Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue will host a photo gallery, Faces of PTSD, from noon to 5 p.m., May 18, at their farm in Dover Plains. The exhibit by Lisa O Photos is part of the farm’s Armed Forces Day celebration, which will also feature local vendors, artisans, food, a demonstration by the New York State Mounted Police and live music by Stringmasters.

The event will celebrate the rescue’s mission of “People Helping Horses Heal People.” Through fundraisers, Lucky Orphans offers Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at no cost to veterans, first responders and servicemen and women.

“We’re holding this event to help get rid of the stigma, to remind those who suffer from PTSD that they’re not alone and they don’t need to suffer in silence,” says Deanna Mancuso, founder and executive director of Lucky Orphans.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy has been growing in popularity as a way to help heal veterans struggling with PTSD, Mancuso says. “My grandfather, a Korean War veteran, instilled in me that horses bring peace and can offer tremendous healing to unseen wounds. I founded Lucky Orphans with that mission, in memory of my grandfather, to continue giving back to all our veterans. Horses have carried our soldiers, dragged our artillery, fallen down, bled alongside our military and carried our soldiers home. No other animal could understand what these men and women go through.”

Location: Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue, 2699 Rte. 22, Dover Plains, NY. For more info, call 845.877.0685, email [email protected] or visit LuckyOrphansHorseRescue.org.