“Mortars, missiles, rockets, bodies.” LTC Samantha Nerove says, “ I can’t get rid of the memories. It is just as fresh as if it is happening right now. Just as real.”
Sam, as everyone addresses her, joined the Army in 1988. Sam relates, “I was happy, well-adjusted, young, and ready to set the world on fire.” Sam has lived all around the world and served in Operation Desert Storm and Iraq where her life changed radically.
“My injury, Sam states boldly, “is PTSD.” Undiagnosed for two decades, Sam describes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as an “invisible destruction,” that eventually placed her “in the deepest, darkest hellhole unable to function.”
After intense group therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Sam continues weekly PTSD therapy. “Therapy, in its most effective form, is multi-dimensional,” Sam says. Participating in the Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Therapy Program, co-founded by CDR Mary Jo Beckman, USN Ret. and CSM Larry Pence, USA Ret., helps Sam “define what I am processing emotionally.”
Mary Jo Beckman and Larry Pence have life-long equine experience. Mary Jo, a Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor, says, “The Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Therapy Program has been a team effort.” Together, Mary Jo and Larry elicited the help of the U.S. Army, Jim Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2005 - 2007), the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, and the Caisson Platoon at Fort Myer in Arlington, VA.
A Recreation Therapist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center coordinates individuals who want to attend, assuring, “the person has proper medical clearance for riding a horse,” Mary Jo explains. “The length of therapy varies because Walter Reed individuals are undergoing continuing treatments including surgeries.”
“We do everything we can do psychologically and physically to help wounded warriors through recovery,” Larry says. Pads, not saddles, accommodate soldiers with lower body trauma, including single and double amputees. Larry states, “Every soldier that has been wounded wants to be a contributing member of society.”
“The Caisson Platoon personnel have been very supportive of this program,” Mary Jo says. “The soldiers are Leaders and Sidewalkers.” Soldier helping soldier in a non-threatening environment makes this program unique, fostering camaraderie and insight between participants and Caisson Platoon. The horses, which perform Military Honors in Arlington Cemetery, “are a huge part of the team,” Sam adds.
Before the entering the program, Sam had never ridden a horse. Her individual sessions focus on empowering riding skills that Sam expands into her greater life to retrain her thought processes not to include severe PTSD symptoms like intrusive recollection and hyper-arousal and instead build confidence, control, and overall health.
Today, Sam is riding Minnie accompanied by Civilian Volunteer Sidewalker, Karilyn Inch, a Kansas State University, Animal Sciences and Industry Equine Program student. Sam and Karilyn have worked together for several sessions, establishing a genuine rapport. Karilyn, honored to be a part of the program, displays impressive skill, demeanor, and in-depth understanding of the program and wounded warriors.
During Sam’s individual session, Karilyn holds a loose lead for safety, allocating full control to Sam. Sam walks Minnie around the arena to bond with Minnie first on the ground. Finding their comfort zone, Sam mounts Minnie; Mary Jo observes and coaches Sam to breathe and “relax in rhythm with the horse.”
To increase relaxation, Mary Jo instructs Sam through a series of full-body stretches on Minnie. Sam performs a sequence of progressively difficult hands-off exercises, positioned facing backward then sideways while Minnie walks. Sam stops to talk with Mary Jo about flashback triggers, grounding techniques, and how the physical and emotional elements of riding and recovering from PTSD link together.
Sam is now riding alone. Mary Jo praises Sam’s ability to regulate Minnie, reminding her about Minnie’s response to pressure, instructing course changes, and managing obstacles. In control, Sam brings Minnie to a trot, following Mary Jo’s direction through several phases of trot to a walk.
Today’s lesson is over. Everyone anticipates the next session. Best of all, Sam is smiling.
Comments