Equine therapy program helps veterans, saves horses

MILFORD, Ohio (WKRC) - Ron has been working with horses for more than 40 years.

Monday, June 6, he was in the round pen with a Mustang that's still a little wild, but she's progressing nicely. Ron works at Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship, or CTRH, in Milford and he's helping two veterans learn to work with the horses.

Air Force veteran Stephanie Fassnacht has been in the program for five weeks, "Oh, that was amazing. That was totally awesome. She is beautiful. I love her and I just met her, what, an hour ago," Stephanie said of the horse.

Steve Claybourn is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. He said, "They're so sensitive that in order to have any sort of meaningful relationship with a horse you have to establish that bond and that trust."

CTRH gives adults and children with special needs a place to bond with horses. The nonprofit is branching out, recruiting veterans to train mustangs. The organization just rescued two that were supposed to be put down. Now people with special needs can benefit from equine therapy using those mustangs.

Stephanie said, "I think regardless of what's going on with you personally and what's going on out in the world, when you're here for this hour-and-a-half to two hours, this is all that's going on."

The veteran program is beneficial to vets. Some have post-traumatic stress or struggle with reintegrating back into civilian life.

Rob Seideman is CTRH's executive director, "Veterans commit suicide every day in our country. There are approximately 200,000 veterans in greater Cincinnati and there simply are not nearly enough resources to help those in need."

At CTRH vets and people with disabilities find peace and a place to be close to nature.

Steve said, "If you recommend therapy, a lot of guys and girls are going to say, 'No, I don't want therapy,' but you come here and you end up getting therapy, but you're here ostensibly just to work with the horses."

Over the next 12 months, 300 veterans will be served and the ones that are already participating are hoping more come out when they learn about the program. CTRH is collaborating with the Ft. Thomas VA, Veterans Justice Outreach, Tristate Veterans Community Alliance, and the Cincinnati VA.