In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Shalyce Cluff sits down with the founders of Samson’s Strength Sustainable Veterans Project, Kathleen and David Flounders. Together, they share their extraordinary journey of turning pain into purpose—offering hope, healing, and purpose to veterans through animal-assisted and equine-based interventions.
Kathleen, a seasoned mental health professional with over three decades of service, shares how her early research—“Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem in Children, Can Horses Help?”—sparked a lifelong passion for using experiential therapies to heal trauma. Her story is one of advocacy, innovation, and deep compassion, serving diverse communities including military families, first responders, and those navigating addiction, trauma, and homelessness.
David, a retired Army and Navy Veteran, opens up about his deeply personal journey through PTSD, a suicide attempt, and the path to recovery through connection with wild Mustangs. Now the President of SSSVP, Dave shares how gentling wild horses became a metaphor for his own healing and how he now leads others in doing the same.
Together, they’ve created a sanctuary—both physical and emotional—where Veterans can rebuild their lives alongside rescued Mustangs like Super Moose, Mustang Blaze, and The Goddess Artemis.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of mental health, military service, and the life-changing bond between humans and horses.
Connect with Dave and Kathleen and Samson's Strength Sustainable Veterans Project
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sssvp.org
Website:
Instagram:
@samsonsstrengthveteransproject
#veteranHealing #EquineTherapy #MustangsForMentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #AnimalAssistedTherapy #TouchOfAMustang #MilitaryMentalHealth #VeteransMatter #HealingWithHorses