City of Dallas and Equest Welcomed Student Veterans of America 2017 Leadership Institute

DALLAS - Oct. 24, 2017 - PRLog -- Shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, and saws were the tools used in the gloved hands of student veteran leaders to build comradery, leadership skills, and teamwork. The City of Dallas and Equest hosted a select group from Student Veterans of America (SVA) on Oct. 19 for an afternoon of service work at the Texas Horse Park. The one hundred student veterans from throughout the U.S., from as far away as Hawaii, Washington, and New Jersey, cleared trails, trimmed trees, installed a sensory riding course, and other additional activities. This work was designed to support Equest's upcoming fundraiser for their horses, Ridefest, as well as its ongoing therapeutic horsemanship programming.

Student Veterans of America's 2017 Leadership Institute is the premier training for student veterans pursuing a degree in schools across the country. The training programs and resources inspire emerging leaders in the chapter, on campuses and in communities. Approximately 100 student veterans participated in an intensive three-day leadership program in Dallas to become the next greatest generation of American leaders.

"Each of these students have demonstrated remarkable showmanship and community involvement," said Jared Lyon, SVA's President and CEO. "They have been recognized and hand-selected from 600,000 student veterans from our national organization and are visiting Dallas to develop their personal leadership ethos and shape the future of America."

Equest, a non-profit that provides equine facilitated activities, therapies and counseling for children and adults with special needs, also offers a zero cost veterans program and services. The mission of the Equest program melds well with that of SVA's. "The goal of our Hooves for Heroes program is for our veterans to better adjust to civilian life and ultimately become leaders in the community. These student veterans not only improved the lives of our clients but also served as an inspiration for us all," said Jeff Hensley, Director of Clinical Services and Hooves for Heroes

Hooves for Heroes empowers veterans and military families and provides a program to help them better cope with daily challenges and take charge of their civilian transitions and to assume new roles as civic leaders. Since it launched six years ago, Hooves for Heroes has helped more than 800 veterans and military families.

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For hi-res images and video, visit:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nz3ho5yanw65gpu/AAD_wXuQdo_n0-dRbCv6HY26a?dl=0

Photo credit: courtesy of Student Veterans of America

About Equest

Founded in 1981, Equest provides equine facilitated activities, therapies and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities and veterans with adjustment challenges. The services provided include physical and occupational therapy, equine facilitated counseling and learning, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship and competition. With the help of 36 therapy horses, 10 instructors, four therapists, two counselors, and 400 volunteers, lives are changed on a daily basis for more than 3,000 clients served annually. Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas and remains one of the largest in the country. Equest offers an engaging volunteer program that provides 40,000 hours of direct program service opportunities each year. Equest was named "2015 Non-Profit of the Year" by CNM Connect. www.equest.org

About Student Veterans of America
SVA is the country's premier organization for student veterans. SVA supports all veterans through their transition from the military, educational advancement, and career growth. SVA represents a network of 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and four countries representing over 600,000 student veterans at those colleges and universities. For more information, visit us at www.studentveterans.org.

About Trinity Watershed Management

City of Dallas' Trinity Watershed Management department is made up of four divisions: Flood Control and City-Wide Interior Drainage Management, Floodplain and Drainage Management, Stormwater Management, and the Trinity River Corridor Project. This multi-generational project provides critical flood protection, transportation components, recreation amenities, such as the Texas Horse Park and Trinity River Audubon Center; and environmental restoration/preservation for areas along the Trinity River and within the 6200 acres of the Great Trinity Forest. This department has 300 employees with oversight of facilities, programs and projects throughout Dallas. For more information visit www.trinityrivercorridor.com or www.dallascityhall.com and select the appropriate department. For more details on Stormwater fees or how to keep stormwater clean, visit www.wheredoesitgo.com.