The Weekend Was Amazing!
I actually signed myself and my husband up for the ride. It had been 7 years since I was away from my home without my husband. Something told me to do it alone or loan out one of my knights-in-shining-armor (in my head, I refer to all 5 of my horses as my heroes/knights-in-shining-armor!). I called up an acquaintance, having never spent more than 3 hours with this lady and said, “Christine, do want to go to Pennsylvania for the weekend for an ACTHA event? I will drive and you can ride my Levi.” She graciously accepted the offer. I phoned ACTHA straight away. The woman on the phone from customer support was very helpful changing the rider name and horse name for the event, all at the last minute on the day the entries closed. ACTHA and Hope Wunder, the host at the Creekside Stables event, were wonderful and so supportive.
There are no words to describe the security I gained from participating in my first ACTHA event. Freedom?
The emotional support from my horses has helped me regain trust in myself and other humans. Riding out on the trail on day one of this event, a spiritual transformation occurred for me. I relied fully on my faith and my horse. When I completed the trail ride and was back at the barn, I made a startling realization, all the insecurities, fears and panic were gone. I sat on the bank of the arena thanking God, ACTHA, my horses and the people who put all their time and hard work into this event. Truly, for the first time in over 7 years I was free of medication and I was away from home, without my husband. The ACTHA event was life changing for me. On day 2 of the event, Chip and I rode around the arena with the United States flag...PROUDLY, honoring all those who have served and praying for those still serving.
I was truly suicidal and wanted the flashbacks and pain to go away. Alcohol numbed those feelings and my horses made it so I had to get out of bed to care for them. The emotional support a horse can provide is one of no other kind. The size and strength of my horses seem to uncover and make it safe to explore the pain. There truly are no words to describe the therapeutic effect my horses have had on me.
The weekend of May 9th and 10th, 2015 was a life changing event for me. I regained my power, strength and faith in myself. Leading up to this weekend I did not even know what ACTHA was. I was Googling horse trail events and ACTHA came up. It was when I went on the ACTHA web site and saw an event for Wounded Warriors I felt as if God was speaking to me to participate. For a brief second my anxiety reared its ugly head and I thought, “what if I have a panic attack?
What if?...What if?...”
ACTHA Monthly | 22
Lois and Eli