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Meeting the unique needs of veterans, active-duty military servicemen and women, and their families has become a bit of a specialty for Bridle Paths, located in northern Virginia. With the support of both private and grant funding, the organization is able to offer trauma-informed mental health services, mounted and unmounted programs, and related support at no cost to dozens of veterans and their families annually.

Of course, none of this important work would be possible without the contributions of Bridle Paths’ equine staff. Chance, a 23-year-old imported Belgian warmblood, has been part of the equine team at Bridle Paths for over a decade, and in that time, he has played an essential role in their adaptive riding, equine-facilitated learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy work. Competing under the name Unscripted, Chance once carried future Olympian Reed Kessler around children’s hunter courses; today, he helps participants in Bridle Paths’ programs take meaningful steps toward growth, learning, and healing.

Described by program staff as the “consummate professional,” Chance has created deep and lasting bonds with countless people during his time at Bridle Paths, and has taught everyone he meets how to conduct themselves with “dignity, grace, humor, and gusto.” For veterans facing obstacles or limitations in their trauma recovery, Chance has held space as they work to regain confidence, clarity, and a sense of self; he shows them how to begin to rebuild a life of purpose in a world that can be violent, demeaning, and overwhelming.

“When I came to realize that I could just be myself [with Chance] without being anything other than what I am, it brought me a lot of peace,” reports one US Navy veteran. “It helped me unravel and loosen some of the knots I had inside. That didn’t cure me, but being able to find a piece of the ground that doesn’t change underneath [me] is really special.”

Many veterans are wary and distrustful of others and new situations; when working with horses and trained, professional staff, they often find a safe place to process these difficult emotions. Chance, too, can be wary when encountering new people; he requires time and consistent interactions in order to trust and connect deeply. Veterans often see themselves in Chance, making their connection with him deeply powerful.

“Equine therapy is unlike anything else,” says one Air Force veteran. “It’s about bridging gaps and coming undone before you [do], and it is deeply uncomfortable at times. It’s the furthest thing from transactional. I have formed an otherworldly connection with this horse called Chance. I think he’s saved my life.”

A US Army officer shares that studying how Chance and his herd mates communicate with both each other and their human friends through body language and energy regulation has made her more aware of how she presented in the civilian world. Further, she identified that horses will work together toward a common goal—just like she used to do in the Army—but the methods of communication which were successful there did not suit non-military interactions.

“I think it can be especially hard to find one’s purpose and team mentality in the civilian life,” she says. “The stakes are so high in the military—the goal is to survive, care for one another, to accomplish the mission, and those goals look different in the civilian sector.

“I think what the horses have helped me with is showing up in the moment and paying attention to how I am presenting myself toward others, and staying very present and not getting caught up in the past or even taking things personally,” she continues. “The horses will tell you nonverbally what works for them and what doesn’t. Taking that in as information, not criticism-that’s a big life lesson.”

Bridle Paths remains committed to building strong connections with regional and national veterans groups, agencies, and other stakeholders, and sharing news related to the efficacy of equine-assisted interventions in veterans’ programs. With his ability to adjust his own energy, movement, and engagement to meet each participant where they are at, Chance continues to play a critical role in meeting the needs of Bridle Paths participants with focus, care, and safety.