OUR FOUNDER
Lindsey Gabbard
Lindsey Gabbard is the founder and executive director at Branded EBTS. She has a deep passion for helping others and horses and decided to meld all of her passions and professional skills to create Branded. She began her education at Southwestern University in Texas where she received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She worked for several years after that at R.O.C.K. in Texas teaching therapeutic riding as a PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Development Manager, Equine Assistant Manager and Veterans Program Leader. She went on to further her education with a Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas in Communication Disorders and became a licenced Speech-Language Pathologist. She has ridden and trained horses all her life and developed her horsemanship skills and passion for equines from her aunt, Patti Colbert. Lindsey and her husband, Calvin, live in Harrison, AR with their two small children and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.
Who We Are
Branded Equine Based Therapy Services is a non-profit that partners with horses in order to help individuals of all ages with a variety of backgrounds and needs. We provide Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy to individuals of all ages and incorporate equine assisted therapies to increase the physical and emotional benefits of these therapies. We also provide therapeutic riding, able-bodied riding lessons and veteran and first responder programming. Operation Branded is a program for veterans and first responders in which they partner with wild mustangs to create mutual connection and healing. Branded is a passion driven organization that strives to provide safe, effective and meaningful programming in every aspect of the organization. Each portion of our organization gives back to one another and, in turn, creates an environment that fosters growth and provides purpose to all involved.
Why Branded?
Branded was started in a leap of faith and continues to grow because of God’s goodness. Lindsey knew how much horses had helped her and so many others and she wanted to bring that healing opportunity to Harrison. She melded her passions and professional skills, an incredible board of directors and a great group of horses to start this journey called Branded. She hopes that her clients and everyone that come into contact with the organization would be able to slow down for a minute and be able to feel hope and joy, even in this fast paced world.
Operation Branded
Branded Equine Therapy is excited to provide an exciting new program for veterans, first responders and wild mustangs called Operation Branded. Lindsey Gabbard, Founder and Executive Director, stated that programs like this have had great success in other parts of the country and is now available locally.
The idea behind the program is that some veterans, first responders and all wild mustangs have very similar issues that prevent them from leading more normal, happy lives. These include hypervigilance, high anxiety, anger, lack of trust and several other symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering these wild mustangs have recently been captured and put into holding pens, they are able to easily relate to those who are experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Gabbard, a licensed speech-language pathologist and certified therapeutic riding instructor, stated, “Horses don’t ‘speak’ exactly like we do, but if you know what to look for, they communicate their feelings and needs very well. They are also highly aware of a person’s actions and body language. When you put a veteran and a wild mustang who has never been touched by human hands into a corral together, deep down they both want to bond, but sometimes they just can’t until they find a way to lessen their hypervigilance, anxiety, anger and trust issues. It takes some time, but they usually find a way and, in the process, help heal each other.”
Fred Whoel, renown local horseman, will be helping with Operation Branded and he and Lindsey, along with veteran mentors will be guiding the participants while they are taming the mustangs and teaching them basic horsemanship skills like haltering, leading and loading them into a trailer. “Sadly, America’s rangelands have been overgrazed by exploding populations of wild horses and native wildlife and a high number of springs and other water sources have dried up.” Whoel said. “The result is that these magnificent native American horses are dying in large numbers due to the lack of food and water. This has grown into an animal welfare crisis and one way to lessen the problem is by capturing some of them and finding caring people to adopt them. Operation Branded is a perfect fit for this adoption program and we hope to be part of the solution for these mustangs along with helping veterans and first responders at the same time.”
Their goal is to have the veterans who bond with the mustang adopt them if they have room and facilities to do so, but this is not a requirement of the program. Some mustangs may be put up for adoption to the general public with an open adoption contract so the veterans can keep in touch with the adopters and the horse’s progress.
“We travel to Oklahoma with the program participants and they get to choose their own mustangs and then they get the chance to take the horse through the entire gentling process from completely wild to a trusting, willing partner.”
How You Can Help Us
- Volunteer As A Horse Leader Or Side Walker
- Donate Or Become A Sponsor
- Donate A Horse
- Purchase Items On Our Amazon Wishlist
- Donate Gently Used Saddle And Tack
- Help Spread The Word About Us
- Pray For Us
