War Horses for Veterans is the premier horsemanship, networking and personal growth program in the U.S. We are a Kansas City based nonprofit that brings combat veterans from across the country together in a safe and peaceful environment.
WE’RE AN EQUINE BASED NETWORKING EXPERIENCE
FOR COMBAT VETERANS
Our 3-4 day programs are designed to teach the basics of horsemanship and create a network that will provide outlets for other opportunities and friendships. We use a combination of learning to work a horse, creating new networks and Equus/Life coaching to help each veteran with their own personal growth.
There is no cost to the veteran. Veterans may return as often as they like, as long as they bring another combat veteran.
MEET THE
WAR HORSES’ STAFF
Andy and Patricia Brown
Co-Founders
Andy Brown, with his wife Pat, owns a pipeline supply company. Over the years, he has employed numerous veterans of war. Andy has been a trail rider since his childhood and has always been passionate about horses with an equal passion to empower veterans.
Pat and Andy both empathize with our fighters, as well as with their horses. They see a strong link between the two and provide our veterans and their horses with that connection by opening up their home and farm to our combat veterans.
Patrick Benson
Co-Founder/Director
Patrick Benson is an Army Veteran who served in the Infantry from 1998 to 2004. His numerous military operations enable his understanding of the physical and emotional strain on our combat veterans. As a professional horseman, he manages a training and breeding program for performance horses.
Gary Llewellyn
Assistant Director
Gary Llewellyn, is retired Army warrant officer who participated in the program in 2015. He later moved to Kansas City from Michigan to become a program mentor. Gary was a Warrant Officer 2 and Scout Pilot, Alpha Troop, US Army in Vietnam in 1969. To Gary, this program is a wholesome and real opportunity to experience the brotherhood he had missed for so many years and to recount stories, laugh and disengage. “The experience here made me whole again.”
Jason Klepac
Program Manager
Jason Klepac, our new Program Manager. Jason is a U.S. Army veteran and served 15 years in law enforcement, now retired. He and his wife Shannon have been married for 19 years and have 3 daughters. Horses have been a part of their lives since childhood and they are looking forward to all the good things to come this year and in years to come.
Mindy Curphy
Accounting
Bret Cortright
Director of Development
Bruce M. Cappo
Contractor
Mitchell Flescher
Contractor
In order to ensure the integrity of the War Horses For Veterans experience and to facilitate the safety and enjoyment of program participants, War Horses for Veterans has a contract with Dr. Bruce Cappo and Dr. Mitchell Flesher of Clinical Associates, P.A. to conduct screening assessments of program applicants. The assessments will be completed in two stages: a brief tele-video interview for initial screening and an in-person evaluation of participants who are under further consideration for the program.
Bruce Michael Cappo, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Cappo founded Clinical Associates, P.A. in 1992, and he is a Board Certified specialist in Police and Public Safety psychology. He has served as president of the Kansas Psychological Association and the Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists. Also, has served on the University of Minnesota Press Advisory Committee related to psychological assessment and is an ad hoc reviewer for several professional psychological journals. His current practice is focused in three areas: forensic evaluations in consultation, evaluations related to public safety, and evaluations for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning.
Mitchell Flesher, PhD, JD
Dr. Flesher is a licensed psychologist and licensed attorney in the state of Kansas. His practice is devoted to clinical and forensic assessment. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology and has been admitted as an expert witness in forensic and mental health issues throughout Kansas and Missouri. Before entering private practice, he worked as a forensic psychologist in the Kansas Department of Corrections and later as the Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist with the Eastern Kansas VA Healthcare System.