Retired Savannah police horse ‘Grant’ begins new mission helping veterans through equine therapy
By Lydia Blackstone
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RICHMOND HILL, Georgia (WJCL) — After 13 years serving with the Savannah Police Department’s Mounted Patrol, a retired police horse is starting a new chapter — helping veterans and first responders heal through equine therapy.
Grant spent more than a decade patrolling the streets of downtown Savannah before an injury forced him to step away from law enforcement.
But his service didn’t end there.
The horse now calls Valor Farms home, where he is helping veterans find connection, purpose and healing.
“As a 13-year veteran, you’re going to have scrapes, bumps, things that happened to you through your service,” said Shannon Dunlap, a horse trainer with the Savannah Police Department’s Mounted Patrol and Equistride Solutions. “He decided that he needed to step down into a career that was more a walk trot. Because of that, here he is. He’s able to serve and his journey continues.”
Grant’s transition into retirement was made possible through Valor Farms, a Richmond Hill organization founded by Army Ranger veteran Danny Archer.
The farm provides free equine therapy for veterans and first responders, creating a space where people can reconnect and rebuild after their careers change.
“We had the opportunity to essentially have a place for him to come and retire,” Archer said. “Honestly, it’s just been a seamless transition for him.”
Archer says Grant’s story mirrors the experiences of many veterans.
After years of serving others, both Grant and the people he now helps have had to adjust to a new sense of purpose.
“Here’s a classic example of two parallel careers that kind of come to an end,” Archer said. “At some point, you lose your network, your purpose, your identity, and everything else. You’re kind of in a professional and personal fog for a while.”
Archer said horses played an important role in his own healing, which inspired him to create Valor Farms.
The program gives veterans and first responders an opportunity to connect with horses without pressure to share their experiences.
“For any veteran or first responder that’s out there and struggling, seriously, reach out,” Archer said. “This is a place where we’re not going to sit around in a circle and talk about your booboos. There’s no requirement to do that. You don’t have to say anything. You just say, ‘This is what I do and I want to get involved.’”
Now, Grant is part of that mission.
While his days wearing a badge and patrolling Savannah streets are over, those who know him say his purpose remains the same.
“He’s still serving every day,” Dunlap said. “He’s just serving in a new way.”
For veterans and first responders interested in getting involved with Valor Farms, information is available through WJCL’s website.
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