Free horsemanship program focuses on Soldiers, families

About 600 people turned out Saturday for the Wounded Warrior Horsemanship Program at Wetherby Field. “You wouldn’t naturally think of horses and Soldiers but there is an amazing connection,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, Fort Benning’s commanding general.

Brown said he grew up with horses and knew the responsibility of taking care of them.

The concept of responsibility and structure in learning about horses tied into the idea for the program. The program, which began in November 2008, was initially designed to help wounded warriors and their families with the stresses of military life, said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Rhodes, the founder of the program. “Horses are another outlet they can do to occupy their time, provide structure and provide internal therapy,” he said.

Rhodes said family was also an important consideration.

“We need to help these families bond back together,” he said. “Let’s bring the families out there is nothing more important than seeing mom and dad taking their kid off the horse with big smiles. It’s like we’re helping them heal themselves and bring their families back together.”

Rhodes said volunteers from the community brought many of the 33 horses on the field.

“They want people to look at their horses and spend time with them,” he said. “They love Soldiers and they love what they do for our country, they love veterans and their families.”

Lt. Col. Gregory Hopkins, Warrior Transition Battalion commander, said he came out in support of the event.“I made sure that I’m out here in support of (the Soldiers), because that’s part of the encouragement to get them involved in events like these — for wellness,” he said.

“This is a wellness event to get them to come out from the barracks and come out and touch, feel and ride horses — for a new experience.”

Jennifer Taylor was one of many parents to bring children to the event. After her 2-year-old son Braeden was introduced to ponies and horses at a young age, she found it fitting to bring him out to the horsemanship program, which was open to the public.

“We saw it on the Fort Benning Facebook page and (my son) loves horses,” she said. “I thought it would be a fun outdoor activity and it was free.”

Activities at the Wounded Warrior Horsemanship Program included learning basic horsemanship skills, horse and pony rides, demonstrations by high school rodeo stars and Krisine Newbold, a disabled AAFES employee, with how to take care of horses while in a wheelchair. The next Wounded Warrior Horsemanship Program will be in April. For more information about future events, visit www.warrioroutreach.org.

This story was originally published October 4, 2011 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Free horsemanship program focuses on Soldiers, families."