they understand."

The free therapeutic course takes six weeks and includes horseback riding as Equine Assisted Growth & Learning (EAL). EAL offers life skills that support emotional well-being for soldiers