Our Programs
Our approach combines clinical insight with compassionate presence.
We partner with equine specialists, psychologists, and rehabilitation experts to design every session around the group’s unique needs. Each program includes:
- Introduction to the psychology of horses and safe interaction rules
- Therapeutic ground-based and mounted exercises
- Group and individual reflection
- Art-therapy components for emotional release
- Mindfulness and decompression techniques
- Every encounter is a step toward resilience, empathy, and inner peace for people and for horses alike.
In 2024, Victory Center conducted programs for veterans undergoing rehabilitation, women combat veterans, defenders of Irpin and their families, and former prisoners of war. Each session combines movement, reflection, and non-verbal communication with horses to support emotional regulation and post-rehabilitation adaptation.
Programs
Supporting Veterans and Their Families
Victory Center’s core mission is to help Ukrainian veterans heal the invisible wounds of war.
Through equine-assisted therapy, mindfulness practices, and guided interaction with horses, participants learn to rebuild trust, regain control over their bodies and emotions, and find a sense of calm and belonging. Our veteran programs include individual and group sessions designed to reduce post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. We collaborate with veteran organizations, and psychologists to ensure a trauma-informed and safe environment for every participant.
See Past & Upcoming Veteran Programs
For Veterans and Families
CHILDREN AFFECTED BY WAR
Children who have lived through evacuation, occupation, or the loss of a family member carry emotional experiences that words alone cannot heal.
Our children’s programs offer a safe space to reconnect with joy and curiosity through structured activities with horses, creative art sessions, and physical games that nurture trust and confidence.
With the support of Ukraine’s State Service for Children and the U.S. Department of State’s IVLP Impact Awards, Victory Center implemented a 7-week program for children from family-type orphanages, helping them restore a sense of stability and hope.
Children’s Programs: Past & Upcoming
For Children Affected by War
Programs for Women, Families, and Specialists
We also provide healing programs for those who bear the weight of others’ pain:
Women and Mothers of Fallen Soldiers — safe, reflective sessions that support emotional recovery and meaning-making after loss.
Psychologists and Emergency-Service Responders (DSNS) — decompression programs that help professionals release stress and continue serving others sustainably.
Former Prisoners of War — gentle reconnection to trust and self-worth through interaction with horses.
Each program integrates equine therapy with art, reflection, and community support — helping participants transform trauma into strength.
All other Programs
All Programs & Announcements
September-december 2025
Riding Back to Calm
Registration is closed.
Program: Rider of Own Emotions
Applications are open for a psycho-emotional recovery program for male and female veterans.
Organized by: Victory Center – Transform trauma into victory
The project is implemented within the grant program of the Youth Fund of Lviv “Poruch,” as part of the title “Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025.” The program is supported by socially responsible businesses of Lviv.
September 2025
Horses Save: Emotional Recovery for Children (August-September 2025)
Through contact with horses, adapted equine-assisted sessions, mindfulness practices and group activities, children experience emotional stabilization, grounding, self-regulation, and the development of social skills. The program includes 12–15 individual and group sessions over 3 weeks (once per week), each lasting 3–4 hours at the stable.
Sessions are led by a team of professionals:
- equine-assisted therapy trainer
- clinical psychologist or special education teacher
- individual-support psychologist
- trained volunteers
The program is designed for children with various behavioral characteristics — including hyperactivity, anxiety, and fear of heights — and follows the principles of inclusion and safety.
Summer 2025
Triptych of Victory Exhibition at
American House (Kyiv)
“Triptych of Victory” presents three Ukrainian social initiatives that together promote emotional, physical, and spiritual recovery for those affected by war. The exhibition highlights how compassion, creativity, and connection with animals contribute to healing and resilience within Ukrainian communities.
Organized by:
NGO Victory Center in collaboration with Horse Paradise Ranch and artist Halyna Morar
Supported by U.S. Embassy
These three initiatives form the Triptych of Victory — a living symbol of unity, humanity, and healing, demonstrating how art, animals, and empathy can restore life, even amid war.
May 2025
4x4 Program: Four Meetings With Horses
4 full days of transformation through horses, nature, and self-discovery. Only 4 participants per group.
Dates are flexible and set individually.
This program is created for those who seek deep reconnection with their body, emotions, and inner state guided by horses as mirrors and partners in awareness.
About the Program
4x4 is an immersive four-day experience in the world of horses, nature, and yourself — a therapeutic, educational, and life-affirming journey held at a ranch.
It is built on the LANDNAV model by Charles Hogge, developed to help veterans navigate the transition from military to civilian life, regain presence, and rediscover trust and purpose.
The 4x4 Program was implemented in collaboration with YOUkraine Hub, a community of former prisoners of war.
We are deeply grateful to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI/FCIL) for supporting our work with veterans released from captivity.
December 2024
Victory Center’s Visit to DreamPower Horsemanship, California
Our team visited DreamPower Horsemanship to strengthen international cooperation in veterans’ recovery programs. Together with our U.S. partners, we exchanged experience, met American veterans, and presented Ukrainian-made charity auction items.
The visit raised $5,500 to support our programs and inspired new joint initiatives including adaptive carriage driving for veterans with disabilities.
Grateful to DreamPower Horsemanship, Marilyn Sokolof, and all friends who believe that together we can change veterans’ lives for the better.
