When I first arrived at the Saddles in Service ranch, I was in the final year of a 23-year military career and was dealing with the unsettling notion of not just leaving a job, but an identity, a calling, a sense of purpose, and a community tighter than many families. The perfect storm of reflection on the past, uncertainty about the future, and a lack of the structure and community I’ve always relied on, put me at acute risk for depression, as it does for many veterans.
Saddles in Service’s use of the horse / rider relationship is so critical to those of us struggling in our current lives, haunted by the past or unsure about our future. As prey animals, horses are very sensitive to noises, movement, and energy. To work with horses, you’ve got to release all that you’re carrying and truly be in the moment. Deliberate breathing and posture communicates your energy level to the horse. You must truly be calm and confident, or the horse will see right through you.
I found a special connection with Dylan, a magnificent drafthorse with anxiety that matches his strength. Like many of us who have deep-seeded worries, Dylan uses speed to regulate his emotions, which can make riding him feel like you’re on a freight train. It was because he was so sensitive and needed calm, confident reassurance, that I cherished working with Dylan. My purpose became finding my inner calm in order to help him find his.
When I’m faced with anxiety in my daily life, I can now channel my time with Dylan and the other horses at SIS to manage my energy and focus.
In addition to the remarkable riding experience, Saddles In Service provides that community of people who understand and care. The ranch is filled with other veterans, first responders, medical personnel, and volunteers who honor and appreciate the service and sacrifice these professions demand. Our shared experience created a safe space where our group can share their struggles and support one another through everything from a flat tire to medical problems.
The SIS family is truly exceptional. The capstone experience in Wyoming is unparalleled. Training to ride on the plains and the mountains with Tom Bercher was like preparing for a deployment, and the feeling of riding with confidence is difficult to put into words. When not riding, we had an opportunity to work with our hands, creating chaps, saddlebags, and other leather goods in Ed Smith’s shop.
Spending a week away from the city, far from work and life’s obligations, surrounded by vast beautiful landscape, is the ultimate live-in-the-moment experience.
