Saddle Up, Soldier On: Finding Healing Through Horses

Horses and healing have long gone hand-in-hand. Now, thanks to a partnership between the Canadian military, a Toronto riding school, and Toronto’s mounted police unit, horses are helping physically injured and emotionally ill members of Canada’s military recover through equestrian sport. Saddle Up Soldier On is part of the Soldier On initiative, a national Canadian Armed Forces program that uses sport and recreation to help ill and injured members and veterans maintain healthy, active lifestyles, develop new skills, build confidence, and meet peers with similar challenges.

Saddle Up Soldier On: A Chance Encounter

Saddle Up Soldier On was born out of a chance encounter at the 2011 True Patriot Love Foundation fundraising gala. Walter and Jacquelyn Shanly, co-owners of Toronto’s Sunnybrook Stables and the Riding Academy at the Horse Palace, were seated next to Major Jodi-Jane Longley. Over the course of dinner, Longley asked Walter if he’d be interested in developing an equestrian program to help veterans and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Walter said ‘yes’ instantly,” said Jacquelyn Shanly.”We were already running a therapeutic riding program at The Horse Palace and he had a close relationship with the Toronto Mounted Police Unit, so it seemed like a natural fit and we were able to put the pieces all together quite quickly. The fact that we were at an event raising money to support military families, and that we happened to be seated with Jodi-Jane, it was meant to be. Definitely, we were in the right place at the right time.”

For five days, program participants stay in a downtown hotel and are transported to Exhibition Place each morning for daily sessions on grooming, horse care and handling, and riding. Afternoons and evenings are spent enjoying some of Toronto’s popular attractions and special events. The week concludes with a graduation ceremony and a BBQ hosted by Toronto’s mounted police unit.

Building Confidence and Trust

This October, 10 participants from across Canada travelled to Toronto for the seventh installment of the program. They represented a range of ages and came from different branches of the military. Some already had significant equestrian experience, while others had never even touched a horse. Although strangers when they arrived, they all shared one common experience; each had become ill or injured while serving in Canada’s armed forces.

On the first morning they were transported to Exhibition Place, where head instructor Sonia Koczekan divided them into pairs. “We take two riders and pair them up with a horse and an experienced volunteer to form a team,” says Koczekan, a certified therapeutic riding instructor and examiner who runs the therapeutic riding program at the Horse Palace. “We find this team format helps them form a bond more quickly, both with their partner and with their horse. For the same reason, we keep teams working with the same horse all week. It’s amazing how quickly they all build confidence and trust in their horses.”

Over the course of five days, the soldiers learned the basics of grooming, tacking up, leading, and riding. In the saddle they began on a lead line, mastering some simple stretches and exercises to improve balance and develop confidence. By the final day, each rider was happily walking and trotting without assistance, even trotting over poles in two-point position and performing some fun musical ride movements.

The transformation is more than physical. “We see it all the time; people who come in at first not willing to talk or share about themselves,” continues Koczekan. “As the program progresses, their bodies strengthen and become more coordinated. They gain self-confidence. By the end of the program, they are hugging the horses, hugging the volunteers, and are able to express joy at being here and being part of the program. It’s just wonderful to see.”

Sgt. James MacIntyre, the Ontario regional representative for Soldier On, agrees. “Whether it’s ski camp, sailing, martial arts, or equestrian, we always see such a difference in participants by the end of the program,” he says. “When the group first shows up, they are apprehensive and often withdrawn. While bonding through their activities, they also share their experiences and coping strategies. They are all at different stages of the recovery process and are able to support and help each other out.”

That sense of camaraderie was evident during the group’s final riding lesson, as they cheered each other on from the bleachers lining the ring. It was a day filled with laughter, pride, excitement – and even a few tears – as their unforgettable week came to a close. While they talked about highlights such as a boat tour with the Toronto Police Marine Unit and a visit to Ripley’s Aquarium, the horses were clearly the stars of the program.

Like “kids at camp” at Saddle Up Soldier On

While Soldier On was conceived as a recreational, not therapeutic program, the healing power of horses clearly left an impact on participants and volunteers alike. “Horses are very therapeutic,” said Sgt. Bob Hervieux of La Touque, QC, currently stationed in Comox, BC. “They never judge you and they respond to everyone the same. If you treat them well and take care of them, they will take care of you.”

A search-and-rescue technician who has completed two tours in Afghanistan and two in Haiti, including assisting in recovery efforts after the country suffered a devastating earthquake, Hervieux has seen more than his fair share of trauma and post-traumatic stress. For him, the benefit of a program like Saddle Up Soldier On is clear.

“It’s a fantastic program. Everyone here has some issues, whether physical or mental. We all share some similar experiences and the horses help take us away from the day-to-day. They bring a lot of hope to a lot of people here.”

Suzanne Galbraith of Shilo, MB, has been in the army for more than 26 years. After injuring her knee in a skiing accident, she was told she might not ever walk again, and couldn’t imagine at the time she’d be back participating in sports. Her determination, along with 18 months of intense physical therapy, proved those doctors wrong.

She participated in a Saddle Up Soldier On sailing camp in the summer of 2016 and, thanks to a lifelong passion for horses, decided to apply for Saddle Up Soldier On in the fall. “The two Soldier On experiences were completely different from each other, but both were the experiences of a lifetime,” said Galbraith. “I’d never been to Toronto before, so that alone was amazing. My roommate and I have been having a blast – we’re like two kids at camp. Jamie [Sgt. MacIntrye] encourages us all to do the excursions together, but nobody is pushed to join in if they aren’t comfortable. We can participate as much or as little as we want. I wanted to enjoy everything! We got to do some really cool things, like learning all about equine first aid and meeting the Toronto police horses.”

Gailbraith’s mount for the week was Sherlock, a handsome bay Clyde cross. “Sonia picked the perfect horse for me,” she said. “I don’t know how she knew, but he was definitely the right match. Horses are such majestic animals. They are so calming. You have to become one with the animal to be comfortable around them.”

A self-described “horse husband” and competitive team penner, Sgt. Bill Long (ret.) of Wainwright, AB, has more equine experience than his fellow participants, but he was unprepared for one key element. “I had no idea when I signed up it was going to be all English riding,” Long laughs. “I felt like a duck out of water when I started on Monday, but learned a lot over the week.”

Long was born into a military family in Cape Breton and spent most of his career based in Ontario before retiring. He served three tours in Afghanistan, as did his wife. Although he confesses to knowing little about the program when he first signed up, the Soldier On concept left a lasting impression on him.

“This is the first Soldier On event I’ve attended and I’m absolutely amazed by the program,” said Long. “My partner had never touched a horse in her life and the first day she didn’t even want to try brushing. By the end of the week, she was tacking up and riding all by herself. These horses are a lot slower and bigger than the Quarter Horses I’m used to, but they are fantastic. They are so patient with us and the fact they are bombproof makes sure everyone has a good and pleasurable experience.

“The real inspiration is the volunteers and everyone involved in the program, from the Shanlys and Sonia to the mounted police and all the volunteers,” he continues. “They’ve all been so helpful and forgiving with us; it just couldn’t happen without them. When I get back I’m really hoping to get more involved with Soldier On and hopefully start volunteering at events in my region.”

Feedback like that is what inspires Jacquelyn and Walter Shanly to seek out opportunities to help others through horses. The city locations of both Sunnybrook and the Horse Palace make them uniquely positioned to reach those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the magic of horses. In addition to Saddle Up Soldier On and an ongoing therapeutic riding program, they also offer programs to Toronto’s disadvantaged youth.

“It’s a real privilege to be involved in Soldier On,” says Jacquelyn. “Sunnybrook has a long history of giving back and it’s a very important part of what we do. For all of us, including the staff and volunteers, it’s so powerful to witness firsthand what these men and women accomplish in just five days. They go back home changed – and so do we.”