Snow covered Pikes Peak dwarfs the landscape majestically, a vision both stark and inspiring against the vivid blue sky. This breathtaking mountain overlooks Latigo Trails Equestrian Center, located east of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and home of Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center. It is on a perfect spring day in this peaceful setting that U.S. Army Veteran Michael Bryant (Retired) sits down to share his life experiences with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). He is at home in this place, having experienced firsthand the amazing results that occur here daily. This Michael Bryant is relaxed and serene, bearing little resemblance to the damaged man he describes, with invisible scars that caused havoc in his life.The story he shares, his story, is a journey of self-discovery and restoration that would not have been possible without a therapy horse named JD.

U.S. Army Veteran Michael D. Bryant (Retired) was honored to serve our nation for over 25 years, in both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. His career took him to varied locations that had one thing in common: “Any time the tough mission came up, it was me or my squad that went. I was sent to the toughest assignments where there was the most danger.” An experienced, disciplined and capable leader, he served with pride and distinction until his retirement.

Of Friendship and Loss

June 23, 2010 is a day that Michael Bryant will never forget. On that day, in Logar Province, Afghanistan, a convoy came under attack by insurgents, taking heavy incoming rocket and small arms fire. Ordinarily Bryant would have been in command of the platoon, but on that day he remained at base on special assignment. When the convoy returned, he knew immediately that the worst had happened, and that his friend, PFC Russell Madden, had been killed when an IED struck his MRAP Vehicle. The loss of a man who was a son, husband, father, soldier and friend was devastating. Bryant stayed strong for his men, compartmentalizing his own feelings, focusing instead on the well-being of his soldiers. Action was the answer, for when one is busy and engaged, the pain can be submerged, at least temporarily. This loss created a wound that would be difficult to heal.

The Unseen Wounds

Each combat veteran experiences the long-term consequences of the stressors of combat in an individual way. “You never know when things are going to go bad.” For Michael Bryant, the progressive impact of continuous exposure to the pressures of war, coupled with three TBIs, took a toll on his physical and mental health. The effects of PTSD proved difficult to overcome, affecting virtually every area of his life. Living with the lingering aftermath of his brain injuries was difficult; he found himself rethinking and reliving events, experiencing flashbacks and feeling guilt for having survived when others had not. Bryant was not the same man. Anger became an issue, and relationships with those closest to him began to break down. Today, Bryant is thoughtful and introspective about his illness, stating simply, “Not all wounds are visible. All the blasts have cumulative effects….It is not just one incident. The physical injury of the brain might heal, but the effects that are left behind, one must come to grips with. I still deal with the effects of PTSD”.

A Warrior in Transition

Bryant actively participated in his own recovery as the combined effects of dozens of engagements and firefights, coupled with leadership responsibility, continued to take their toll. Increasingly, his ability and fitness to continue to serve were called into question. Ongoing need for medical intervention led to his assignment to the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, where his sole focus was upon recovery. Ultimately, the decision was made by the Army to retire Bryant. It was bittersweet, as Michael still had a fierce desire to serve.

Accustomed to a fast pace, taking the time to focus solely upon himself was not easy, and the transition to civilian life was challenging. Through divorce and the separation of his family, Bryant demonstrated self-destructive tendencies and outbursts of anger. Although he continued with individual psychotherapy, he felt that traditional methods for treating his PTSD had been exhausted. Michael needed a new plan. It was then that his nurse practitioner suggested Equine Assisted Therapy. Bryant looked forward to this new therapy experience, happy to have the opportunity to work with horses again after many years. Michael viewed this with an open mind and managed his expectations. He was hopeful.

How Horses Changed Michael’s Life
“The reward, the love of my rider is my reason…we succeed and struggle together, but we always carry each other through.”

Michael Bryant arrived at Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center (PPTRC) for his first session and, when asked to select a horse from the herd, was drawn to JD, a giant paint gelding with a bit of attitude. Bryant smiles and acknowledges that they picked one another, possibly because they both had a bit of attitude! When therapy sessions began, they were vastly different from what he expected. He had assumed that riding was part of the plan. It was not!

The time spent developing a relationship in quiet reflection with his therapy horse was unexpected. The notion of bonding with a horse was a bit “touchy feely” for him. Working with JD and Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center’s specially trained mental health therapist, Bryant would come to understand that his therapist truly WAS JD. He learned that horses have innate therapeutic qualities, making them ideal partners for those seeking peace and healing. They are responsive and reflective of human behavior, reacting to moods and feelings. “I was taught how to connect with the horse on an almost spiritual level, learning how they view the world. A horse can go from resting to full alert, then relax again, in mere seconds. Horses can let go of tension and anxiety and JUST BE.” Veterans such as Michael find horses easily relatable because they operate on a fight-or-flight instinct, similar to those addressing PTSD. The focus in this therapy was deep breathing, calmness, therapeutic grooming, basic ground work and talk therapy with the emphasis on staying in sync with JD, the mirror of his emotions.

When the lightbulb went off…

“That moment for me was seeing the reaction of JD when I felt tension and frustration. He became tense and uneasy, even fearful. Was this really what my family felt? I was dumbstruck.” Bryant learned that when he released his tension and let go, JD immediately relaxed as well, leading to an increased self-awareness never before experienced. “I was able to apply that calming affect to help control or mitigate flare-ups in temper, hyper-alertness, anxiety, panic attacks and general edginess.”

Bryant attended several full sessions at PPTRC through the Warrior Transition Battalion and the Wounded Warriors Project. He learned that JD could teach him much about himself. The insight was stunning, as he learned the difficult lesson of just being and staying present in the moment. This experience was life-changing, and he acknowledges that, although his therapy did not cure his PTSD, he developed valuable new instinctual tools and a priceless awareness of himself and his own behaviors.

Today, Michael Bryant has found balance and is at peace. Relationships with his family have been mended; a new life partner and the arrival of son Declan 16 months ago have rekindled his joy of life and optimism about the future. Bryant sees his son as a gift after all of the pain endured, and relishes being a full-time caregiver. His experiences at PPTRC have reawakened his love for horses and the simple joy of working with them. With a desire to give back to an organization that was instrumental in his recovery, he has become a valued member of the Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center family as a volunteer in the Children’s Hippotherapy Program. He has found a calling and a mission, and now experiences joy in transforming childrens’ lives.

Miracles happen every day at PPTRC.

About Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center
At PPTRC, Equine Assisted Therapy and other activities are provided to those with a varied set of disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy, amputation, paralysis, PTSD, TBI, trauma, depression and loss. Experiential therapies are designed to meet the unique needs of the individual. Horses reproduce the natural walking motion of a human being, and are able to reintegrate and resequence the neurological inputs to a person lacking them. Inclusion of the horse, along with evidence-based therapeutic theories and practices, helps remove the stigma surrounding traditional mental health therapy. This provides an option for those who would otherwise not seek help and those who have not seen the desired results with traditional therapy.

PPTRC Programs:

• Hippotherapy (derived from the Greek “hippo”): physical, occupational, or speech therapy
that is part of an integrated treatment plan to achieved targeted outcomes. Led by a trained and licensed physical, speech, or occupational therapist, hippotherapy utilizes the three- dimensional movement of the horse to influence the rider physically and neurologically. This therapy increases core strength, muscle memory, flexibility, balance, independence, cognitive abilities and more.

• Therapeutic Riding: an adaptive horseback riding lesson taught by a certified therapeutic riding instructor to increase the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of the
rider. Riders learn to influence the actions of the horse in a manner that addresses physical,
emotional, and cognitive needs.

• Equine Facilitated Mental Health Therapy allows participants to learn to honestly assess their own emotions and behaviors to improve interactions with the horse, learning social and relationship skills. Specially trained mental health therapists help clients translate the skills learned working with therapy horses into everyday life and interactions. Inclusion of the horse removes the fear of human judgment that prevents many from addressing mental health needs.

Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center was started in 1981, seeing many incredible breakthroughs. In 1989, PPTRC received PATH certification, the national membership and credentialing association for equine activities. PPTRC maintains the highest level of accreditation, Premier Accredited Center, providing over 3500 classes per year, averaging 110 clients per week.

At Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center, we understand it is our duty and our privilege to serve those who have served our country. As a proud member of the R4 alliance, we are working to maximize the potential of our military families.

To find out more about Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center and learn how you can help our nation’s heroes find hope and healing, visit PPTRC.org.