Horsepower and Heroes Camp

Pride. Consistency. Discipline. Strength. Resilience. Power. Healing. Growth.

From the high-pressure environment of military service to navigating civilian life, four women Veterans discovered that their military bond didn’t end when they took off the uniform. The uniform comes off, but the drive to serve, connect, and thrive remains. Service shapes you forever, but what comes next is where the real story begins.

Meet the women of the Horsepower and Heroes Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Camp who stayed at The PEACH Pit for a whole week. Take a glance at their service, their civilian journeys, and how The PEACH Pit offered them a place to reset.

Adrienne | U.S. Marine Corps (8 Years)

• Military Service: Adrienne served eight years in ground supply, handling essential war gear and embracing the high-demand environment of the Marines. She entered at 18, motivated by family military history and a desire for a real challenge.
• Civilian Life: After leaving service as a highly motivated Marine, adjusting to civilian rhythms took time and adaptability. Channeling her energy into culinary arts, she built a career as a chef and instructor in Atlanta.

Adrienne story starts different in that she makes delicious dishes for the other Veterans during their stay. Her involvement in this organization is one commonly talked about because everyone enjoys her healthy options. She has been a chef for The PEACH Pit since 2024 but has also participated in a camp to immerse herself in its mission and recharge away from the daily grind.

(She preferred to have her pictures showcase her culinary skills.)

~Beyond the rank, the MOS, and the years of service, every Veteran carries a unique path to healing and growth.

Susan | U.S. Marine Corps (4 Years)

MariaCristina (MC) | U.S. Army (8 Years)

“With a good attitude and positive mindset, you can always come back.”

• Military Service: Following a family legacy of service, MC spent eight years on active duty in technology and network communications with joint command forces, earning the rank of sergeant within two years.
• Civilian Life: Viewing service as a lifelong mindset, she transitioned her passion for leadership into education, empowering students in the classroom while remaining deeply active in public service and community outreach.

MC says it was a calling that came to her. Drawn to focus on her personal wellness, she felt this pull to apply to this camp and yet almost left after the first day. She had driven all the way from New Jersey, but after her peers at this camp connected with her and shared their stories, she was convinced to stay. She initially stayed for them and then realized what a “perfect place” this was to heal and “be okay with being yourself.”

~Transitioning out of the military is rarely a straight line and can often lead to isolation. For these women, finding their footing meant finding each other.

Lashunna | U.S. Air Force (3 Years)

“We fall, and we got to get back up.”

• Military Service: Driven by a commitment to personal growth, Lashunna navigated rigorous tech school training and team-building exercises, learning early on how to lead and encourage others through challenges.
• Civilian Life: Post-service life presented complex hurdles, but Lashunna focused on transforming her experiences into practical solutions for others. Today, she uses her mind and energy to create nonprofits that support initiatives for women, community guidance, and mental health advocacy.

Lashunna joined The PEACH Pit in a midst of her own transition phase. This opportunity was a break from the unwanted cycle of chaos in her life. The camp offered a healthy, quiet space away from the noise to build momentum and get an energy boost by doing something for herself.

Finding community after military life isn’t always easy, but at The PEACH Pit’s camp, recalibration and connection come naturally.

The Horsepower and Heroes weeklong camp funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Adaptive Sports Grant provides an intensive and immersive therapeutic healing for women Veterans at no cost to them for the programming, housing, and food, ensuring that financial constraints do not stop women Veterans from getting high-level care. Rather than relying on a single traditional therapy model, the camp combines specialized mind—body methods tailored for trauma and stress recovery. Which include Equine-assisted Psychotherapy, group healing yoga, individual Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, individual Accelerated Resolution Therapy, a group mask-making therapeutic art activity, group mindfulness and meditation, and horse-powered mindfulness lessons. This allows for a small, select group to step away from daily life stressors, build deep community, and focus entirely on their unique path.

#healing #journey #community #therapy

Briana Williams ~ Social Media Intern ~ Marietta College