1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:12,751 --> 00:00:15,711 [CHIEF PHILLIP WHITEMAN, JR SINGING "PRAYER SONG FOR WORLD PEACE"] 4 00:00:33,207 --> 00:00:37,689 NARRATOR: America, a land full of natural beauty. 5 00:00:39,735 --> 00:00:45,828 A nation whose very soul is drawn from both its heritage and its future. 6 00:00:49,136 --> 00:00:51,181 [CONTINUES SINGING] 7 00:00:57,927 --> 00:01:01,365 America has also created what is arguably 8 00:01:01,409 --> 00:01:05,326 the most mighty and technologically advanced military on the planet. 9 00:01:07,110 --> 00:01:08,807 The reason I joined the military, 10 00:01:08,851 --> 00:01:11,288 I had four great uncles that served in World War II, 11 00:01:11,332 --> 00:01:14,204 my uncle served in the Army during Vietnam, 12 00:01:14,248 --> 00:01:15,553 my father was Korean Air, 13 00:01:15,597 --> 00:01:18,817 and it was a sense of obligation and duty. 14 00:01:18,861 --> 00:01:20,732 So it was my turn. 15 00:01:20,776 --> 00:01:23,866 What brought me to the military was just always 16 00:01:23,909 --> 00:01:25,868 my incessant need to serve. 17 00:01:25,911 --> 00:01:31,526 I was part of the big draft, the 50,000-guy draft from '65 to '67. 18 00:01:31,569 --> 00:01:33,658 I was 17 whenever I joined, 19 00:01:33,702 --> 00:01:38,489 and I wanted to go prove to myself that I was a man. 20 00:01:38,533 --> 00:01:46,280 I was drawn to the military because of a lot of respect for military, 21 00:01:46,323 --> 00:01:50,327 and I ended up signing my contract five days after my 17th birthday. 22 00:01:50,371 --> 00:01:52,851 That's when everything started to get real. 23 00:01:56,725 --> 00:01:58,596 SOLDIER: [SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY] Let's go! 24 00:02:04,341 --> 00:02:05,647 [GUNFIRE] 25 00:02:08,084 --> 00:02:09,781 [SOLDIERS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] 26 00:02:29,845 --> 00:02:32,195 NARRATOR: But coming home from active duty, 27 00:02:32,239 --> 00:02:34,154 some members of our armed forces 28 00:02:34,197 --> 00:02:39,420 face a stark, challenging and sometimes deadly reality. 29 00:02:39,463 --> 00:02:44,338 Debilitating detachment, anxiety and depression. 30 00:02:45,426 --> 00:02:48,211 My main job as an infantryman, 31 00:02:48,255 --> 00:02:52,259 as an 11-Charlie, was kill or die. 32 00:02:54,565 --> 00:02:58,003 Now if you can't kill... 33 00:02:59,614 --> 00:03:00,832 [SCOFFS] what's left? 34 00:03:01,746 --> 00:03:03,879 [WESTERN STYLE MUSIC PLAYING] 35 00:03:23,072 --> 00:03:25,074 SETH HARDY: Anybody who's done combat tours, 36 00:03:25,117 --> 00:03:26,815 they get used to living an environment 37 00:03:26,858 --> 00:03:28,469 where every day is life or death. 38 00:03:30,732 --> 00:03:32,342 You could catch a stray bullet. 39 00:03:32,386 --> 00:03:34,039 RPGs, rockets, mortar attacks, 40 00:03:34,083 --> 00:03:35,563 they happen every day over there. 41 00:03:35,606 --> 00:03:39,175 So your body gets conditioned to living at high alert, 42 00:03:39,219 --> 00:03:42,178 and when you come back to an environment 43 00:03:42,222 --> 00:03:44,136 where those threats don't exist, 44 00:03:44,180 --> 00:03:45,703 your body just doesn't turn it off. 45 00:03:45,747 --> 00:03:46,791 [ECHOING] 46 00:03:47,749 --> 00:03:49,185 SOLDIER: Get down! 47 00:03:49,229 --> 00:03:51,318 It's totally unacceptable 48 00:03:51,361 --> 00:03:56,714 that men and women that signed on the dotted line are left in such a bad spot 49 00:03:56,758 --> 00:04:02,198 that they get so dark that they have no other options but to take their own lives. 50 00:04:04,331 --> 00:04:06,071 NARRATOR: The struggle has exploded 51 00:04:06,115 --> 00:04:08,117 to epidemic proportions. 52 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,989 As many as 20 veterans per day 53 00:04:11,033 --> 00:04:14,297 are so desperate they lose all hope. 54 00:04:14,341 --> 00:04:16,604 MARSHALL WOLFE: It's not just the combat veterans 55 00:04:16,647 --> 00:04:19,302 coming back today that are committing the suicide, 56 00:04:19,346 --> 00:04:21,478 it's also the older guys like me. 57 00:04:21,522 --> 00:04:24,612 The alcohol, the depression, the drug abuse... 58 00:04:26,266 --> 00:04:29,312 NARRATOR: At the Veterans Administration in Milwaukee, 59 00:04:29,356 --> 00:04:32,533 Supervisor of Recreation and Creative Arts Therapy 60 00:04:32,576 --> 00:04:34,099 Shep Crumrine 61 00:04:34,143 --> 00:04:37,407 has seen the devastation the wars cause our veterans. 62 00:04:39,148 --> 00:04:41,890 CRUMRINE: Every 75 minutes, we lose another veteran. 63 00:04:41,933 --> 00:04:46,416 And so, when one of those lives is lost, it's very troubling. 64 00:04:46,460 --> 00:04:51,247 Just the base where I served in Missouri for nine years of my active duty career, 65 00:04:51,291 --> 00:04:54,381 thirteen people I knew and served with have committed suicide, 66 00:04:54,424 --> 00:04:56,252 from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. 67 00:05:10,745 --> 00:05:13,878 NARRATOR: Now there's a new sign of hope. 68 00:05:13,922 --> 00:05:18,622 An unlikely, effective and potent treatment has emerged. 69 00:05:18,666 --> 00:05:21,843 A remedy that requires no hospitalization, 70 00:05:21,886 --> 00:05:23,801 no pharmaceutical drugs, 71 00:05:23,845 --> 00:05:27,849 and has been right under our noses for hundreds of years. 72 00:05:56,181 --> 00:06:00,969 Two wounded souls emerging from the wreckage of trauma. 73 00:06:02,753 --> 00:06:04,929 Battle-scarred but new... 74 00:06:06,061 --> 00:06:08,019 And every healer, 75 00:06:08,063 --> 00:06:11,458 every hero has an origin story. 76 00:06:16,376 --> 00:06:19,161 America's breathtaking landscape 77 00:06:19,204 --> 00:06:22,773 is host of tens of thousands of mustangs. 78 00:06:22,817 --> 00:06:24,558 Wild horses, 79 00:06:24,601 --> 00:06:28,039 a true icon of American freedom. 80 00:06:28,083 --> 00:06:32,304 The very essence of the American spirit. 81 00:06:32,348 --> 00:06:37,745 And now, they offer a new opportunity for our veterans. 82 00:06:37,788 --> 00:06:40,835 There's something deeply spiritual about a horse 83 00:06:40,878 --> 00:06:43,968 that no other animal that I've come across has. 84 00:06:57,504 --> 00:07:00,202 MITCHELL RENO: I was a grunt, I was an infantryman, 85 00:07:00,245 --> 00:07:02,987 and I was in both invasions, and it's... 86 00:07:03,031 --> 00:07:05,207 You've got to do a lot of bad stuff. 87 00:07:05,250 --> 00:07:08,210 That's a lot of stuff to shut off in your head. 88 00:07:08,253 --> 00:07:11,256 You can't really reason with the feeling. 89 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:14,477 [SIGHS] I walked out of the desert 90 00:07:14,521 --> 00:07:17,785 and then I stumbled in life. 91 00:07:17,828 --> 00:07:20,831 Literally stumbling, you know, from hos... 92 00:07:20,875 --> 00:07:25,532 From the insane asylum to rehabs. 93 00:07:25,575 --> 00:07:29,100 Just the daily anxiety gets so bad 94 00:07:30,798 --> 00:07:32,756 that I didn't leave the house. 95 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,324 Felt like everything was coming at me 96 00:07:35,367 --> 00:07:37,805 and everything was coming at me way too fast. 97 00:07:39,546 --> 00:07:41,243 I cannot relate 98 00:07:41,286 --> 00:07:43,506 to what the younger generation 99 00:07:43,550 --> 00:07:44,768 has done in the desert, 100 00:07:44,812 --> 00:07:47,641 stood up in Iraq and Afghanistan. 101 00:07:47,684 --> 00:07:49,686 But we can relate on one thing. 102 00:07:49,730 --> 00:07:52,341 We can't un-see some of the things that we've seen. 103 00:07:52,384 --> 00:07:53,473 Absolutely. 104 00:07:54,386 --> 00:07:55,953 And it's how you deal with it. 105 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:05,397 WILLIAM MERCURIO: You know, I never anticipated I would be in a war zone 106 00:08:05,441 --> 00:08:11,055 and, uh, came home and found out that some of that stayed with me. 107 00:08:11,099 --> 00:08:16,017 Um, I needed to get a little bit of comfort. 108 00:08:19,281 --> 00:08:21,892 NARRATOR: Luckily for our struggling veterans, 109 00:08:21,936 --> 00:08:26,070 equine therapy is making inroads to healing. 110 00:08:26,114 --> 00:08:28,377 Three and a half months ago, I lost my son to drugs, 111 00:08:30,553 --> 00:08:35,253 and the horses have really helped me to be relieved 112 00:08:37,429 --> 00:08:39,562 of some of the pain that's involved in that. 113 00:08:39,606 --> 00:08:43,566 And I can't explain that because you have to be there to know what it is, you know? 114 00:08:43,610 --> 00:08:49,224 I tend to have an A-type personality, so I'm on the go all the time. 115 00:08:49,267 --> 00:08:56,100 So this gives me the chance to be calm and take some of the edge off. 116 00:08:56,144 --> 00:09:01,366 They are vessels that you can pour your emotions into, 117 00:09:01,410 --> 00:09:06,981 that, you know, when you walk away from it, you feel better. 118 00:09:13,248 --> 00:09:15,163 WOLFE: Oh, man, it's beautiful out there. 119 00:09:15,206 --> 00:09:17,905 Just little creeks and rolling hills, lots of timber. 120 00:09:17,948 --> 00:09:21,212 Nice trail ride, up and down some swingbacks. 121 00:09:21,256 --> 00:09:22,474 Did real good. 122 00:09:22,518 --> 00:09:24,259 Did a little bit of trotting through there, 123 00:09:24,302 --> 00:09:26,348 so it felt really good. Clayton loves it. 124 00:09:26,391 --> 00:09:30,004 He's free now. He's not an old ranch horse anymore. 125 00:09:30,047 --> 00:09:32,876 He's in the therapeutic program and helping the veterans out. 126 00:09:33,834 --> 00:09:35,792 He's loving it as much as I am. 127 00:09:38,229 --> 00:09:40,362 NARRATOR: Although equine therapy 128 00:09:40,405 --> 00:09:44,584 is just now starting to get a mainstream foothold in healing our veterans, 129 00:09:44,627 --> 00:09:48,631 the idea of horses for healing is not altogether new. 130 00:09:48,675 --> 00:09:53,201 Horses have long proven to be healers of many an injured soul. 131 00:10:02,819 --> 00:10:06,954 Just outside of Chicago, Marge Gunnar founded BraveHearts, 132 00:10:06,997 --> 00:10:10,653 one of the many equine therapy centers across the country 133 00:10:10,697 --> 00:10:13,395 that are helping mend our country's citizens. 134 00:10:21,621 --> 00:10:24,449 GUNNAR: The reason that I started BraveHearts was in 1993, 135 00:10:24,493 --> 00:10:27,539 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 136 00:10:27,583 --> 00:10:30,499 It was a pretty devastating diagnosis. 137 00:10:30,542 --> 00:10:33,023 During the time that I was going through chemo, 138 00:10:33,067 --> 00:10:36,113 my oldest sister, who has passed away now, 139 00:10:36,157 --> 00:10:39,203 wanted to take me up to see my stallion. 140 00:10:39,247 --> 00:10:43,686 And I went into his barn, where he was in training, 141 00:10:43,730 --> 00:10:46,689 I went up to him and I put my arms around his neck 142 00:10:46,733 --> 00:10:50,824 and I buried my face in his mane and I started to sob, 143 00:10:50,867 --> 00:10:53,827 and that horse did something he never did before. 144 00:10:53,870 --> 00:10:57,091 He just wrapped his neck around me and squeezed. 145 00:10:57,134 --> 00:11:03,184 So that's when the inspiration to start BraveHearts came into my mind, 146 00:11:03,227 --> 00:11:06,491 because I felt this healing connection to an animal. 147 00:11:06,535 --> 00:11:10,147 And the program started. 148 00:11:10,191 --> 00:11:14,761 NARRATOR: Though the program shares a similar name with a famous motion picture, 149 00:11:14,804 --> 00:11:16,676 the two are not related. 150 00:11:18,068 --> 00:11:20,462 Horseman and trainer, Paddy McKevitt, 151 00:11:20,505 --> 00:11:23,944 is a former farrier for the US Olympics. 152 00:11:23,987 --> 00:11:28,992 He has an affinity for the healing being done at facilities like BraveHearts. 153 00:11:29,036 --> 00:11:32,213 I first met Meggan, our president and COO, 154 00:11:32,256 --> 00:11:35,129 and I went over to a little program that she was at at the time, 155 00:11:35,172 --> 00:11:39,046 where some kids that were all amputees, 156 00:11:39,089 --> 00:11:40,961 and I had a little zebra that I had gentled 157 00:11:41,004 --> 00:11:42,963 and got along with and could ride. 158 00:11:43,006 --> 00:11:44,834 And she asked me to bring it over there 159 00:11:44,878 --> 00:11:47,271 just 'cause they were there for a week-long camp. 160 00:11:47,315 --> 00:11:50,971 And when I started to be around people that were using horses 161 00:11:51,014 --> 00:11:54,148 in a beneficial way to the human, 162 00:11:54,191 --> 00:11:57,064 I was like, "Wow, this is way more valuable. 163 00:11:57,107 --> 00:11:59,153 "This is really the purpose of a horse." 164 00:11:59,196 --> 00:12:03,331 You know, my background is working with children with various diagnoses 165 00:12:03,374 --> 00:12:06,073 and using equine therapy for that. 166 00:12:06,116 --> 00:12:09,816 I've gotten to see horses helping, you know, 167 00:12:09,859 --> 00:12:12,906 a child learn to walk and a child learn to talk. 168 00:12:12,949 --> 00:12:18,041 And I mean, all of that has been just phenomenal to get to witness firsthand, 169 00:12:18,085 --> 00:12:23,743 and got introduced to working with veterans and just was riveted by it. 170 00:12:23,786 --> 00:12:26,267 I'm a Gold Star father, so it kind of, you know, 171 00:12:26,310 --> 00:12:28,356 it's the deepest, darkest day that you can have 172 00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:31,054 when you lose a child in war. 173 00:12:31,098 --> 00:12:33,274 And that's what happened to us. 174 00:12:33,317 --> 00:12:35,798 And by having him, he just... He turned everything around 175 00:12:35,842 --> 00:12:38,018 and he showed us a different way of doing things. 176 00:12:38,061 --> 00:12:41,978 And, um, instead of going to the edge every night, 177 00:12:42,022 --> 00:12:45,808 you know, going to the edge of that cliff, there's something else here. 178 00:12:45,852 --> 00:12:47,897 HILL-McQUEENY: When somebody comes up and says, 179 00:12:47,941 --> 00:12:50,204 "This horse saved my life" 180 00:12:50,247 --> 00:12:51,901 and then you hear it twice, 181 00:12:51,945 --> 00:12:56,340 and then you hear it five times, then you hear it dozens. 182 00:12:56,384 --> 00:13:02,085 When you think about somebody that has been through something that I can't even imagine 183 00:13:02,129 --> 00:13:04,784 and that they can come back because of a horse, 184 00:13:05,828 --> 00:13:08,048 that's pretty huge. 185 00:13:08,091 --> 00:13:11,616 NARRATOR: Navy veteran Mary Apper was declining rapidly 186 00:13:11,660 --> 00:13:15,882 when she finally found solace at the BraveHearts ranch. 187 00:13:15,925 --> 00:13:19,146 When I went to Afghanistan, I did Detainee Ops, 188 00:13:19,189 --> 00:13:23,019 and then I was a 240-Bravo gunner. 189 00:13:23,063 --> 00:13:27,110 And, you know, you see a lot of stuff over there, 190 00:13:27,154 --> 00:13:29,547 and you kind of lock it away, you compartmentalize it. 191 00:13:29,591 --> 00:13:31,723 But when I came back, I was pretty angry. 192 00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:34,204 Had a lot of hate in my heart. 193 00:13:34,248 --> 00:13:38,600 I talked to my mom about it, and my family, of course, was worried. 194 00:13:38,643 --> 00:13:41,733 Twenty veterans a day commit suicide. 195 00:13:41,777 --> 00:13:45,128 You talk to congressmen and you say, you know, at the end of every week, 196 00:13:45,172 --> 00:13:47,870 if you took 140 people at the end of seven days, 197 00:13:47,914 --> 00:13:50,003 that's about the size of a small plane crashing. 198 00:13:50,046 --> 00:13:51,874 If you crashed a plane every Sunday, 199 00:13:51,918 --> 00:13:53,876 you know Congress would do something about it. 200 00:13:55,878 --> 00:13:59,621 I lost one of my brothers from the Air Force, 201 00:13:59,664 --> 00:14:02,406 and we'd known each other for over 20 years. 202 00:14:03,538 --> 00:14:05,409 And, uh, nobody knows why, 203 00:14:05,453 --> 00:14:10,675 but, one night, he got intoxicated and he shot himself. 204 00:14:15,028 --> 00:14:16,507 [GUNFIRE] 205 00:14:17,204 --> 00:14:19,902 [INDISTINCT CHATTER] 206 00:14:19,946 --> 00:14:22,339 [GUNFIRE] 207 00:14:22,383 --> 00:14:24,646 [INDISTINCT SHOUTING] 208 00:14:26,648 --> 00:14:28,955 NARRATOR: Even members of the military police 209 00:14:28,998 --> 00:14:33,307 are not shielded from the harm and trauma a war can bring. 210 00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:38,921 Jenny McDonald was in charge of the captured enemy combatants in Iraq. 211 00:14:38,965 --> 00:14:43,578 At any time, we can be used as infantry to provide security. 212 00:14:45,362 --> 00:14:49,410 And doing my job, which was we ended up setting up 213 00:14:49,453 --> 00:14:52,369 and running the very first prison camp in Iraq. 214 00:14:52,413 --> 00:14:55,068 We were going on very little sleep, 215 00:14:55,111 --> 00:14:58,375 we were getting mortared, and I became angry. 216 00:14:58,419 --> 00:15:01,639 I was angry at these... These people in front of me. 217 00:15:01,683 --> 00:15:04,207 They were threatening my family. 218 00:15:04,251 --> 00:15:05,861 They were threatening me. 219 00:15:05,905 --> 00:15:08,124 They were telling me they were gonna come back and get me. 220 00:15:08,168 --> 00:15:11,258 We were sitting here watching these prisoners 221 00:15:11,301 --> 00:15:13,260 who were bragging about what they were doing 222 00:15:13,303 --> 00:15:15,262 to our fellow brothers and sisters 223 00:15:15,305 --> 00:15:18,352 and what they wanted to do to us and to our families. 224 00:15:19,614 --> 00:15:20,876 And people changed. 225 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,009 My mother noticed it on the phone. 226 00:15:23,052 --> 00:15:25,968 You know, I'd be calling at 2:00 in the morning, 227 00:15:26,012 --> 00:15:27,535 the prisoners would be rioting, 228 00:15:29,537 --> 00:15:33,410 and the first thing she would say to me is, "Jen, I love you so much. 229 00:15:33,454 --> 00:15:37,980 "Please stop yelling and, dear God, stop swearing so much." 230 00:15:38,024 --> 00:15:39,373 [CHUCKLES] 231 00:15:39,416 --> 00:15:41,201 And I had no idea that... 232 00:15:41,244 --> 00:15:43,594 I didn't even think that I was talking loud. 233 00:15:43,638 --> 00:15:45,248 This was how we talked to each other, 234 00:15:45,292 --> 00:15:47,207 and it's definitely how I was at work. 235 00:15:47,250 --> 00:15:50,340 CRUMRINE: In the military, you go to boot camp, 236 00:15:50,384 --> 00:15:51,776 you're changed forever, 237 00:15:51,820 --> 00:15:53,778 whether you experience combat or not, 238 00:15:53,822 --> 00:15:55,345 because there's a commitment 239 00:15:55,389 --> 00:15:59,654 and a violation sometimes of your soul, 240 00:15:59,697 --> 00:16:02,135 your, um, you know... 241 00:16:02,178 --> 00:16:07,923 You have violated that on purpose, and that's hard to live with. 242 00:16:07,967 --> 00:16:11,361 MITCHELL HEDLUND: When I was in Afghanistan, we were taking a lot of fire. 243 00:16:11,405 --> 00:16:13,363 I got a group of four. 244 00:16:14,408 --> 00:16:16,192 One of 'em was running away 245 00:16:16,236 --> 00:16:19,630 and, uh, I couldn't, I couldn't just take him out. 246 00:16:19,674 --> 00:16:21,893 I had to let him go. Give him a chance. 247 00:16:23,156 --> 00:16:24,548 Dumbest mistake of my life. 248 00:16:27,073 --> 00:16:30,032 We were walking, we were gonna come down the mountain. 249 00:16:30,076 --> 00:16:32,687 That's when I got hit by the RPG. 250 00:16:32,730 --> 00:16:37,866 It didn't directly hit me, but it was enough to concuss me and mess me up. 251 00:16:39,389 --> 00:16:41,826 And, uh, backpack was half ripped off. 252 00:16:41,870 --> 00:16:43,393 Bullets are flying all around. 253 00:16:43,437 --> 00:16:45,874 [CHUCKLES] The guy that ran away, came back 254 00:16:48,703 --> 00:16:51,097 and finally got behind this rock. [SNIFFLES] 255 00:16:51,140 --> 00:16:53,229 Turned up, shot four shots. 256 00:16:54,317 --> 00:16:56,841 Last one was a tracer round. 257 00:16:56,885 --> 00:16:59,018 And I saw it disappear right into his side. 258 00:17:00,106 --> 00:17:01,629 He wasn't moving after that. 259 00:17:01,672 --> 00:17:03,979 The helicopter came over and was checking all the bodies 260 00:17:05,589 --> 00:17:10,333 and, uh, told me his heat sensor was going to blue. 261 00:17:10,377 --> 00:17:13,728 And, uh, yeah, six confirmed kills that night. 262 00:17:15,556 --> 00:17:21,475 I had ended up getting medevac'd to Landstuhl in Germany. 263 00:17:21,518 --> 00:17:25,914 I had a shrink, we were de-processing, or whatever they call it, 264 00:17:25,957 --> 00:17:29,222 and she asked me how I felt about the prisoners, 265 00:17:29,265 --> 00:17:33,574 these same guys that were threatening my family and currently still were. 266 00:17:33,617 --> 00:17:36,359 And she didn't say anything. 267 00:17:36,403 --> 00:17:39,145 I got off the plane in the United States 268 00:17:39,188 --> 00:17:42,191 and they put us into two lines. 269 00:17:42,235 --> 00:17:45,977 Everyone else got to go to a barracks-type situation. 270 00:17:46,021 --> 00:17:49,285 Us in the shorter line went to a mental hospital, 271 00:17:50,634 --> 00:17:55,944 where I spent six hours begging and pleading 272 00:17:55,987 --> 00:17:59,556 and telling them anything I could 273 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,732 to make them let me out. 274 00:18:01,776 --> 00:18:04,083 I'll never forget the chains wrapped around the door. 275 00:18:05,258 --> 00:18:07,173 I, um... 276 00:18:07,216 --> 00:18:09,871 I was given a discharge from the military, 277 00:18:10,915 --> 00:18:12,743 and I took that pretty hard. 278 00:18:15,746 --> 00:18:17,052 HEDLUND: I hit rock bottom. 279 00:18:19,185 --> 00:18:22,144 I got a call from my friend 280 00:18:22,188 --> 00:18:24,103 and I looked at it and I didn't answer it. 281 00:18:26,017 --> 00:18:28,194 I just thought, "Okay, I'm gonna call him later." 282 00:18:30,283 --> 00:18:32,023 He committed suicide right after that. 283 00:18:33,112 --> 00:18:34,591 He was gonna call me. 284 00:18:35,592 --> 00:18:37,072 I didn't pick up the phone. 285 00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:39,770 People always tell you it's not your fault. 286 00:18:39,814 --> 00:18:41,555 You couldn't have prevented it. 287 00:18:43,644 --> 00:18:45,167 I still hold that blame. 288 00:18:48,344 --> 00:18:52,957 McDONALD: I did my best to go back to normal. 289 00:18:53,001 --> 00:18:54,655 Had a job at a grocery store. 290 00:18:55,917 --> 00:19:00,182 And I was just so angry all the time 291 00:19:00,226 --> 00:19:04,926 that it affected absolutely every aspect of my life. 292 00:19:04,969 --> 00:19:06,449 I didn't fit with people. 293 00:19:06,493 --> 00:19:09,887 I couldn't talk to them the right way. 294 00:19:09,931 --> 00:19:11,846 A 15-minute conversation with somebody, 295 00:19:11,889 --> 00:19:13,848 I would just sweat through my clothes. 296 00:19:13,891 --> 00:19:16,677 I was so... I just wanted to run. 297 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,941 I had several years of just drinking a lot, 298 00:19:19,984 --> 00:19:24,598 and making a lot of mistakes and hurting the people that I really care about. 299 00:19:24,641 --> 00:19:26,730 Alcoholism and substance abuse, 300 00:19:29,690 --> 00:19:32,519 it's a natural phenomenon coming out of the military. 301 00:19:34,216 --> 00:19:40,048 That is certainly a comorbid or a corresponding diagnosis to, 302 00:19:40,091 --> 00:19:43,356 I'm gonna just guess it's over 90 percent, 95 percent. 303 00:19:43,399 --> 00:19:47,360 That may not be what we're seeing them for, but it's somewhere in the mix. 304 00:19:47,403 --> 00:19:50,841 As much as I may have not wanted to live anymore, 305 00:19:50,885 --> 00:19:52,669 and it began to show in... 306 00:19:54,628 --> 00:19:57,631 At one point I was 89 pounds and... 307 00:19:59,502 --> 00:20:00,938 [SIGHS] 308 00:20:00,982 --> 00:20:03,463 probably wasn't too far from dying, the way it was. 309 00:20:05,465 --> 00:20:07,510 I knew I couldn't do that to my little brother. 310 00:20:10,948 --> 00:20:15,866 APPER: Well, last August, I had to put my mare down that I'd had for 24 years. 311 00:20:15,910 --> 00:20:19,218 And she was really the way I was kind of dealing with my PTSD. 312 00:20:19,261 --> 00:20:21,872 I grew up with her, went to college with her, everything. 313 00:20:21,916 --> 00:20:23,918 You know, 2:00, 3:00 in the morning 314 00:20:23,961 --> 00:20:28,096 I'd go out there, I'd sleep next to her stall, ride her at midnight. 315 00:20:28,139 --> 00:20:30,533 She was just there whenever I needed her. 316 00:20:30,577 --> 00:20:33,057 But my mom told me, she's like, 317 00:20:33,101 --> 00:20:35,538 "You have more love in your heart for your mare, Satin, 318 00:20:35,582 --> 00:20:38,324 "than any amount of hate they could have put there." 319 00:20:38,367 --> 00:20:43,372 So when she passed away, it was like everything was gone. 320 00:20:43,416 --> 00:20:46,332 Kind of went to a pretty dark place. 321 00:20:46,375 --> 00:20:49,248 Um, wasn't really sure I wanted to be around anymore. 322 00:20:59,170 --> 00:21:01,434 So my mom was the one that really pushed me. 323 00:21:01,477 --> 00:21:04,828 She's like, "You need to go out there and at least give 'em a shot." 324 00:21:09,659 --> 00:21:13,315 When I first got here, I wasn't even sure I was gonna stay. 325 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,840 I met up with Meggan and she started giving me a tour around the property, 326 00:21:16,884 --> 00:21:18,364 just trying to get me to talk. 327 00:21:19,408 --> 00:21:21,062 She didn't talk down to me. 328 00:21:21,105 --> 00:21:24,631 You know, a lot of times, when you have PTSD, 329 00:21:24,674 --> 00:21:28,548 a lot of people tend to, like, talk in a slower voice or a baby voice 330 00:21:28,591 --> 00:21:31,507 or kind of, like, walk on pins and needles. 331 00:21:31,551 --> 00:21:34,641 But she just treated me like I was just a normal person 332 00:21:34,684 --> 00:21:36,991 coming here interested in horses. 333 00:21:37,034 --> 00:21:40,255 You know, just a horsewoman-to-horsewoman basis. 334 00:21:40,299 --> 00:21:43,737 And I saw CeCe, which is the little Quarter Horse mare. 335 00:21:43,780 --> 00:21:46,348 And so I was talking to Meggan there, 336 00:21:46,392 --> 00:21:48,568 and I kind of ended up breaking down a little bit, 337 00:21:48,611 --> 00:21:50,265 telling her about what was going on, 338 00:21:50,309 --> 00:21:52,572 and CeCe had reached over the fence 339 00:21:52,615 --> 00:21:54,878 and nuzzled my cheek when I was crying. 340 00:21:54,922 --> 00:21:57,141 So, of course, that, like, just melts you. 341 00:21:57,185 --> 00:21:59,622 So I kind of got attached to CeCe. 342 00:21:59,666 --> 00:22:03,234 And I was like, "Well, maybe I'll go out there again." 343 00:22:03,278 --> 00:22:05,628 So, I thought about it for a couple days, 344 00:22:05,672 --> 00:22:07,369 ended up emailing Meg and I was like, 345 00:22:07,413 --> 00:22:09,719 "Hey, do you have a picture of that little filly?" 346 00:22:09,763 --> 00:22:11,895 And so she sent me a picture of CeCe. 347 00:22:11,939 --> 00:22:14,724 And I was looking at it, waited a couple more days, 348 00:22:14,768 --> 00:22:16,770 and then was like, "I'm gonna go out there." 349 00:22:16,813 --> 00:22:19,381 So she was just kind of waiting here 350 00:22:19,425 --> 00:22:22,428 for, you know, her special person to come along. 351 00:22:22,471 --> 00:22:25,387 So, I started coming out here on a regular basis, 352 00:22:25,431 --> 00:22:27,911 and then it just escalated from there. 353 00:22:27,955 --> 00:22:30,697 I just completely got sucked in, 354 00:22:30,740 --> 00:22:33,917 and, you know, found a purpose again. 355 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:37,965 Good girl. 356 00:22:39,532 --> 00:22:42,839 I had a plan that I was gonna end my life in four days. 357 00:22:42,883 --> 00:22:47,366 And then I was like, "All right, I'll ride once." 358 00:22:47,409 --> 00:22:49,716 I rode, so I put off the suicide. 359 00:22:50,630 --> 00:22:52,066 After riding, then I was like, 360 00:22:52,109 --> 00:22:54,503 "Okay, well, I need to put this off even more 361 00:22:54,547 --> 00:22:56,505 "'cause next week I get to ride." 362 00:22:57,637 --> 00:22:59,900 My therapist, who I was lucky to find, 363 00:22:59,943 --> 00:23:02,250 a combat vet herself, 364 00:23:02,293 --> 00:23:07,821 she recommended that I come out on a weekend trip to BraveHearts for a retreat. 365 00:23:07,864 --> 00:23:10,432 And I thought, "I like horses. 366 00:23:10,476 --> 00:23:12,869 "I never really got to ride, 367 00:23:12,913 --> 00:23:15,263 "but okay, I can put up with people for this. 368 00:23:15,306 --> 00:23:18,005 "Cool. Let's go to the farm for the weekend." 369 00:23:18,048 --> 00:23:23,402 My whole attitude changed before I even got here. 370 00:23:23,445 --> 00:23:26,927 The ride out to this farm is beautiful. 371 00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:30,844 We got here, I saw the beautiful red barn 372 00:23:30,887 --> 00:23:32,585 and the horses. 373 00:23:32,628 --> 00:23:36,458 Pretty much anyone who goes the first time goes back. 374 00:23:36,502 --> 00:23:38,721 RYAN OHRMUNDT: Keep going. Keep going. 375 00:23:38,765 --> 00:23:40,549 Keep going. Atta boy. 376 00:23:41,332 --> 00:23:42,638 All right, you can stop. 377 00:23:53,257 --> 00:23:54,476 CRUMRINE: Equine therapy. 378 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,610 It's an unspoken relationship 379 00:23:57,653 --> 00:24:00,395 and sensory experience that occurs. 380 00:24:00,439 --> 00:24:04,834 And what makes it so worthwhile 381 00:24:04,878 --> 00:24:08,359 is when you work with a veteran and you see them reconnect with life. 382 00:24:10,536 --> 00:24:14,540 These horses have helped to get me sober. 383 00:24:14,583 --> 00:24:17,891 I've seen 'em heal people from inside out. 384 00:24:19,283 --> 00:24:22,243 I saw a child with autism 385 00:24:22,286 --> 00:24:25,289 that had only spoken four times in her life, 386 00:24:25,333 --> 00:24:29,468 and I watched her speak repetitively, over and over again, 387 00:24:29,511 --> 00:24:34,124 and I watched her mother with tears running down her face of joy, 388 00:24:34,168 --> 00:24:36,605 and, uh, that flipped me upside down 389 00:24:36,649 --> 00:24:41,392 and it made me know that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. 390 00:24:41,436 --> 00:24:44,308 As far as the benefits that you get from horses, 391 00:24:44,352 --> 00:24:46,441 it doesn't matter how much experience you have. 392 00:24:46,485 --> 00:24:49,357 You could have never touched a horse before 393 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,707 or you could have been around horses your whole life. 394 00:24:51,751 --> 00:24:53,535 The experience that you get 395 00:24:53,579 --> 00:24:56,277 and the feeling that you get with them is the same. 396 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,018 Opens up your heart. 397 00:24:58,061 --> 00:25:00,542 And you don't need experience for that. 398 00:25:00,586 --> 00:25:02,805 WOLFE: You get out to the barn and you get in there 399 00:25:02,849 --> 00:25:05,808 and you take that deep breath and you latch on, 400 00:25:05,852 --> 00:25:08,028 knowing your body movements, 401 00:25:08,071 --> 00:25:12,293 knowing the horse movements, knowing the ear movements, 402 00:25:12,336 --> 00:25:15,688 how they're holding their head, what their eyes are doing, 403 00:25:15,731 --> 00:25:17,907 the switch of the tail, 404 00:25:17,951 --> 00:25:20,562 and you become part of that spirit of that horse. 405 00:25:20,606 --> 00:25:22,956 Yeah, there's nothing in the world like it. 406 00:25:22,999 --> 00:25:26,307 You know, I like to think about 'em as angels covered in fur, 407 00:25:26,350 --> 00:25:27,961 and that's exactly what they are. 408 00:25:28,004 --> 00:25:31,138 You know, they fill in the holes for what people have going on. 409 00:25:31,181 --> 00:25:34,271 Those horses just pour it into every hole 410 00:25:34,315 --> 00:25:36,578 of whatever you have, whatever your needs are, 411 00:25:36,622 --> 00:25:39,146 wherever you're short that day, they're gonna teach you, 412 00:25:39,189 --> 00:25:41,191 they're gonna show you, they're gonna help you. 413 00:25:46,327 --> 00:25:48,808 NARRATOR: Horses are herd animals. 414 00:25:48,851 --> 00:25:51,071 It's extremely traumatic for individuals 415 00:25:51,114 --> 00:25:54,596 to be separated from their herds and families. 416 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:58,731 Many of our veterans suffer the same painful separation, 417 00:25:58,774 --> 00:26:02,430 realizing they no longer fit in society. 418 00:26:02,473 --> 00:26:05,346 CRUMRINE: Isolation is the big threat to veterans. 419 00:26:05,389 --> 00:26:07,609 Uh, it results in suicide. 420 00:26:07,653 --> 00:26:11,308 It results in decompensation. It results in depression. 421 00:26:11,352 --> 00:26:13,572 It results in not taking your medications, 422 00:26:13,615 --> 00:26:15,356 or taking them inappropriately. 423 00:26:15,399 --> 00:26:17,793 BRANDON HORNING: I've had a very hard road, 424 00:26:17,837 --> 00:26:20,100 and upon returning home, 425 00:26:20,143 --> 00:26:21,623 I came to hell. 426 00:26:21,667 --> 00:26:24,887 I slept on the garage floor for two days. 427 00:26:24,931 --> 00:26:30,632 I spiraled down a deep hole that was really hard to get out of. 428 00:26:30,676 --> 00:26:34,462 I was an Air Force veteran. I did four tours over in Iraq and Afghanistan. 429 00:26:34,505 --> 00:26:37,639 So, uh, I had problems. I had issues when I came home. 430 00:26:37,683 --> 00:26:40,511 I was trying to reintegrate back into civilian society. 431 00:26:40,555 --> 00:26:42,862 I wouldn't say I was real bad PTSD. 432 00:26:42,905 --> 00:26:44,907 I had anxiety and sleep disorder. 433 00:26:44,951 --> 00:26:46,648 I couldn't sleep. I'd be up, you know, 434 00:26:46,692 --> 00:26:48,563 several days at a time sometimes. 435 00:26:48,607 --> 00:26:51,740 And at the time, I didn't have anything to do or anywhere to go. 436 00:26:51,784 --> 00:26:55,048 I ended up back at my parents' house, you know, in my thirties. 437 00:26:55,091 --> 00:26:57,224 So, uh, you know, it's hard to go 438 00:26:57,267 --> 00:26:59,661 from an environment where you're told when to get up, 439 00:26:59,705 --> 00:27:02,577 where to go, when to be there, what to do every day. 440 00:27:02,621 --> 00:27:03,970 So it's a regimen. 441 00:27:04,013 --> 00:27:06,189 And then to having just all this natural freedom, 442 00:27:06,233 --> 00:27:08,452 you know, that you're not expected or aware of. 443 00:27:08,496 --> 00:27:11,151 MARY BALLANGEE: It's hard sometimes to deal with human beings, 444 00:27:11,194 --> 00:27:13,414 especially when you have PTSD, such as myself. 445 00:27:13,457 --> 00:27:16,417 And so, I had to go back and start over, 446 00:27:16,460 --> 00:27:17,853 and, um, 447 00:27:17,897 --> 00:27:19,333 when a horse saved my life... 448 00:27:20,247 --> 00:27:21,552 I'm a different person. 449 00:27:23,554 --> 00:27:27,080 NARRATOR: While equine therapy can be extremely effective, 450 00:27:27,123 --> 00:27:29,778 there's a remarkable magic when experiencing 451 00:27:29,822 --> 00:27:32,563 a wild mustang straight off the range. 452 00:27:36,393 --> 00:27:38,874 My favorite part of the programming 453 00:27:38,918 --> 00:27:41,311 of everything that we do here at BraveHearts 454 00:27:41,355 --> 00:27:43,400 is the wild mustangs. 455 00:27:43,444 --> 00:27:48,318 Reach in underneath him and just put your heart close to his heart there. 456 00:27:48,362 --> 00:27:50,799 I'm here with you, so you don't have to worry about it. 457 00:27:51,974 --> 00:27:54,237 Now, I want you to drop the rope, 458 00:27:54,281 --> 00:27:57,023 and I want you to reach underneath his neck with your left hand. 459 00:27:57,066 --> 00:28:01,027 I want you to bend down a little bit and get close to him. 460 00:28:01,070 --> 00:28:03,682 So can you imagine that little horse was completely wild? 461 00:28:08,817 --> 00:28:11,951 Pick the rope up. Just go in there and pick it up. You're totally fine. 462 00:28:13,387 --> 00:28:14,605 There you go. You're fine. 463 00:28:16,956 --> 00:28:18,827 Stand up tall. There you go. 464 00:28:18,871 --> 00:28:21,830 Now walk across the front of him and shake the rope at the same time. 465 00:28:21,874 --> 00:28:23,397 There you go. Keep walking. 466 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:25,616 Keep walking to your right. Keep walking to your right. 467 00:28:25,660 --> 00:28:27,575 -Keep walking to your right. -[WOMAN LAUGHS] 468 00:28:27,618 --> 00:28:29,272 Keep walking to your right. 469 00:28:29,316 --> 00:28:30,709 Now walk to your left. 470 00:28:30,752 --> 00:28:32,754 There you go. Look at that. 471 00:28:32,798 --> 00:28:35,017 -[ALL CHEERING] -McKEVITT: Whoa-ho! 472 00:28:35,061 --> 00:28:36,715 And go back in the center. 473 00:28:38,455 --> 00:28:40,327 [ALL LAUGHING] 474 00:28:40,370 --> 00:28:42,372 You got some fancy moves going there. 475 00:28:42,416 --> 00:28:44,113 Just like a ballerina. 476 00:28:46,072 --> 00:28:48,683 NARRATOR: At BraveHearts, Meggan Hill-McQueeny 477 00:28:48,727 --> 00:28:52,426 has spearheaded an effort to acquire horses from the wild 478 00:28:52,469 --> 00:28:56,038 in order to supercharge the veterans' improvement. 479 00:28:56,082 --> 00:29:01,087 Her program is aptly named Operation Mustang. 480 00:29:01,130 --> 00:29:06,222 The whole idea that I had behind that phrase was just to let the public 481 00:29:06,266 --> 00:29:10,139 know the concept to connect a wild horse and a veteran. 482 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:17,973 NARRATOR: Fred "Cowboy" Busby didn't exactly plan 483 00:29:18,017 --> 00:29:20,628 on getting involved with wild mustangs. 484 00:29:20,671 --> 00:29:22,891 BUSBY: My motorcycle club was looking for someplace 485 00:29:22,935 --> 00:29:26,808 to give our donations locally instead of nationwide. 486 00:29:26,852 --> 00:29:29,071 WOLFE: Meggan looked at Cowboy and said, 487 00:29:29,115 --> 00:29:31,204 "Would you like to get in the round pen?" 488 00:29:31,247 --> 00:29:34,337 And Cowboy was his road name 'cause he's always wore cowboy boots. 489 00:29:34,381 --> 00:29:36,209 He's not a real cowboy. 490 00:29:36,252 --> 00:29:39,386 He's been on a horse before, like I had been, once in a while. 491 00:29:39,429 --> 00:29:42,824 But they want us to put a helmet on 492 00:29:42,868 --> 00:29:45,784 and go in with a wild mustang. 493 00:29:45,827 --> 00:29:49,091 And I looked at Cowboy and I said, 494 00:29:49,135 --> 00:29:52,051 "You're on, man. You're more photogenic than I am, you know. 495 00:29:52,094 --> 00:29:54,314 "If anybody is gonna die, it's gonna be you first. 496 00:29:54,357 --> 00:29:57,273 "But I'll jump the fence, come and get you and pull your body out, 497 00:29:57,317 --> 00:30:00,624 "you know, being the marine that I am, you know." 498 00:30:00,668 --> 00:30:04,498 So Cowboy helmets up and goes in there 499 00:30:04,541 --> 00:30:09,024 and this mustang yields and crosses and looks at Cowboy, 500 00:30:09,068 --> 00:30:11,722 and then Paddy and Meggan tell Cowboy, 501 00:30:11,766 --> 00:30:16,075 "Turn around and don't look at him and stand right there." 502 00:30:16,118 --> 00:30:20,209 And this mustang had only touched a couple other people, 503 00:30:20,253 --> 00:30:22,211 that's how wild the mustang was. 504 00:30:22,255 --> 00:30:23,691 I'm standing there watching it, 505 00:30:23,734 --> 00:30:25,998 and I go, "Well, that's the dumbest thing I would do. 506 00:30:26,041 --> 00:30:29,001 "I'd never turn my back on a wild horse, you know?" 507 00:30:29,044 --> 00:30:32,656 But they're telling him it's okay and he's doing it, dumb jarhead. 508 00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:35,442 Old Cowboy turns his back and he's standing there, 509 00:30:35,485 --> 00:30:38,227 and he's just like, "Well, what am I supposed to do now?" 510 00:30:38,271 --> 00:30:41,578 And it's like, "Shh, just be quiet, relax, be neutral." 511 00:30:41,622 --> 00:30:46,279 And what happens next is that mustang comes up 512 00:30:46,322 --> 00:30:50,022 and slowly walks up behind Cowboy 513 00:30:50,065 --> 00:30:54,853 because he's accepted that Cowboy is the leader of the herd. 514 00:30:54,896 --> 00:30:56,898 He's gonna follow Cowboy. 515 00:30:56,942 --> 00:31:02,599 This thing actually came over, breathed in, like, gave me a nudge 516 00:31:02,643 --> 00:31:06,560 and the light came from the heaven through the windows... 517 00:31:06,603 --> 00:31:08,170 -[VOCALIZING] -The harps played. 518 00:31:08,214 --> 00:31:13,959 It was one of the most phenomenal things I'd ever seen. 519 00:31:14,002 --> 00:31:17,745 And then all of a sudden, they tell Cowboy, "Go ahead and walk on." 520 00:31:17,788 --> 00:31:21,053 And Cowboy walks and that horse follows him 521 00:31:21,096 --> 00:31:22,924 all the way around the round pen. 522 00:31:22,968 --> 00:31:24,839 That's where we got hooked. 523 00:31:24,883 --> 00:31:28,669 The knowledge that you're getting into the round pen with a wild animal 524 00:31:28,712 --> 00:31:31,890 that a month, a year ago now, was running wild. 525 00:31:31,933 --> 00:31:34,936 And I jokingly say it's no different than standing 526 00:31:34,980 --> 00:31:37,547 in the middle of a busy intersection directing traffic. 527 00:31:37,591 --> 00:31:40,811 You're crazy to be standing in the middle of the intersection, 528 00:31:40,855 --> 00:31:44,293 but you're up, but at the same time, you're calm. 529 00:31:47,079 --> 00:31:50,343 NARRATOR: How can a wild horse be grazing on the range one day 530 00:31:50,386 --> 00:31:54,216 and then suddenly end up in an equine therapy facility? 531 00:31:55,914 --> 00:32:00,527 The answer is disquieting and extremely controversial. 532 00:32:22,897 --> 00:32:25,726 The government gathers the horses in a round up, 533 00:32:25,769 --> 00:32:28,859 using helicopters to terrify them into a trap. 534 00:32:31,253 --> 00:32:33,995 The wild horses are the responsibility 535 00:32:34,039 --> 00:32:38,782 of the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, the BLM. 536 00:32:38,826 --> 00:32:43,439 In other words, they are government property owned by the American people. 537 00:32:43,483 --> 00:32:44,527 [HORSE WHINNIES] 538 00:32:55,669 --> 00:32:58,280 BEN NOYES: Yeah, in this operation, we're using a helicopter. 539 00:32:58,324 --> 00:32:59,760 Sometimes we use bait and water, 540 00:32:59,803 --> 00:33:01,675 but this operation is a helicopter. 541 00:33:01,718 --> 00:33:03,938 What we do is we have locations 542 00:33:03,982 --> 00:33:06,854 where the populations are higher than in some areas, 543 00:33:06,897 --> 00:33:08,334 where they congregate more. 544 00:33:08,377 --> 00:33:11,032 We kind of pick those areas to really work on. 545 00:33:11,076 --> 00:33:15,254 And we'll set up wings, which is, you know, basically come into a V, 546 00:33:15,297 --> 00:33:16,820 it's made with jute, 547 00:33:16,864 --> 00:33:18,735 and then it'll come into some panels 548 00:33:18,779 --> 00:33:20,433 and the panel will have a certain pens 549 00:33:20,476 --> 00:33:22,261 and we're able to sort the horses. 550 00:33:22,304 --> 00:33:26,134 So what happens is the helicopter goes out, finds a group of horses 551 00:33:26,178 --> 00:33:29,398 and herds them towards the V or the wings. 552 00:33:29,442 --> 00:33:31,009 And once it gets over to the wings, 553 00:33:31,052 --> 00:33:33,272 we'll have a prattle horse or Judas horse, 554 00:33:33,315 --> 00:33:35,578 the contractor will, which stays ahead of the herd. 555 00:33:35,622 --> 00:33:38,320 And when they start to see Judas horse or prattle horse, 556 00:33:38,364 --> 00:33:39,713 you know, they'll let it go, 557 00:33:39,756 --> 00:33:41,932 and the wild horse will follow the prattle horse, 558 00:33:41,976 --> 00:33:45,023 come into the trap itself, we'll close the gates behind. 559 00:33:46,198 --> 00:33:47,938 It's pretty tragic what can happen. 560 00:33:47,982 --> 00:33:49,897 These horses are being chased for miles. 561 00:33:49,940 --> 00:33:51,072 They're scared. 562 00:33:51,116 --> 00:33:53,205 They're being pushed into small traps. 563 00:33:53,248 --> 00:33:55,120 This is a hell for them. 564 00:33:56,556 --> 00:34:01,126 They are very reliant on their families 565 00:34:01,169 --> 00:34:04,259 and, you know, who they travel with and stay with. 566 00:34:04,303 --> 00:34:07,436 And so, when they're removed from that scenario, 567 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:10,396 and when you watch them actually peel, 568 00:34:10,439 --> 00:34:14,400 you know, one horse out of a group of, you know, 400-500 horses, 569 00:34:14,443 --> 00:34:17,751 and you just watch how that horse loses. 570 00:34:17,794 --> 00:34:20,014 You know, he loses everything. 571 00:34:20,058 --> 00:34:23,496 DeMAYO: I've seen horses jump, you know, out of chutes, 572 00:34:23,539 --> 00:34:27,456 or over seven-foot walls to get back to their herd. 573 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:32,113 Their sentiment beings, they're deeply emotional and bonded to each other. 574 00:34:32,157 --> 00:34:34,985 And their survival depends 575 00:34:35,029 --> 00:34:38,032 on how they interact with the larger herd community. 576 00:34:38,076 --> 00:34:41,905 So they have their family and social bands that are naturally selected, 577 00:34:41,949 --> 00:34:45,170 and then they're all part of a larger herd community 578 00:34:45,213 --> 00:34:46,823 in the regions that they live in. 579 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:02,404 NARRATOR: The BLM's multi-use management model of public lands 580 00:35:02,448 --> 00:35:05,842 is creating a competition between industry and wildlife. 581 00:35:07,757 --> 00:35:10,543 JENNY LESIEUTRE: BLM is a multi-use agency. 582 00:35:10,586 --> 00:35:13,111 So, if you think about this, in a common area, 583 00:35:13,154 --> 00:35:16,418 you've an got an acre of land, and every single piece of that land 584 00:35:16,462 --> 00:35:19,029 is allocated to something. 585 00:35:19,073 --> 00:35:23,425 Anything from wildlife to plants to wild horses 586 00:35:23,469 --> 00:35:26,167 to even the discretionary acts of oil and gas, 587 00:35:26,211 --> 00:35:29,518 cattle, mining, all of those. 588 00:35:29,562 --> 00:35:32,956 You've got natural wildlife out here, we've got sensitive plants, 589 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,438 and when one thing goes over their allocated amount, 590 00:35:36,482 --> 00:35:38,310 you have the domino effect. 591 00:35:38,353 --> 00:35:39,746 It affects everything else. 592 00:35:43,445 --> 00:35:45,708 Our natural places are being stripped from us 593 00:35:45,752 --> 00:35:48,233 and in the middle of that battle there are heart beats, 594 00:35:48,276 --> 00:35:51,540 living things that are casualties of that war. 595 00:35:51,584 --> 00:35:54,195 Wild horses are one of those casualties. 596 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,198 RICHARD COUTO: And then seeing those animals caged and corralled, 597 00:35:57,242 --> 00:35:58,417 it breaks your heart. 598 00:35:58,460 --> 00:36:00,506 It breaks a lot of people's hearts. 599 00:36:00,549 --> 00:36:04,858 And it's why a lot of people are spending their life defending the wild horse. 600 00:36:10,037 --> 00:36:12,866 One of the saddest things that I saw while undercover 601 00:36:12,909 --> 00:36:15,912 working with wild horses on the range 602 00:36:15,956 --> 00:36:18,567 was seeing the herds of wild horses 603 00:36:18,611 --> 00:36:21,222 being rounded up and chased down by choppers, 604 00:36:21,266 --> 00:36:23,398 and those choppers going right by 605 00:36:24,399 --> 00:36:25,922 thousands of head of cattle, 606 00:36:25,966 --> 00:36:29,578 and leaving the cows, but not the wild mustang. 607 00:36:29,622 --> 00:36:32,102 It broke my heart, and it breaks a lot of people's hearts. 608 00:36:42,983 --> 00:36:45,681 DeMAYO: America was the birthplace of the horse. 609 00:36:45,725 --> 00:36:47,292 A lot of people aren't even aware 610 00:36:47,335 --> 00:36:51,034 that there are wild horses left in America. 611 00:36:51,078 --> 00:36:56,039 NARRATOR: There is some dispute about today's wild horses not being native to America. 612 00:36:56,083 --> 00:36:57,606 Let's have a history lesson. 613 00:36:59,521 --> 00:37:03,046 Fossils of the first primitive wild horses 614 00:37:03,090 --> 00:37:08,835 were discovered in Idaho that dated back 3.5 million years. 615 00:37:08,878 --> 00:37:11,577 Subsequent fossils show the horse thrived 616 00:37:11,620 --> 00:37:15,668 all the way up until the Ice Age about 10,000 years ago 617 00:37:15,711 --> 00:37:18,018 until they went extinct in North America. 618 00:37:19,324 --> 00:37:22,892 But with the arrival of Columbus in 1492, 619 00:37:22,936 --> 00:37:26,461 horses were reintroduced to the continent. 620 00:37:26,505 --> 00:37:32,250 They became our valued partners to help build American society for centuries. 621 00:37:35,905 --> 00:37:39,257 They embody the spirit in all of us, 622 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:43,304 and, you know, this country was founded with their help, 623 00:37:43,348 --> 00:37:48,353 and they are such an integral part of the story of the American West. 624 00:37:50,355 --> 00:37:51,747 NARRATOR: After World War I, 625 00:37:51,791 --> 00:37:54,576 the military's horse-drawn transportation 626 00:37:54,620 --> 00:37:58,145 was completely replaced by gasoline vehicles. 627 00:37:59,625 --> 00:38:01,583 No longer of value to the Army, 628 00:38:01,627 --> 00:38:05,370 thousands of horses and burros were released into the wild. 629 00:38:10,810 --> 00:38:13,334 But unfettered slaughter and capture 630 00:38:13,378 --> 00:38:16,468 saw the mustang population rapidly disappearing. 631 00:38:18,034 --> 00:38:21,342 To protect this majestic icon of the American West, 632 00:38:21,386 --> 00:38:23,562 in 1971, 633 00:38:23,605 --> 00:38:27,522 President Nixon signed the Free-Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act, 634 00:38:27,566 --> 00:38:31,352 making it illegal to interfere with the wild horses. 635 00:38:31,396 --> 00:38:33,833 The act allows the US government to set limits 636 00:38:33,876 --> 00:38:36,575 for horse populations on given areas. 637 00:38:36,618 --> 00:38:39,708 This number is called an Appropriate Management Level 638 00:38:39,752 --> 00:38:41,667 or AML. 639 00:38:41,710 --> 00:38:43,669 At the BLM's discretion, 640 00:38:43,712 --> 00:38:47,194 the excess animals are removed to maintain these limits. 641 00:38:47,237 --> 00:38:49,152 DeMAYO: For almost 50 years, 642 00:38:49,196 --> 00:38:53,635 capture and removal has been the main management policy 643 00:38:53,679 --> 00:38:56,029 to manage populations on the range, 644 00:38:56,072 --> 00:38:57,683 and it hasn't been working. 645 00:38:57,726 --> 00:39:01,817 And the cost for taking care of these is astronomical. 646 00:39:01,861 --> 00:39:04,472 So we're gonna have to end this cycle somehow. 647 00:39:04,516 --> 00:39:06,909 COUTO: The best way to help these animals 648 00:39:06,953 --> 00:39:10,304 is not to touch 'em at all, 649 00:39:10,348 --> 00:39:13,568 to leave 'em on the ranges exactly where they belong. 650 00:39:13,612 --> 00:39:16,658 We need to look at, like, what can this land sustain? 651 00:39:16,702 --> 00:39:19,531 How many horses can be out here before 652 00:39:19,574 --> 00:39:22,011 this land is, you know, overgrazed? 653 00:39:22,055 --> 00:39:25,145 If they're talking about rounding up 130,000 horses 654 00:39:25,188 --> 00:39:28,366 from these areas where they're overpopulated, possibly, 655 00:39:28,409 --> 00:39:30,933 there may be other areas where there are no horses 656 00:39:30,977 --> 00:39:32,805 that they could be turned out on to. 657 00:39:32,848 --> 00:39:35,242 If there's a lack of natural predators, 658 00:39:35,285 --> 00:39:40,116 I think that we have a tool now that has been proven to be safe and humane, 659 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:44,599 and that's the reversible, non-hormonal fertility control. 660 00:39:44,643 --> 00:39:49,952 And I think that most minimally intrusive methods necessary 661 00:39:49,996 --> 00:39:53,826 to manage populations, healthy populations on the range 662 00:39:53,869 --> 00:39:55,741 is the direction for the future. 663 00:39:57,307 --> 00:40:00,093 NARRATOR: But for now, the violent roundups continue. 664 00:40:11,452 --> 00:40:14,368 NARRATOR: The BLM takes steps to reduce the number of horses 665 00:40:14,412 --> 00:40:16,544 held in their permanent holding pens. 666 00:40:18,328 --> 00:40:21,288 Many horses are spayed and neutered 667 00:40:21,331 --> 00:40:23,682 and then released back into the wild. 668 00:40:39,132 --> 00:40:41,961 The majority of horses removed from their land 669 00:40:42,004 --> 00:40:46,531 are currently living in off-range holding facilities hoping for placement. 670 00:40:48,097 --> 00:40:50,317 That's all we do is find homes for these guys. 671 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:51,927 We're kind of like social workers. 672 00:40:51,971 --> 00:40:54,974 We are emotionally invested in this program. 673 00:40:55,017 --> 00:40:57,498 And the number one priority of the BLM 674 00:40:57,542 --> 00:41:01,371 is to find good long-term homes for these horses. 675 00:41:01,415 --> 00:41:03,156 We're funded through Congress. 676 00:41:03,199 --> 00:41:05,463 We have to take orders from Congress. 677 00:41:05,506 --> 00:41:08,727 But I can tell you, we will do the best we can 678 00:41:08,770 --> 00:41:10,511 to make sure these guys get good homes. 679 00:41:10,555 --> 00:41:12,426 LESIEUTRE: And there is a market out there. 680 00:41:12,470 --> 00:41:13,949 People want these horses. 681 00:41:13,993 --> 00:41:16,430 They are flying from different countries to see them. 682 00:41:18,998 --> 00:41:20,782 NARRATOR: As with the returning veterans, 683 00:41:20,826 --> 00:41:23,698 the mustangs have now lost their identity 684 00:41:23,742 --> 00:41:26,571 and find themselves in an unfamiliar world. 685 00:41:32,620 --> 00:41:35,362 Now in captivity away from the range, 686 00:41:35,405 --> 00:41:38,147 the only home the wild mustangs have ever known, 687 00:41:38,191 --> 00:41:40,454 they must come to terms with a new way of living. 688 00:41:42,587 --> 00:41:46,286 When they first come in, you can see they're pretty fearful. 689 00:41:46,329 --> 00:41:48,070 They're pretty traumatized. 690 00:41:48,114 --> 00:41:51,073 I always think of them as most of the veterans that come here. 691 00:41:51,117 --> 00:41:52,901 They don't trust a lot of people. 692 00:41:52,945 --> 00:41:57,036 They're very, very fearful of certain things. 693 00:41:57,079 --> 00:42:02,345 I just see so many common traits between the wild horse and the veterans. 694 00:42:02,389 --> 00:42:04,826 You think about these mustangs. 695 00:42:04,870 --> 00:42:09,831 They were hurt, rounded up, never been touched. 696 00:42:09,875 --> 00:42:12,138 The only interaction that they get 697 00:42:12,181 --> 00:42:15,228 is when someone puts a freeze brand on them. 698 00:42:15,271 --> 00:42:18,013 And then they're stuck in these cages until someone gets them. 699 00:42:18,057 --> 00:42:20,842 McDONALD: Getting in the round pen with Paddy 700 00:42:20,886 --> 00:42:24,759 and him telling me about wild mustangs and how they live 701 00:42:24,803 --> 00:42:26,892 and how they perceive stuff, 702 00:42:26,935 --> 00:42:31,810 I'm sitting there going, "Wow, they're exactly like every combat veteran I know." 703 00:42:31,853 --> 00:42:34,595 We're just like that. 704 00:42:34,639 --> 00:42:39,905 We've had bad interactions, we're stuck out in this big pen called the world, 705 00:42:39,948 --> 00:42:41,733 and we don't know what to do. 706 00:42:41,776 --> 00:42:45,867 Got out of military and wasn't happy coming back. 707 00:42:45,911 --> 00:42:48,391 And being an addictive person, 708 00:42:48,435 --> 00:42:52,700 you know, the drugs and alcohol always played a role. 709 00:42:52,744 --> 00:42:58,314 And killing myself, man. My liver's just about gone as it is, 710 00:42:58,358 --> 00:43:02,884 and finally realized that what I was feeling 711 00:43:02,928 --> 00:43:05,887 and what I was doing to myself emotionally 712 00:43:05,931 --> 00:43:10,413 and my stress levels and, you know, 713 00:43:10,457 --> 00:43:17,159 to put a wild mustang that's been rounded up and going through hell 714 00:43:17,203 --> 00:43:20,423 and been castrated 715 00:43:20,467 --> 00:43:21,903 and branded 716 00:43:21,947 --> 00:43:25,254 and inoculated and aged 717 00:43:25,298 --> 00:43:28,649 and then thrown into a pen in the middle of nowhere 718 00:43:28,693 --> 00:43:32,392 after being caught up after being wild for so long, 719 00:43:32,435 --> 00:43:34,133 without their herd, 720 00:43:34,176 --> 00:43:35,830 they're lost souls. 721 00:43:35,874 --> 00:43:37,484 And that's where I was at. 722 00:43:40,487 --> 00:43:42,663 [DRUM ROLL] 723 00:43:42,707 --> 00:43:46,624 ♪ I look out 724 00:43:46,667 --> 00:43:50,149 ♪ On these hometown streets 725 00:43:52,934 --> 00:43:54,806 ♪ I don't know how 726 00:43:54,849 --> 00:43:58,853 ♪ But they look different to me 727 00:44:00,725 --> 00:44:02,901 ♪ Same old friends 728 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:07,340 ♪ We share some laughs 729 00:44:08,994 --> 00:44:11,649 ♪ I'm home again 730 00:44:11,692 --> 00:44:15,478 ♪ But I'm not really back 731 00:44:16,566 --> 00:44:18,873 ♪ Tell me why 732 00:44:20,788 --> 00:44:22,398 ♪ Tell me how 733 00:44:24,705 --> 00:44:29,884 ♪ Tell me what in the world I should do now 734 00:44:32,191 --> 00:44:34,628 ♪ Tell me where 735 00:44:36,586 --> 00:44:37,849 ♪ Tell me where 736 00:44:40,765 --> 00:44:46,205 ♪ Tell me how in the world To live again ♪ 737 00:44:54,126 --> 00:44:56,563 McKEVITT: Reach up and give him a little rub on his neck. 738 00:44:58,043 --> 00:44:59,609 There you go. 739 00:44:59,653 --> 00:45:01,263 The men and women that come here 740 00:45:01,307 --> 00:45:03,439 don't want to make these horses feel uncomfortable. 741 00:45:03,483 --> 00:45:06,616 So, they have to adjust their own behavior 742 00:45:06,660 --> 00:45:11,360 because they're getting, through a bio-feedback loop from the horse in the moment, 743 00:45:11,404 --> 00:45:14,407 they're getting information that could provide that's non-verbal. 744 00:45:14,450 --> 00:45:16,496 So it's not a doctor sitting there telling 'em. 745 00:45:16,539 --> 00:45:19,760 It's not cognitive therapy. They've heard that all before. 746 00:45:19,804 --> 00:45:21,588 Then they can't make the adjustments. 747 00:45:21,631 --> 00:45:25,592 But as they start to practice it with one of these wild horses, 748 00:45:25,635 --> 00:45:30,553 it becomes second nature, and they make the adjustments in other areas of their lives. 749 00:45:30,597 --> 00:45:32,120 OHRMUNDT: I didn't realize 750 00:45:32,164 --> 00:45:36,864 how much my anxiety affected my behavior, 751 00:45:36,908 --> 00:45:38,779 how much it affected the people around me. 752 00:45:38,823 --> 00:45:41,826 And when you're working with horses, 753 00:45:41,869 --> 00:45:44,263 your energy level, your behavior, everything you do 754 00:45:44,306 --> 00:45:46,831 affects the horse that you're working with. 755 00:45:46,874 --> 00:45:49,703 And so, the value for me is 756 00:45:49,747 --> 00:45:54,316 I've learned just how much my anxiety level 757 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:56,536 affects how well I can work with a horse, 758 00:45:56,579 --> 00:45:58,756 how well a horse will work with me. 759 00:45:58,799 --> 00:46:02,194 They are truly afraid for their lives. 760 00:46:02,237 --> 00:46:08,026 And when you do something, they scream the answer to you. 761 00:46:08,069 --> 00:46:12,813 And it shows people exactly if they're doing it right or wrong. 762 00:46:12,857 --> 00:46:14,423 HILL-McQUEENY: The wild side of them 763 00:46:14,467 --> 00:46:16,774 is what benefits a lot of veterans the most 764 00:46:16,817 --> 00:46:19,602 and that's the part that's so beneficial 765 00:46:19,646 --> 00:46:23,389 that the veterans want to be a part of that front end with that horse, 766 00:46:23,432 --> 00:46:24,782 that whole trust-building. 767 00:46:24,825 --> 00:46:26,479 RENO: A lot of people are gonna be like, 768 00:46:26,522 --> 00:46:28,916 "Well, you can't have a mustang with you all the time." 769 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:31,919 So, it's a process that you get to learn, 770 00:46:31,963 --> 00:46:35,793 and you can take that with you wherever you go. 771 00:46:35,836 --> 00:46:37,490 It's another tool in your toolbox 772 00:46:37,533 --> 00:46:40,667 for whenever you're about to freak out in the grocery store. 773 00:46:40,710 --> 00:46:43,626 I think that because I am so much more aware 774 00:46:43,670 --> 00:46:46,586 of my anxiety when it creeps up on me, 775 00:46:46,629 --> 00:46:49,241 I have been able to manage it much better now 776 00:46:49,284 --> 00:46:50,720 everywhere else in the world. 777 00:46:50,764 --> 00:46:52,244 That makes so much sense. 778 00:46:52,287 --> 00:46:56,726 You've got horses with PTSD and a veteran with PTSD, 779 00:46:56,770 --> 00:47:00,382 and bingo, there's the starting point. 780 00:47:00,426 --> 00:47:02,732 There's a language there, and it's a respect, 781 00:47:02,776 --> 00:47:03,951 and one might be scared 782 00:47:03,995 --> 00:47:06,606 and one might be too aggressive, 783 00:47:06,649 --> 00:47:09,174 but then, they learn how to mirror that 784 00:47:09,217 --> 00:47:11,567 in themselves and in each other. 785 00:47:11,611 --> 00:47:14,744 And they produce this, I think, 786 00:47:14,788 --> 00:47:17,791 a great example for each other to live by. 787 00:47:22,013 --> 00:47:26,147 McDONALD: This mustang, Hero, he became a project of mine. 788 00:47:26,191 --> 00:47:28,671 He wasn't getting a lot of attention. 789 00:47:28,715 --> 00:47:30,760 Nobody really wanted to work with him. 790 00:47:30,804 --> 00:47:35,765 When I first met him, he would just stand in his stall, or enclosure, 791 00:47:35,809 --> 00:47:38,203 with his head in the corner 792 00:47:38,246 --> 00:47:40,901 and basically telling you, "Go away or I'm gonna kick you." 793 00:47:40,945 --> 00:47:42,772 He wanted nothing to do with people. 794 00:47:42,816 --> 00:47:45,906 He had no interest in approaching 795 00:47:45,950 --> 00:47:48,300 or being touched at all. 796 00:47:48,343 --> 00:47:50,998 But Hero especially, there was just something in this horse. 797 00:47:51,042 --> 00:47:57,657 I've spent so many hours just talking to him, singing to him 798 00:47:57,700 --> 00:48:00,921 and, uh, eventually, 799 00:48:00,965 --> 00:48:04,620 he let me sit in his pen with him because it was raining. 800 00:48:04,664 --> 00:48:07,667 And he could have gotten upset about that. 801 00:48:09,451 --> 00:48:13,934 And we probably spent two hours just kind of hanging out 802 00:48:13,978 --> 00:48:19,897 and his head got lower and he just stared at me, 803 00:48:19,940 --> 00:48:22,377 and after a while, he came over 804 00:48:22,421 --> 00:48:25,685 and he just started to check me out with his nose, 805 00:48:25,728 --> 00:48:27,687 he was smelling everything, 806 00:48:27,730 --> 00:48:30,777 and that was the first time I was able to really touch his face 807 00:48:30,820 --> 00:48:32,344 to really, really pet him. 808 00:48:32,387 --> 00:48:37,784 And he has these soft, sweet eyes that just say, 809 00:48:37,827 --> 00:48:41,092 "I really want to trust. Please don't let me down." 810 00:48:48,882 --> 00:48:50,492 These are sentient beings, 811 00:48:50,536 --> 00:48:53,626 and when you have an opportunity to live around them 812 00:48:53,669 --> 00:48:58,544 and to watch their very subtle, yet deep, interactions, 813 00:48:58,587 --> 00:49:00,502 profoundly connected to each other, 814 00:49:00,546 --> 00:49:05,812 and how subtle and how well they work together as a community, 815 00:49:05,855 --> 00:49:08,641 we have a lot to learn from them. A lot to learn. 816 00:49:19,043 --> 00:49:20,958 RALSTON: Anybody who has 817 00:49:21,001 --> 00:49:25,963 made the decision to be a part of a facility like this 818 00:49:26,006 --> 00:49:31,490 has released a little bit of maybe their ego or a little bit of their fear. 819 00:49:31,533 --> 00:49:33,057 Opened theirselves up. 820 00:49:33,100 --> 00:49:35,276 There's wonderful organizations out there. 821 00:49:35,320 --> 00:49:38,323 There's the VA and there's the VFW 822 00:49:38,366 --> 00:49:43,850 and there's any number of veterans' organizations you can participate in. 823 00:49:43,893 --> 00:49:47,375 I had tried them, but I never got really in-depth with them 824 00:49:47,419 --> 00:49:50,726 because I didn't feel that it was comfortable enough for me 825 00:49:50,770 --> 00:49:54,948 to spend that much time with those organizations. 826 00:49:54,992 --> 00:49:58,778 But when I came out to BraveHearts and I saw the vets, 827 00:49:58,821 --> 00:50:01,041 and I saw... 828 00:50:01,085 --> 00:50:07,178 the need that they have for these horses. 829 00:50:07,221 --> 00:50:11,269 And the vets, I watched the vets get on these horses 830 00:50:11,312 --> 00:50:14,011 and I see them... change. 831 00:50:14,054 --> 00:50:17,231 They want the knowledge, they want the experience. 832 00:50:17,275 --> 00:50:19,799 And when I work with the general public, 833 00:50:19,842 --> 00:50:24,195 you've always got the person who's defensive. 834 00:50:24,238 --> 00:50:26,327 I thought, "Well, I'll go and I'll participate. 835 00:50:26,371 --> 00:50:28,155 "Maybe I can help out some other vets," 836 00:50:28,199 --> 00:50:30,984 and in the process discovered that it helped me. 837 00:50:37,991 --> 00:50:40,689 APPER: I still have a lot of stuff to work through, 838 00:50:40,733 --> 00:50:45,738 a lot of anger, a lot of dark thoughts. 839 00:50:45,781 --> 00:50:48,132 But this place is my life. 840 00:50:48,175 --> 00:50:51,918 Like, this place is where I can come and reset myself. 841 00:50:51,961 --> 00:50:54,094 I could be in the worst mood, 842 00:50:54,138 --> 00:50:56,792 I could be in the worst spot, the darkest spot, 843 00:50:56,836 --> 00:51:00,274 and when I come out here and work with, you know, CeCe 844 00:51:00,318 --> 00:51:03,190 and then some of the mustangs, it just, it melts away. 845 00:51:03,234 --> 00:51:06,846 It's the only thing that makes it completely melt away. 846 00:51:06,889 --> 00:51:10,023 I'm out here probably 60 hours a week 'cause I just love it. 847 00:51:10,067 --> 00:51:12,852 And I see on a daily basis 848 00:51:12,895 --> 00:51:16,073 veterans come through the farm over here 849 00:51:16,116 --> 00:51:19,772 and show up with the weight of the world on their shoulders 850 00:51:19,815 --> 00:51:22,122 and the steely eyes, 851 00:51:22,166 --> 00:51:26,039 and I watch them go through a metamorphosis 852 00:51:26,083 --> 00:51:29,825 and become uplifted as soon as they touch a horse, 853 00:51:29,869 --> 00:51:33,090 whether it be a mustang or one of our therapy horses, 854 00:51:34,830 --> 00:51:37,006 and the smile just gets bigger and bigger. 855 00:51:37,050 --> 00:51:40,445 [LAUGHING] Pretty soon, their whole mouth is open. 856 00:51:40,488 --> 00:51:44,971 All you can see is teeth and they're laughing and they're talking 857 00:51:45,014 --> 00:51:47,147 and they're being social with people. 858 00:51:55,155 --> 00:51:58,550 McKEVITT: I grew up in a little town called Newry in Northern Ireland, 859 00:51:58,593 --> 00:52:02,336 right on the border between the Republic and the North. 860 00:52:02,380 --> 00:52:06,297 -[GUNSHOTS] -[PEOPLE CLAMORING] 861 00:52:06,340 --> 00:52:10,431 Growing up in a place where security was very high, it was a war zone. 862 00:52:10,475 --> 00:52:15,567 The '70s and the early '80s were war zones in parts of Northern Ireland. 863 00:52:15,610 --> 00:52:19,266 And I went through some really tough struggles in my own life 864 00:52:19,310 --> 00:52:23,662 trying to overcome some problems with alcohol 865 00:52:23,705 --> 00:52:26,360 and I didn't know what I was gonna do to carry on. 866 00:52:26,404 --> 00:52:29,624 And there was nothing really inspired me to get up in the morning, 867 00:52:29,668 --> 00:52:32,714 and I got to a spot that I never thought I'd get to in my life. 868 00:52:32,758 --> 00:52:34,499 And it was one horse in particular, 869 00:52:34,542 --> 00:52:37,154 a horse that we have in the program here called Wyatt, 870 00:52:37,197 --> 00:52:41,201 that I bought out in Montana 871 00:52:41,245 --> 00:52:44,683 from a guy that wasn't very nice to him and had abused him, 872 00:52:44,726 --> 00:52:46,424 and when I got him back here, 873 00:52:46,467 --> 00:52:49,992 I realized how petrified of people that he was. 874 00:52:50,036 --> 00:52:52,212 You'd go into a stall to catch this horse, 875 00:52:52,256 --> 00:52:56,216 and he would literally bang off the walls to get away from you. 876 00:52:56,260 --> 00:53:00,612 You know, that probably is partly the reason why I'm so passionate 877 00:53:00,655 --> 00:53:03,615 about working with the veterans, is because 878 00:53:03,658 --> 00:53:07,140 the one thing I thought about that inspired me to get out of bed 879 00:53:07,184 --> 00:53:10,491 was that I felt empathy for that horse, and I felt bad for him, 880 00:53:10,535 --> 00:53:14,669 and it made me want to get up and figure out a way to help him. 881 00:53:14,713 --> 00:53:19,631 It was that journey with Wyatt that started me thinking of horses in a different way. 882 00:53:19,674 --> 00:53:23,722 And I went around the country working with different men and women 883 00:53:23,765 --> 00:53:25,854 that had a different approach to horses 884 00:53:25,898 --> 00:53:28,205 because all I wanted to do was make him feel better. 885 00:53:28,248 --> 00:53:31,425 Well, I thought I was saving the horse. [CHUCKLES] 886 00:53:31,469 --> 00:53:33,514 You know, look where it has landed me. 887 00:53:34,472 --> 00:53:37,083 I started my business then, 888 00:53:37,126 --> 00:53:40,913 taking in horses that people were thinking were bad horses, 889 00:53:40,956 --> 00:53:43,481 but basically were horses that had people problems, 890 00:53:43,524 --> 00:53:46,048 that people didn't really know how to get along with them. 891 00:53:51,315 --> 00:53:55,362 NARRATOR: One of the reasons the mustangs begin to trust their captors 892 00:53:55,406 --> 00:54:00,541 is due to the powerful new psychology of horse training. 893 00:54:00,585 --> 00:54:04,153 You know, traditional ways was pretty firm, pretty violent, 894 00:54:04,197 --> 00:54:06,591 pretty dominating, pretty dictating. 895 00:54:06,634 --> 00:54:09,071 The horse didn't have an option in anything. 896 00:54:09,115 --> 00:54:11,378 You know, bigger chains, bigger ropes. 897 00:54:11,422 --> 00:54:13,902 Tie 'em down, blindfold 'em, do whatever 898 00:54:13,946 --> 00:54:18,559 until they conform out of fear and just do what's being demanded of 'em. 899 00:54:18,603 --> 00:54:21,867 People just took advantage of the power they had 900 00:54:21,910 --> 00:54:24,217 and would force the horse to do things. 901 00:54:24,261 --> 00:54:27,655 It's just so rough and hard and dangerous. 902 00:54:27,699 --> 00:54:31,355 WOLFE: It took a while for me to understand what was going on 903 00:54:31,398 --> 00:54:34,183 because I didn't know what therapeutic riding was, 904 00:54:34,227 --> 00:54:36,490 I didn't know what hippotherapy was. 905 00:54:36,534 --> 00:54:39,363 It was John Wayne movies for me. 906 00:54:39,406 --> 00:54:42,627 Well, we're all here. Let 'em roll! 907 00:54:42,670 --> 00:54:44,237 [EXCLAIMING] 908 00:54:46,195 --> 00:54:49,111 I thought that, "Well, they got wild mustangs." 909 00:54:49,155 --> 00:54:50,983 I said, "Boy, I can't wait till we go out 910 00:54:51,026 --> 00:54:53,768 "and we lasso 'em up and tie 'em to a pole 911 00:54:53,812 --> 00:54:55,509 "and beat the cane out of 'em." 912 00:54:55,553 --> 00:54:58,817 I go, "It'll be like boot camp again for me. This'll be great. 913 00:54:58,860 --> 00:55:01,298 "Let's beat on some horses, throw a saddle on 914 00:55:01,341 --> 00:55:03,387 "and we're gonna ride like John Wayne." 915 00:55:03,430 --> 00:55:05,737 And that's why they called it "breakin' horses." 916 00:55:05,780 --> 00:55:07,521 They broke their spirit down. 917 00:55:07,565 --> 00:55:11,699 When I eliminated, or learned to eliminate that out of it, 918 00:55:11,743 --> 00:55:13,875 and that the horse had a perspective in it, 919 00:55:13,919 --> 00:55:17,270 then you could live in the moment and read what the horse was given you back. 920 00:55:17,314 --> 00:55:20,752 We had a great revolution in horsemanship 921 00:55:20,795 --> 00:55:22,362 really starting in the '70s, 922 00:55:22,406 --> 00:55:25,409 but not really seeing it until the '80s and '90s, 923 00:55:25,452 --> 00:55:28,499 where we had Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt come out 924 00:55:28,542 --> 00:55:30,718 and made good horsemanship, 925 00:55:30,762 --> 00:55:33,939 quiet, humane treatment of horses popular 926 00:55:33,982 --> 00:55:35,593 and how much you can do with 'em. 927 00:55:35,636 --> 00:55:37,421 And it's much better. 928 00:55:37,464 --> 00:55:41,294 It's much faster, much better, much longer-lasting relationship. 929 00:55:41,338 --> 00:55:44,123 These horses learn to follow our direction 930 00:55:44,166 --> 00:55:45,646 because it's a good deal for them. 931 00:55:45,690 --> 00:55:47,474 They're not gonna find any more pressure. 932 00:55:47,518 --> 00:55:51,957 I actually think mustangs are the most intelligent horses 933 00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:55,395 that I have ever encountered. 934 00:55:55,439 --> 00:55:59,051 MEYER: The mustangs, through the generations of being out in the wild 935 00:55:59,094 --> 00:56:01,706 and having to fend for themselves 936 00:56:01,749 --> 00:56:05,536 and learning where it is you can eat, learning what you can eat, 937 00:56:05,579 --> 00:56:10,410 learning what animal is okay and what animal isn't okay, 938 00:56:10,454 --> 00:56:15,284 once they come into captivity, that intelligence translates to training. 939 00:56:15,328 --> 00:56:19,114 And they found out that working with horses quietly 940 00:56:19,158 --> 00:56:21,682 and teaching them instead of making them, 941 00:56:21,726 --> 00:56:24,206 the horse was so much better-minded, 942 00:56:24,250 --> 00:56:26,557 co-operative, dependent, consistent. 943 00:56:26,600 --> 00:56:30,082 Just a happy, good-minded horse that anybody can work with, 944 00:56:30,125 --> 00:56:32,301 by using those methods. 945 00:56:32,345 --> 00:56:37,481 A way I like to do it is set on a skid or set on the ground, 946 00:56:37,524 --> 00:56:39,918 put the hay on you, make them come to you 947 00:56:39,961 --> 00:56:43,095 and they have to eat and come to a human. 948 00:56:43,138 --> 00:56:47,882 And then from there, I would slowly take the hay in my hands 949 00:56:47,926 --> 00:56:51,538 and make 'em eat it and come to me to get food. 950 00:56:51,582 --> 00:56:53,322 And so I just put a little pressure. 951 00:56:53,366 --> 00:56:56,456 Once he takes that step, let the pressure and then let him go, 952 00:56:56,500 --> 00:56:58,589 take a step and then let the pressure. 953 00:56:58,632 --> 00:56:59,981 And let him know it's good. 954 00:57:00,852 --> 00:57:02,593 And he goes straight back. 955 00:57:02,636 --> 00:57:05,204 I don't need to pull or nothing. 956 00:57:05,247 --> 00:57:10,035 I'm making that exaggerated movement like this and say, "We go back. 957 00:57:10,078 --> 00:57:14,953 "We go back," and we take a step back and say, "Whoa, whoa." 958 00:57:14,996 --> 00:57:16,911 And then like this, whoa. 959 00:57:16,955 --> 00:57:18,478 You have to have patience. 960 00:57:18,522 --> 00:57:20,001 Um, it's a daily thing. 961 00:57:20,045 --> 00:57:22,787 Whether it's raining, snow, sleet, hail, 962 00:57:22,830 --> 00:57:25,659 you need to work your horse and bond with it. 963 00:57:25,703 --> 00:57:28,836 Go outside. Bundle up. Put a raincoat on. 964 00:57:28,880 --> 00:57:31,839 Whatever you need to do to keep that connection going. 965 00:57:31,883 --> 00:57:35,190 And I always came out with great results 966 00:57:35,234 --> 00:57:37,889 of gentling 'em that way, to get 'em to build their trust. 967 00:57:37,932 --> 00:57:42,241 Once you remove the fear, the mustangs think, 968 00:57:42,284 --> 00:57:47,246 operate, work and train just like any other horse. 969 00:57:47,289 --> 00:57:51,163 NARRATOR: Veterans aren't the only ones healing from wild horses. 970 00:57:53,339 --> 00:57:54,732 BRUCE INMAN: Come on. Let her go! 971 00:57:55,950 --> 00:57:57,561 Run her out! Run her out! 972 00:58:02,914 --> 00:58:08,746 NARRATOR: Bruce Inman runs an equestrian program in Ohio for youth at risk. 973 00:58:08,789 --> 00:58:14,099 INMAN: I work with a lot of at-risk families' kids, teens, 974 00:58:14,142 --> 00:58:16,231 a lot of situations with the courts, 975 00:58:16,275 --> 00:58:19,887 and just people that have had hard times in their lives, especially young people. 976 00:58:19,931 --> 00:58:22,803 Kids just are naturally drawn to something like this. 977 00:58:22,847 --> 00:58:26,285 So it gives me the opportunity to really find out what's going on in their life 978 00:58:26,328 --> 00:58:29,114 and give them an understanding that there's more to life 979 00:58:29,157 --> 00:58:31,682 than some of the things that they've had to suffer through. 980 00:58:33,031 --> 00:58:35,076 NARRATOR: Ivy, Bruce's foster daughter, 981 00:58:35,120 --> 00:58:37,383 has seen her share of challenges, 982 00:58:37,426 --> 00:58:40,081 but is now making great strides in life. 983 00:58:41,735 --> 00:58:45,130 Her past is very, very difficult 984 00:58:45,173 --> 00:58:50,004 with a mother who died of a heroin overdose, a father in prison. 985 00:58:50,048 --> 00:58:53,094 Just had a lot of things going against her. 986 00:58:53,138 --> 00:58:57,098 So horses sparked a new life in her, 987 00:58:57,142 --> 00:59:00,493 has given her a hope, has given her a chance. 988 00:59:00,537 --> 00:59:03,844 And they can just really heal each other. 989 00:59:06,891 --> 00:59:11,591 I am training Lima, the mustang. 990 00:59:11,635 --> 00:59:16,422 And at first, she really didn't want anything to do with humans. 991 00:59:16,465 --> 00:59:18,685 Attention span was really short. 992 00:59:18,729 --> 00:59:20,905 She didn't want to work with anybody, honestly. 993 00:59:22,994 --> 00:59:24,952 First step's gaining the trust. 994 00:59:26,258 --> 00:59:28,652 She's learned how to control the horse 995 00:59:28,695 --> 00:59:31,393 with as little effort as possible. 996 00:59:31,437 --> 00:59:34,701 You can muscle, you can break a horse, 997 00:59:34,745 --> 00:59:37,356 or you can really just gentle a horse. 998 00:59:37,399 --> 00:59:39,619 IVY WALDROP: And now she's really loving. 999 00:59:39,663 --> 00:59:41,578 She likes the attention 1000 00:59:41,621 --> 00:59:44,842 and she wants to be with people all the time now. 1001 00:59:44,885 --> 00:59:47,888 Really curious, too. Curious about things 1002 00:59:47,932 --> 00:59:51,413 and I guess that's what makes her willing to try new things. 1003 01:00:05,253 --> 01:00:08,517 If I'm hammering nails at a fence, 1004 01:00:08,561 --> 01:00:10,694 you're gonna have her nose right there, 1005 01:00:10,737 --> 01:00:14,045 where other horses might be taking off as far away from that hammer as they can be. 1006 01:00:14,088 --> 01:00:15,437 They're just so curious. 1007 01:00:15,481 --> 01:00:17,875 And they want to be with people. 1008 01:00:17,918 --> 01:00:22,749 WALDROP: She's fun and she's kind and very willing. 1009 01:00:22,793 --> 01:00:26,274 She's smart. Extremely smart. [LAUGHS] 1010 01:00:26,318 --> 01:00:28,059 They just... 1011 01:00:28,102 --> 01:00:31,410 I don't know, like they don't want to be out in the wild anymore. 1012 01:00:31,453 --> 01:00:34,108 They want to know that somebody's there to feed 'em 1013 01:00:34,152 --> 01:00:35,588 and take care of 'em. 1014 01:00:35,632 --> 01:00:37,808 You know, they depend on you and it's a great bond. 1015 01:00:38,635 --> 01:00:40,375 They transform, actually. 1016 01:00:40,419 --> 01:00:42,639 We've taken in an enormous amount of horses 1017 01:00:42,682 --> 01:00:46,425 that have been deemed dangerous and unhandleable, 1018 01:00:46,468 --> 01:00:51,125 and lots of people have said they should be euthanized for safety's sake, 1019 01:00:51,169 --> 01:00:54,041 for their own safety and for the safety of people around them, 1020 01:00:54,085 --> 01:00:57,349 and we have never had that experience when they arrive with us. 1021 01:00:57,392 --> 01:01:03,616 And I think mustangs have a very strong fight-or-flight instinct, 1022 01:01:03,660 --> 01:01:07,272 and the kind of weird spiritual axiom of it 1023 01:01:07,315 --> 01:01:09,753 is that when you give them a lot of space, 1024 01:01:09,796 --> 01:01:13,060 they often choose to make a connection with you. 1025 01:01:13,104 --> 01:01:16,020 So there is nothing more special to me 1026 01:01:16,063 --> 01:01:18,283 to take in a wild horse that is so wild 1027 01:01:18,326 --> 01:01:21,068 and demands so much space between you and them, 1028 01:01:21,112 --> 01:01:24,681 for them to come kind of a full 180 1029 01:01:24,724 --> 01:01:26,987 back to, actually, their natural curiosity 1030 01:01:27,031 --> 01:01:30,382 and seeing other horses interact with you, maybe that are more gentle, 1031 01:01:30,425 --> 01:01:32,471 just kind of overcomes them in the end 1032 01:01:32,514 --> 01:01:36,388 and you'll suddenly find them right there and touching them. 1033 01:01:36,431 --> 01:01:38,695 It never, it never gets old. 1034 01:01:38,738 --> 01:01:40,000 Give me kisses. 1035 01:01:40,044 --> 01:01:42,089 [KISSING] 1036 01:01:45,571 --> 01:01:48,313 Who's a good girl? Who's a good girl? 1037 01:01:48,356 --> 01:01:50,881 DeMAYO: I think one of the things that's so powerful for me 1038 01:01:50,924 --> 01:01:54,275 when I'm with the horses, and I'm just with them, 1039 01:01:54,319 --> 01:01:57,148 you fall into a different rhythm 1040 01:01:57,191 --> 01:02:00,978 because what that is about is connection. 1041 01:02:01,021 --> 01:02:03,937 She's such a friendly little filly. Like, she loves this. 1042 01:02:03,981 --> 01:02:07,201 And this kind of incorporates into the training that we do. 1043 01:02:07,245 --> 01:02:08,855 You know, the sense of touch. 1044 01:02:08,899 --> 01:02:10,770 We mimic brushing. 1045 01:02:10,814 --> 01:02:13,381 So when we go up and we touch around their face 1046 01:02:13,425 --> 01:02:14,861 rubbing of the eyes, 1047 01:02:14,905 --> 01:02:17,037 we do a lot of rubbing of the ears 1048 01:02:17,081 --> 01:02:20,737 just to get 'em used to touch, and they really start to crave it after a while. 1049 01:02:20,780 --> 01:02:23,565 MERCURIO: You know, the process is, 1050 01:02:23,609 --> 01:02:26,133 we're going to teach the horse 1051 01:02:26,177 --> 01:02:28,353 with the proper care for the horse's needs, 1052 01:02:28,396 --> 01:02:34,576 so that minimal effort is required to get the horse to do what you want it to do. 1053 01:02:34,620 --> 01:02:38,145 I mean, it's being so calm and so quiet and so nice to that horse 1054 01:02:38,189 --> 01:02:40,844 that he can feel your heart beating right there in your hand. 1055 01:02:40,887 --> 01:02:46,066 If a regular horse sees through a regular lens, 1056 01:02:46,110 --> 01:02:49,026 a mustang sees through a 20-X lens. 1057 01:02:49,069 --> 01:02:52,333 He sees everything so much more sharply 1058 01:02:52,377 --> 01:02:54,988 because that's their need to survive in the wild. 1059 01:02:55,032 --> 01:02:58,035 But one of the things about mustangs is they can be quite nippy 1060 01:02:58,078 --> 01:02:59,993 'cause that's a natural thing for them. 1061 01:03:00,037 --> 01:03:02,822 I'm grooming her and she's gonna want to try to groom me, 1062 01:03:02,866 --> 01:03:05,477 and, really, you just stay out of their way. 1063 01:03:05,520 --> 01:03:08,349 We don't do anything you know, to punish them 1064 01:03:08,393 --> 01:03:10,308 for a natural behavior that they have. 1065 01:03:10,351 --> 01:03:11,918 We just stay out of their way. 1066 01:03:11,962 --> 01:03:15,356 And if one happens to catch us, then of course, 1067 01:03:15,400 --> 01:03:17,576 we all tease each other about it. 1068 01:03:17,619 --> 01:03:22,146 [LAUGHS] Don't bite my butt! You goofball. 1069 01:03:24,539 --> 01:03:26,106 I like this mustang right here. 1070 01:03:26,150 --> 01:03:28,282 He's got a lot of character to him. 1071 01:03:28,326 --> 01:03:30,458 He's not real easy. 1072 01:03:30,502 --> 01:03:32,417 I'd like to love him, but I also like, 1073 01:03:32,460 --> 01:03:34,375 "Okay, gotta set some boundaries." 1074 01:03:34,419 --> 01:03:37,509 And that sometimes is hard for me. [LAUGHS] 1075 01:03:37,552 --> 01:03:40,338 AUCTIONEER: Let's hear a big round of applause for Ryan Ohrmundt. 1076 01:03:40,381 --> 01:03:42,340 OHRMUNDT: It's okay. Come on. [CLICKS TONGUE] 1077 01:03:42,383 --> 01:03:45,038 No, no, no, this way. Come on, dude. Atta boy! 1078 01:03:45,082 --> 01:03:48,868 Every horse, it has its own agenda, its own schedule. 1079 01:03:48,912 --> 01:03:53,873 Some, you can do in a day and some, you know, we still haven't ridden yet. 1080 01:03:53,917 --> 01:03:56,963 And we try to work peacefully within that. 1081 01:03:57,007 --> 01:04:00,401 Whatever's comfortable for the horse is what we're looking for. 1082 01:04:00,445 --> 01:04:02,664 I mean, it makes you feel so good that this horse 1083 01:04:02,708 --> 01:04:04,623 that lived out on the range wild, 1084 01:04:04,666 --> 01:04:07,408 that was completely skeptical of people not long ago, 1085 01:04:07,452 --> 01:04:10,150 is trusting you enough to follow you. 1086 01:04:10,194 --> 01:04:14,241 In other words, putting his life in your hands. 1087 01:04:14,285 --> 01:04:15,895 And they put all their trust in us 1088 01:04:15,939 --> 01:04:18,071 to hook on and follow us willingly 1089 01:04:18,115 --> 01:04:21,553 without us asking or manipulating 1090 01:04:21,596 --> 01:04:23,424 or bribing them to do it. 1091 01:04:23,468 --> 01:04:25,383 You feel it in the moment when you do it. 1092 01:04:25,426 --> 01:04:28,429 When you make the connection and they start, it's pretty empowering. 1093 01:04:28,473 --> 01:04:31,389 They're prey animals, and yet, they allow us to ride them. 1094 01:04:31,432 --> 01:04:33,478 They allow us to connect with them. 1095 01:04:33,521 --> 01:04:38,048 And they have a deep desire for connection, and they have a deep curiosity. 1096 01:04:38,091 --> 01:04:43,923 And I think if you set up the right environment and you build that relationship, 1097 01:04:43,967 --> 01:04:45,751 we are social mammals, 1098 01:04:45,794 --> 01:04:48,014 they're social mammals, and it can work. 1099 01:04:48,058 --> 01:04:50,538 MERCURIO: The idea that they're massive animals, 1100 01:04:50,582 --> 01:04:52,105 they're big animals, you know? 1101 01:04:52,149 --> 01:04:53,802 And when you see 'em from a distance, 1102 01:04:53,846 --> 01:04:57,197 you don't realize how much of an animal, you know, is there. 1103 01:04:57,241 --> 01:04:59,721 But when you realize how gentle they are, 1104 01:04:59,765 --> 01:05:01,680 right, because they'll come to you 1105 01:05:01,723 --> 01:05:04,944 and they'll attach themselves to you 1106 01:05:04,988 --> 01:05:08,861 without any real expectation in return, you know? 1107 01:05:08,905 --> 01:05:12,212 It's just, "You want to ride me? Fine." 1108 01:05:12,256 --> 01:05:15,563 "If you want to ride me well, that's a different story." 1109 01:05:15,607 --> 01:05:17,696 [CHUCKLES] You know? You gotta do a little work. 1110 01:05:19,306 --> 01:05:21,178 You about done, buddy? 1111 01:05:21,221 --> 01:05:27,010 I honestly would prefer a wild mustang over a domestic horse any day. 1112 01:05:27,053 --> 01:05:29,621 That bond is unbreakable, 1113 01:05:29,664 --> 01:05:32,363 and it's like they want to have a home, 1114 01:05:32,406 --> 01:05:34,191 and they want to have a purpose, 1115 01:05:34,234 --> 01:05:36,323 where more domestic horses, 1116 01:05:36,367 --> 01:05:40,153 they're already domesticated. They really could care less. 1117 01:05:46,681 --> 01:05:50,598 WOLFE: Mustangs are...[SIGHS] are a spirit. 1118 01:05:50,642 --> 01:05:51,991 They are the spirit. 1119 01:05:52,035 --> 01:05:56,300 When you have to walk 30 miles a day to eat 1120 01:05:56,343 --> 01:06:00,217 and then walk 30 miles back to get something to drink, 1121 01:06:00,260 --> 01:06:02,132 and you do it day in and day out 1122 01:06:02,175 --> 01:06:04,656 and you have to survive and you have to be on watch, 1123 01:06:04,699 --> 01:06:07,964 and you have to be part of a herd, 1124 01:06:08,007 --> 01:06:11,924 and communicating and relating to one another. 1125 01:06:11,968 --> 01:06:14,535 It's the spiritual thing about that horse. 1126 01:06:16,755 --> 01:06:22,108 The older ones we're finding are just phenomenal teachers. 1127 01:06:22,152 --> 01:06:24,154 HARDY: This is Booyah. 1128 01:06:24,197 --> 01:06:30,899 Um, he became the oldest known by BLM, documented, to be adopted and ridden. 1129 01:06:30,943 --> 01:06:33,598 And, uh, he was a 20-year-old stallion when they caught him. 1130 01:06:33,641 --> 01:06:36,340 HILL-McQUEENY: That horse, when we went in the office and said 1131 01:06:36,383 --> 01:06:39,256 how old is he and so forth and we selected and they said, 1132 01:06:39,299 --> 01:06:41,693 "You don't want him. Everybody's been asking about him 1133 01:06:41,736 --> 01:06:44,565 "'cause he was beautiful, but he's 20, 1134 01:06:44,609 --> 01:06:46,089 "and there's, like, 4,000 others. 1135 01:06:46,132 --> 01:06:47,786 "So, go pick another one." 1136 01:06:47,829 --> 01:06:49,396 at that moment we were kind of like, 1137 01:06:49,440 --> 01:06:51,616 "Well, we gotta have him. That's the one we want." 1138 01:06:51,659 --> 01:06:53,531 RENO: He's got markings all over him, 1139 01:06:53,574 --> 01:06:56,055 and a lot of people are like, "Oh, he's got beautiful markings," 1140 01:06:56,099 --> 01:06:58,971 and then you go, "Those are all scars." 1141 01:06:59,015 --> 01:07:00,929 Hundreds of scars 1142 01:07:00,973 --> 01:07:04,107 from fighting other stallions to keep them away from their mares 1143 01:07:04,150 --> 01:07:06,848 and stuff like that, and to predators. 1144 01:07:06,892 --> 01:07:09,764 But I know, without a doubt, 1145 01:07:09,808 --> 01:07:14,378 in a second, that mustang can do serious harm to me, 1146 01:07:14,421 --> 01:07:18,164 and he doesn't want to hurt you, but you know that he can. 1147 01:07:18,208 --> 01:07:20,427 McKEVITT: A horse that lived 20 years on the range, 1148 01:07:20,471 --> 01:07:22,342 fought off lots of other stallions, 1149 01:07:22,386 --> 01:07:25,215 is all of a sudden making the decision 1150 01:07:25,258 --> 01:07:28,435 that it might be a good deal to be with a human. 1151 01:07:28,479 --> 01:07:32,439 RALSTON: He's out of his comfort zone, and he's adapting. 1152 01:07:32,483 --> 01:07:33,832 He's still adapting. 1153 01:07:33,875 --> 01:07:37,096 And he's learning something new, 1154 01:07:37,140 --> 01:07:40,534 something so foreign to him at an age where, 1155 01:07:40,578 --> 01:07:43,407 you know, his mind should be shut down and concrete. 1156 01:07:43,450 --> 01:07:47,628 I think the same goes to say with a lot of the individuals that are here 1157 01:07:47,672 --> 01:07:48,977 would be the people that 1158 01:07:49,021 --> 01:07:51,937 maybe their surroundings have given up on, 1159 01:07:51,980 --> 01:07:55,984 and, uh, those are the people that we want to try to help out here. 1160 01:07:56,028 --> 01:07:58,291 Those are the connections we want to make between 1161 01:07:58,335 --> 01:08:00,076 the wild horses and the veterans are, 1162 01:08:00,119 --> 01:08:02,382 you know, really getting to the un-reachables. 1163 01:08:02,426 --> 01:08:04,384 Everybody tried to talk 'em out of it. 1164 01:08:04,428 --> 01:08:06,995 Said, "Don't bring this one home. It will never be gentle. 1165 01:08:07,039 --> 01:08:08,388 "It'll never be ridden." 1166 01:08:08,432 --> 01:08:10,651 And, uh, the last summer, we proved them all wrong. 1167 01:08:31,019 --> 01:08:32,238 OHRMUNDT: Good boy, Booyah. 1168 01:08:32,282 --> 01:08:34,284 Cool. 1169 01:08:34,327 --> 01:08:36,068 I think that's pretty good on this guy. 1170 01:08:36,112 --> 01:08:38,070 HILL-McQUEENY: Somebody told me one time, 1171 01:08:38,114 --> 01:08:40,333 they said, "Wild horses don't make it to 20," 1172 01:08:40,377 --> 01:08:42,074 and I said, "Well, obviously they do, 1173 01:08:42,118 --> 01:08:43,858 "'cause there's one standing right here." 1174 01:08:46,600 --> 01:08:50,909 NARRATOR: Booyah has a 20-year history grazing America's grasslands 1175 01:08:50,952 --> 01:08:53,651 and roaming freely on the range. 1176 01:08:53,694 --> 01:08:57,611 But after capture, his very essence lights the way for veterans 1177 01:08:57,655 --> 01:09:00,919 to discover the key to mental health and positive growth. 1178 01:09:00,962 --> 01:09:05,184 CRUMRINE: When you are too concerned with what's happened in the past, 1179 01:09:05,228 --> 01:09:09,362 that tends to pull you back, backwards into depression. 1180 01:09:09,406 --> 01:09:12,104 When you're too concerned with what might happen. 1181 01:09:12,148 --> 01:09:15,499 "What if," "This meant," blah-blah-blah, that leads to anxiety. 1182 01:09:16,804 --> 01:09:20,112 When you can be just here and now 1183 01:09:20,156 --> 01:09:22,854 it cuts off some depression, it cuts off some anxiety, 1184 01:09:22,897 --> 01:09:26,684 and it introduces you to what's going on right now. 1185 01:09:30,035 --> 01:09:32,168 A horse doesn't care about yesterday. 1186 01:09:32,211 --> 01:09:33,995 A horse doesn't care about tomorrow. 1187 01:09:34,039 --> 01:09:36,563 The horse is right now in this moment. 1188 01:09:36,607 --> 01:09:38,826 And if there's one thing that I'm learning, 1189 01:09:38,870 --> 01:09:41,220 it's about living in the moment. Just today. 1190 01:09:41,264 --> 01:09:45,050 Being present with the horse makes you present with yourself and the present moment. 1191 01:09:45,093 --> 01:09:46,617 WOMAN: You're fine. Go, go! 1192 01:09:46,660 --> 01:09:49,359 McDONALD: I thought I was going. [LAUGHING] 1193 01:09:49,402 --> 01:09:50,490 Whoo! 1194 01:09:51,796 --> 01:09:53,406 [McDONALD LAUGHS] 1195 01:09:53,450 --> 01:09:55,147 Well, that was something. 1196 01:09:56,409 --> 01:09:58,629 [BREATHING HEAVILY] 1197 01:09:58,672 --> 01:10:00,805 That's just you frisky, huh? 1198 01:10:01,675 --> 01:10:03,155 That's what that is? 1199 01:10:03,199 --> 01:10:05,418 A lot of times they really like their face brushed. 1200 01:10:05,462 --> 01:10:07,028 It's like kind of a relaxing thing, 1201 01:10:07,072 --> 01:10:08,682 like you can see her eyes closing, 1202 01:10:10,293 --> 01:10:12,033 and she lowers her head. 1203 01:10:12,599 --> 01:10:13,600 They love it. 1204 01:10:13,644 --> 01:10:16,037 CRUMRINE: Part of being present 1205 01:10:16,081 --> 01:10:19,476 is even if it's not a pleasant place, just be there. 1206 01:10:19,519 --> 01:10:21,913 I think that's the power of being present, 1207 01:10:21,956 --> 01:10:24,916 because you can increase your moments in the present. 1208 01:10:24,959 --> 01:10:27,745 It doesn't mean you never think about the future or the past, 1209 01:10:27,788 --> 01:10:31,227 but it doesn't dominate not only your thoughts, 1210 01:10:31,270 --> 01:10:34,055 but then where you are emotionally and physically. 1211 01:10:34,099 --> 01:10:37,798 HEDLUND: It's the only time when I don't think of the past, 1212 01:10:37,842 --> 01:10:42,020 when I don't think of the hurt, I don't think of the future, 1213 01:10:42,063 --> 01:10:45,502 all the stuff I have to do tomorrow 1214 01:10:45,545 --> 01:10:49,114 or any anxiety attacks or PTSD attacks. I don't get any of that. 1215 01:10:49,157 --> 01:10:53,597 The greatest pleasure is finally being free from that and being in the moment. 1216 01:10:56,339 --> 01:10:59,646 NARRATOR: Equine therapy and non-pharmaceutical treatments 1217 01:10:59,690 --> 01:11:02,519 are increasingly seen as valuable 1218 01:11:02,562 --> 01:11:05,304 in promoting a veteran's overall well-being. 1219 01:11:07,001 --> 01:11:10,570 Integrative medicine affects how the rest of medicine works. 1220 01:11:10,614 --> 01:11:11,702 They work together. 1221 01:11:11,745 --> 01:11:13,573 We're always educating people 1222 01:11:13,617 --> 01:11:17,708 because there's still a sort of traditional medical model. 1223 01:11:17,751 --> 01:11:19,623 Yes, we've got to have medical treatment. 1224 01:11:19,666 --> 01:11:23,714 The medications, the X-rays, the physical therapy, the OT... 1225 01:11:24,715 --> 01:11:26,586 But that's only part. 1226 01:11:26,630 --> 01:11:31,330 You know, veterans who are involved in psychotherapy by itself, 1227 01:11:31,374 --> 01:11:36,640 compared to veterans who are involved in psychotherapy and equine therapy, 1228 01:11:36,683 --> 01:11:38,381 there's a notable difference. 1229 01:11:38,424 --> 01:11:41,122 And I know there's some research being devoted to that. 1230 01:11:41,166 --> 01:11:44,125 I mean, we experienced the same thing with, you know, 1231 01:11:44,169 --> 01:11:46,650 our Shakespeare and veteran program. 1232 01:11:46,693 --> 01:11:48,739 Some people get involved with Shakespeare, 1233 01:11:48,782 --> 01:11:50,610 and through the character of Shakespeare, 1234 01:11:50,654 --> 01:11:53,657 find that they're able to begin to feel things 1235 01:11:53,700 --> 01:11:55,659 and express things in character 1236 01:11:55,702 --> 01:11:58,357 that also matches what they are in real life. 1237 01:11:58,401 --> 01:12:01,882 You know, Shakespeare wrote about war and relationships. 1238 01:12:01,926 --> 01:12:04,450 [CHUCKLES] So, it's perfect 400 years later. 1239 01:12:04,494 --> 01:12:06,887 Do not presume too much upon my love 1240 01:12:06,931 --> 01:12:08,715 I may do that I shall be sorry for. 1241 01:12:08,759 --> 01:12:12,066 You have done that you should be sorry for. 1242 01:12:12,110 --> 01:12:13,372 Begone! 1243 01:12:13,416 --> 01:12:17,245 Run to your houses, fall upon your knees! 1244 01:12:17,289 --> 01:12:21,075 Pray to the gods to intermit the plague. 1245 01:12:21,119 --> 01:12:25,253 Theater came out of the warrior culture of Rome 1246 01:12:25,297 --> 01:12:29,736 because the returning warriors told their story through play, 1247 01:12:29,780 --> 01:12:32,609 and that was how they were able to reconnect, 1248 01:12:32,652 --> 01:12:35,742 and it was the society's job, 1249 01:12:35,786 --> 01:12:41,444 it was just natural for them to take care of their warriors and their veterans. 1250 01:12:41,487 --> 01:12:43,707 America has never been that way. 1251 01:12:43,750 --> 01:12:48,015 You know, we send 'em off, we train 'em, they come back. 1252 01:12:48,059 --> 01:12:51,410 They get a day or two airplane ride and they're back. 1253 01:12:51,454 --> 01:12:55,327 At least World War II, they had the time on the ship to, you know, to come back. 1254 01:12:55,371 --> 01:12:57,285 Whatever. 1255 01:12:57,329 --> 01:13:00,419 NARRATOR: In light of the alarming number of veteran suicides, 1256 01:13:00,463 --> 01:13:04,728 the VA is broadening its quest for effective programs to help our soldiers. 1257 01:13:04,771 --> 01:13:07,078 MUSICIAN: One, two, one, two, three... 1258 01:13:07,121 --> 01:13:09,472 [MUSIC PLAYING] 1259 01:13:13,214 --> 01:13:16,087 Music therapy, recent research in music therapy 1260 01:13:16,130 --> 01:13:18,132 in the last, I'd say, 15 years now, 1261 01:13:18,176 --> 01:13:20,787 since we've been able to look at things in the brain, 1262 01:13:20,831 --> 01:13:25,052 you know, affects brain functioning in five significant ways. 1263 01:13:25,096 --> 01:13:28,621 I really think that some of these partnerships, 1264 01:13:28,665 --> 01:13:32,103 what we do in Creative Arts and Shakespeare with Veterans, 1265 01:13:32,146 --> 01:13:35,454 we have the advantage of seeing veterans get back into life. 1266 01:13:35,498 --> 01:13:39,153 And for those for whom it happens with horses, 1267 01:13:39,197 --> 01:13:41,895 it's profound, it's amazing. 1268 01:13:41,939 --> 01:13:46,422 And the biggest thing is getting veterans connected. 1269 01:13:46,465 --> 01:13:49,076 Once a veteran picks up the phone and makes a call, 1270 01:13:49,120 --> 01:13:50,513 an isolated veteran, 1271 01:13:50,556 --> 01:13:54,081 the risk of suicide goes down 30 percent. 1272 01:13:54,125 --> 01:13:57,781 So that's a huge part of what Recreation and Creative Arts therapists do. 1273 01:13:57,824 --> 01:14:00,871 They build connections from treatment to the community, 1274 01:14:00,914 --> 01:14:04,048 and then, once you're in community, try to keep those going. 1275 01:14:04,091 --> 01:14:06,703 There's been really no opportunity 1276 01:14:06,746 --> 01:14:09,009 where the mustangs get to show their greatness 1277 01:14:09,053 --> 01:14:12,056 as much as, you know, saving a soldier's life. 1278 01:14:12,099 --> 01:14:14,928 Like if my mom hadn't flown out, I would've never come out here. 1279 01:14:14,972 --> 01:14:18,149 She literally forced me to get in the car and drove me out here. 1280 01:14:18,192 --> 01:14:21,282 You know, not everybody has that type of support. 1281 01:14:21,326 --> 01:14:23,981 So, um, I hope in the future 1282 01:14:24,024 --> 01:14:25,809 to reach out to some of those vets 1283 01:14:25,852 --> 01:14:27,637 that are sitting in their basement alone, 1284 01:14:27,680 --> 01:14:29,856 are sitting in their house alone, 1285 01:14:29,900 --> 01:14:32,468 um, not really having the motivation or drive, 1286 01:14:32,511 --> 01:14:36,384 or even will to want to go out and look for something like this. 1287 01:14:36,428 --> 01:14:39,213 My neighbor came to me the other day and she's like, 1288 01:14:39,257 --> 01:14:43,522 "This Navy vet's having PTSD issues, alcohol issues." 1289 01:14:43,566 --> 01:14:45,045 So what did I do? 1290 01:14:45,089 --> 01:14:46,438 I went over there. 1291 01:14:46,482 --> 01:14:48,266 He didn't know me. No one knew me. 1292 01:14:48,309 --> 01:14:51,138 I knocked on that door and I was like, "You're coming with me." 1293 01:14:51,182 --> 01:14:54,185 After talking to him for a few minutes, 1294 01:14:54,228 --> 01:14:56,840 I got him at the barn, and I was like, 1295 01:14:56,883 --> 01:15:01,235 "You know, you don't have to do drugs or alcohol to be happy here. 1296 01:15:01,279 --> 01:15:02,628 "You just have to be here." 1297 01:15:03,803 --> 01:15:05,718 And, uh, he's very excited. 1298 01:15:05,762 --> 01:15:09,330 He's gonna be coming up, he's gonna be filling out the paperwork 1299 01:15:09,374 --> 01:15:11,028 and he's gonna get going. 1300 01:15:11,071 --> 01:15:14,031 There's nothing like a veteran wanting to help another veteran 1301 01:15:14,074 --> 01:15:17,208 because that's part of what they never leave behind, 1302 01:15:17,251 --> 01:15:20,907 is that commitment to the group, the mission. 1303 01:15:20,951 --> 01:15:22,735 Commitment to the mission. 1304 01:15:22,779 --> 01:15:26,217 As long as they got a mission, they're happy. 1305 01:15:26,260 --> 01:15:28,219 But they got to have a mission. 1306 01:15:28,262 --> 01:15:30,526 RENO: If you're a good battle buddy and a good fellow soldier, 1307 01:15:30,569 --> 01:15:32,266 you're helping your other soldiers out. 1308 01:15:32,310 --> 01:15:34,878 We know how to watch each other's back 1309 01:15:34,921 --> 01:15:36,793 and help them work on being better. 1310 01:15:36,836 --> 01:15:40,318 And there's somebody behind me going, 1311 01:15:40,361 --> 01:15:42,102 "Hey, I'm gonna help you perform better. 1312 01:15:42,146 --> 01:15:45,105 "I'm gonna help you be able to work this out." You know? 1313 01:15:45,149 --> 01:15:48,587 McKEVITT: So you got to find somewhere to be a little more consistent than that 1314 01:15:48,631 --> 01:15:49,806 up, down, up, down. 1315 01:15:49,849 --> 01:15:51,459 You know what I'm saying, with the horse? 1316 01:15:56,203 --> 01:15:59,511 NARRATOR: In spite of all the trauma the mustangs have endured, 1317 01:15:59,555 --> 01:16:02,906 the veterans are their saviors. 1318 01:16:02,949 --> 01:16:06,997 And now, the world is taking notice. 1319 01:16:07,040 --> 01:16:10,174 The group heads out to the biggest rodeo in the world. 1320 01:16:16,876 --> 01:16:18,878 [COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING] 1321 01:16:40,421 --> 01:16:43,860 Cheyenne Frontier Days is a platform 1322 01:16:43,903 --> 01:16:47,907 for us to demonstrate veterans that are not professional horseman 1323 01:16:47,951 --> 01:16:53,043 can successfully make a connection with these wild horses. 1324 01:16:53,086 --> 01:16:55,959 NARRATOR: The BLM delivered 18 mustangs 1325 01:16:56,002 --> 01:16:58,788 and four wild burros to the team of veterans 1326 01:16:58,831 --> 01:17:01,486 to gentle over the course of the rodeo, 1327 01:17:01,529 --> 01:17:05,229 performing demonstrations, and ultimately auctioning off 1328 01:17:05,272 --> 01:17:07,623 the newly trained animals to loving homes. 1329 01:17:09,233 --> 01:17:11,235 We're each gonna be working with two mustangs. 1330 01:17:11,278 --> 01:17:13,193 We get assigned two mustangs, 1331 01:17:13,237 --> 01:17:15,239 and just developing them 1332 01:17:15,282 --> 01:17:17,850 and see what I can do for 'em 1333 01:17:17,894 --> 01:17:21,027 and show people that they're really good horses. 1334 01:17:21,071 --> 01:17:23,551 Well, it's the biggest rodeo in the country, 1335 01:17:23,595 --> 01:17:28,687 and I get to work mustangs, and I'm all about that. 1336 01:17:28,731 --> 01:17:31,777 These mustangs, we're gonna work with them on the ground. 1337 01:17:31,821 --> 01:17:33,605 Then we're gonna finally get a saddle... 1338 01:17:33,649 --> 01:17:36,086 We'll wrap a rope, get him used to that, 1339 01:17:36,129 --> 01:17:38,262 and saddle and blanket. 1340 01:17:38,305 --> 01:17:40,917 And then, we're gonna get on 'em, and we're gonna ride 'em. 1341 01:17:42,092 --> 01:17:43,920 And that's the great part. 1342 01:17:43,963 --> 01:17:47,358 RODEO ANNOUNCER: Now we have a very special group right now 1343 01:17:47,401 --> 01:17:49,534 that is making their way down to Chute Five. 1344 01:17:49,577 --> 01:17:51,449 Now they're going to head into the arena. 1345 01:17:51,492 --> 01:17:53,799 They are a group called the BraveHearts. 1346 01:17:53,843 --> 01:17:58,848 Now, they are the largest horse program in the country serving military veterans. 1347 01:17:58,891 --> 01:18:02,416 Last year, over 545 veterans 1348 01:18:02,460 --> 01:18:05,768 received nearly 11,000 rides at no cost to them. 1349 01:18:05,811 --> 01:18:09,249 The more people that are aware that they're useful, good horses, 1350 01:18:09,293 --> 01:18:11,469 that you can train 'em, you can trust 'em, 1351 01:18:11,512 --> 01:18:13,732 the more maybe people will stop breeding 1352 01:18:13,776 --> 01:18:16,300 other horses for pleasure and for ranch work, 1353 01:18:16,343 --> 01:18:19,085 and use some of these great resources that we have. 1354 01:18:19,129 --> 01:18:21,044 There are quite a few challenging moments 1355 01:18:21,087 --> 01:18:23,133 at Frontier Days for me personally. 1356 01:18:25,178 --> 01:18:28,442 There were thousands and thousands of people watching. 1357 01:18:28,486 --> 01:18:34,884 I had been riding for less than a year, and I was kind of petrified. 1358 01:18:34,927 --> 01:18:37,843 AUCTIONEER: $200. $250. $250. 1359 01:18:37,887 --> 01:18:39,410 $200, I have... 1360 01:18:39,453 --> 01:18:43,153 [AUCTIONEER CALLING BIDS] 1361 01:18:46,591 --> 01:18:48,941 Two grand where? $2,000. 1362 01:18:48,985 --> 01:18:51,901 This had to be a uncomfortable situation 1363 01:18:51,944 --> 01:18:53,424 for both the horses and the vets, 1364 01:18:53,467 --> 01:18:55,687 because these horses haven't been to town either. 1365 01:18:55,731 --> 01:18:58,472 AUCTIONEER: $800, where? I have it... 1366 01:18:58,516 --> 01:19:00,039 Then all of a sudden, they're here. 1367 01:19:00,083 --> 01:19:02,041 They've got tarps, planes, helicopters, 1368 01:19:02,085 --> 01:19:05,218 they got cars. Jeez, it's like sensory overload. 1369 01:19:05,262 --> 01:19:08,613 I'd never been at a big rodeo like that before. 1370 01:19:08,656 --> 01:19:12,269 It was an experience and it's spiritual. 1371 01:19:12,312 --> 01:19:15,359 And you're not used to all that culture shock. 1372 01:19:15,402 --> 01:19:18,362 And you're on a horse and you're with these mustangs 1373 01:19:18,405 --> 01:19:21,495 and we all got mustangs and we had the wild burros 1374 01:19:21,539 --> 01:19:24,629 and we got to work with them for ten days while we were out there. 1375 01:19:24,672 --> 01:19:27,110 And it was a bonding, you know? 1376 01:19:27,153 --> 01:19:29,416 So, all day, we're working with these horses, 1377 01:19:29,460 --> 01:19:33,246 and getting them ready because they had an auction at the end of the ten days, 1378 01:19:33,290 --> 01:19:35,205 and they got adopted. 1379 01:19:38,208 --> 01:19:39,818 She's gonna have the best life. 1380 01:19:39,862 --> 01:19:41,515 I mean, it's just like having a puppy 1381 01:19:41,559 --> 01:19:43,300 and having a child. 1382 01:19:43,343 --> 01:19:45,606 She's gonna be... I think her and I are gonna be awesome together. 1383 01:19:45,650 --> 01:19:48,000 These animals are a good source, 1384 01:19:48,044 --> 01:19:52,657 both for mental use, for work use, show horses. 1385 01:19:52,700 --> 01:19:54,354 We now see horses, 1386 01:19:54,398 --> 01:19:59,490 the endurance is a big, big, fun group of people that do it. 1387 01:19:59,533 --> 01:20:02,188 Here in Nevada, we've got a prison program. 1388 01:20:02,232 --> 01:20:04,147 It's a win-win. 1389 01:20:04,190 --> 01:20:08,107 Um, they're rehabilitating and teaching these inmates a new trade. 1390 01:20:08,151 --> 01:20:12,372 And then, we supply the Border Patrol in San Diego 1391 01:20:12,416 --> 01:20:15,288 with gentled horses that have been saddle-started. 1392 01:20:15,332 --> 01:20:17,943 They tend to last a lot longer. 1393 01:20:17,987 --> 01:20:20,250 They grew up in this terrain. 1394 01:20:20,293 --> 01:20:22,513 They can go on, they're hardy. 1395 01:20:22,556 --> 01:20:25,908 The public will have an opportunity to buy a wild horse 1396 01:20:25,951 --> 01:20:28,824 that a veteran on the front end has started the process, 1397 01:20:28,867 --> 01:20:30,826 started to lay the groundwork for. 1398 01:20:30,869 --> 01:20:33,916 AUCTIONEER: $300? I have... two... three. 1399 01:20:33,959 --> 01:20:37,441 $200. Now $500. $750. 1400 01:20:37,484 --> 01:20:40,183 I have... $800 where? $750... 1401 01:20:40,226 --> 01:20:43,795 [AUCTIONEER CALLING BIDS] 1402 01:20:43,839 --> 01:20:46,232 I have $1,250. Sold at $1,200 right down here in front. 1403 01:20:46,276 --> 01:20:48,539 Twenty-five. Gentlemen, $2,600. 1404 01:20:48,582 --> 01:20:51,542 $3,200 I have... 1405 01:20:51,585 --> 01:20:52,848 SPECTATOR: Thirty-five! 1406 01:20:52,891 --> 01:20:54,414 AUCTIONEER: Sold, $3,600, right here. 1407 01:20:54,458 --> 01:20:55,589 [CROWD CHEERING] 1408 01:20:55,633 --> 01:20:58,636 Then to $250. I have $200. Now half. 1409 01:20:58,679 --> 01:21:00,638 [AUCTIONEER CONTINUES BID CALLING] 1410 01:21:03,902 --> 01:21:05,730 Hi, baby. 1411 01:21:05,773 --> 01:21:09,908 I went to Cheyenne Frontier Days for a family vacation 1412 01:21:09,952 --> 01:21:14,565 and, uh, realized that the BLM was there with wild horses, 1413 01:21:14,608 --> 01:21:19,439 and I decided then, possibly, to try and adopt, 1414 01:21:19,483 --> 01:21:24,183 and I had no idea I was going to come home with a horse. 1415 01:21:24,227 --> 01:21:26,446 She's a three-year-old mustang. 1416 01:21:26,490 --> 01:21:28,622 Lima Zulu. Sweet as can be. 1417 01:21:28,666 --> 01:21:30,668 I adopted her through the BLM. 1418 01:21:30,711 --> 01:21:32,017 I love this horse. 1419 01:21:32,061 --> 01:21:34,106 Grandkids came over. 1420 01:21:34,150 --> 01:21:37,675 My granddaughter Layla rode her, and my grandson Liam. 1421 01:21:37,718 --> 01:21:40,417 Um, my son had no problem with her, 1422 01:21:40,460 --> 01:21:42,593 didn't realize she was a wild mustang 1423 01:21:42,636 --> 01:21:45,117 until, you know, they were already up on her. 1424 01:21:45,161 --> 01:21:48,251 But she's been really a great horse. 1425 01:21:48,294 --> 01:21:51,297 Seem like all the kids that are here always want to ride the mustang. 1426 01:21:51,341 --> 01:21:54,822 I don't know if it's the heritage thing or just the personality, 1427 01:21:54,866 --> 01:21:57,913 the, uh, the spunk that this... 1428 01:21:57,956 --> 01:22:01,438 There's just a lot of personality with it, so everybody likes this horse, 1429 01:22:01,481 --> 01:22:05,398 and she's been really good for a lot of other kids. 1430 01:22:05,442 --> 01:22:06,922 [SNORTS] 1431 01:22:08,532 --> 01:22:10,273 BARHORST: They're part of our history. 1432 01:22:10,316 --> 01:22:12,275 They've been around for hundreds of years, 1433 01:22:12,318 --> 01:22:15,669 and they're part of, you know, our lands, 1434 01:22:15,713 --> 01:22:19,108 and you get to have a piece of that and save a piece of that, 1435 01:22:19,151 --> 01:22:20,979 and it's just overwhelming. 1436 01:22:21,023 --> 01:22:23,982 You know, not only that, you get to save an animal 1437 01:22:24,026 --> 01:22:26,637 and give it a good home and a life and a purpose. 1438 01:22:28,204 --> 01:22:29,814 She's a blessing in my life. 1439 01:22:34,819 --> 01:22:36,908 NARRATOR: But what about people who don't ride 1440 01:22:36,952 --> 01:22:39,171 or aren't able to be around horses? 1441 01:22:48,267 --> 01:22:52,054 To emphasize that every veteran's life is valuable, 1442 01:22:52,097 --> 01:22:55,013 BraveHearts is taking to the streets. 1443 01:22:55,057 --> 01:22:58,016 Good morning from New York. Welcome to the Trail to Zero. 1444 01:22:58,060 --> 01:23:01,541 We're gonna be riding horses 20 miles through Washington DC. 1445 01:23:01,585 --> 01:23:03,413 Trail to Zero. 1446 01:23:03,456 --> 01:23:06,807 NARRATOR: Trail to Zero is BraveHearts' awareness effort. 1447 01:23:06,851 --> 01:23:12,335 Riding in large cities to help reduce veteran suicide to zero. 1448 01:23:12,378 --> 01:23:15,164 WOMAN: We're gonna hit the start sign. Everyone ready? 1449 01:23:15,207 --> 01:23:16,252 Let's go. 1450 01:23:30,875 --> 01:23:32,877 NARRATOR: The veterans ride downtown 1451 01:23:32,920 --> 01:23:34,966 in some of America's largest cities 1452 01:23:35,010 --> 01:23:39,057 to bring awareness to the problem of veteran suicide. 1453 01:23:39,101 --> 01:23:42,060 Some even mounted on the wild mustangs 1454 01:23:42,104 --> 01:23:44,106 gentled by the veterans themselves. 1455 01:23:45,455 --> 01:23:47,674 My father was a veteran. He committed suicide, 1456 01:23:47,718 --> 01:23:49,807 and many of my friends have committed suicide. 1457 01:23:49,850 --> 01:23:53,071 And so, um, that's why I have really mixed feelings today. 1458 01:23:53,115 --> 01:23:55,943 But being here in Washington, DC, where... 1459 01:23:55,987 --> 01:23:58,511 You know, this represents our country. 1460 01:23:58,555 --> 01:24:00,252 Veterans are very patriotic. 1461 01:24:00,296 --> 01:24:02,037 This horse is very patriotic. 1462 01:24:04,082 --> 01:24:05,953 It's just awareness. 1463 01:24:05,997 --> 01:24:08,739 Awareness, to me, is educating people. 1464 01:24:08,782 --> 01:24:11,176 WOLFE: We're here to ride with BraveHearts 1465 01:24:11,220 --> 01:24:12,960 and the New York City Police Department 1466 01:24:13,004 --> 01:24:16,094 and we're here for the suicide awareness prevention. 1467 01:24:16,138 --> 01:24:18,488 Every day there's over 20 suicides 1468 01:24:18,531 --> 01:24:20,751 with military veterans in the United States. 1469 01:24:20,794 --> 01:24:22,753 We're going 20 miles, 1470 01:24:22,796 --> 01:24:26,844 because it's a mile for every veteran which commits suicide every day. 1471 01:24:26,887 --> 01:24:30,717 We want to draw attention to the fact that there's a place to go to get help. 1472 01:24:30,761 --> 01:24:34,243 And one of the ways that they can get help is with horse equine therapy. 1473 01:24:34,286 --> 01:24:36,897 That's what we do out there in Illinois with these horses. 1474 01:24:36,941 --> 01:24:40,162 It's, uh, kind of venturing out into the unknown. 1475 01:24:40,205 --> 01:24:42,686 For myself, I've never been to Washington, DC. 1476 01:24:42,729 --> 01:24:46,646 And to do it on a horse, which is my vehicle to experience life, 1477 01:24:46,690 --> 01:24:48,692 just about everything, 1478 01:24:48,735 --> 01:24:52,478 and with people who also see the world like I do, it is just amazing. 1479 01:25:02,880 --> 01:25:04,664 It's raining. 1480 01:25:04,708 --> 01:25:07,232 There's an expression, "If it ain't raining, we ain't training." 1481 01:25:07,276 --> 01:25:09,278 Well, we trained today. 1482 01:25:09,321 --> 01:25:12,107 The neat part was actually going through the heart of downtown Washington. 1483 01:25:13,020 --> 01:25:15,284 Everybody finished that started, 1484 01:25:15,327 --> 01:25:18,678 and it's something I'll remember forever. 1485 01:25:18,722 --> 01:25:21,681 A lot of people are curious, so they're gonna look it up, 1486 01:25:21,725 --> 01:25:24,728 an even if we reach one veteran 1487 01:25:24,771 --> 01:25:28,166 who wanted to kill himself or herself today, 1488 01:25:28,210 --> 01:25:30,299 saw this cause, 1489 01:25:30,342 --> 01:25:33,128 does not kill himself or herself, 1490 01:25:33,171 --> 01:25:35,173 it was worth it. 1491 01:25:35,217 --> 01:25:37,175 And it was worth riding the 20 miles. 1492 01:25:37,219 --> 01:25:40,613 And he's tired, but he says he's worth it, too. 1493 01:25:42,746 --> 01:25:45,183 [KISSES] I know. I know, I know. 1494 01:25:45,836 --> 01:25:46,924 I know, yeah. 1495 01:25:55,237 --> 01:25:57,282 Riding a horse in New York City. 1496 01:25:57,326 --> 01:26:02,766 Oh, my gosh, riding a horse through New York City was just amazing. 1497 01:26:02,809 --> 01:26:03,941 It was surreal. 1498 01:26:03,984 --> 01:26:05,551 It was surreal. 1499 01:26:05,595 --> 01:26:09,076 Just the street. The people are friendly. It's unbelievable. 1500 01:26:09,120 --> 01:26:12,732 All these horse-drawn carriages around south side of Central Park. 1501 01:26:12,776 --> 01:26:15,648 This is... This is unbelievable. It's surreal. 1502 01:26:15,692 --> 01:26:16,867 You wanna pet him? 1503 01:26:16,910 --> 01:26:19,261 New York is an intense city. 1504 01:26:23,787 --> 01:26:26,268 The ride itself was fascinating 1505 01:26:26,311 --> 01:26:30,097 because the horses were... they were rock stars. 1506 01:26:30,141 --> 01:26:32,143 I mean, they were rock solid. 1507 01:26:32,187 --> 01:26:36,756 You know, you would imagine that a horse coming from a beautiful barn out here 1508 01:26:36,800 --> 01:26:41,718 going into Central Park with massive structures and buildings 1509 01:26:41,761 --> 01:26:46,244 and cars and sounds, hansom cabs, 1510 01:26:46,288 --> 01:26:50,205 and people running by, and cutting you off 1511 01:26:50,248 --> 01:26:54,034 and other people waving, and cell phones everywhere, 1512 01:26:54,078 --> 01:26:57,386 and people saying, you know, "What are you about?" and so forth and so on. 1513 01:26:57,429 --> 01:26:59,518 The distractions were massive. 1514 01:26:59,562 --> 01:27:02,042 And the horses were just rock solid. 1515 01:27:02,086 --> 01:27:06,264 They kept right on going. There were no glitches. Beautiful. 1516 01:27:06,308 --> 01:27:09,136 HILL-McQUEENY: We talk about how horses can reduce anxiety, 1517 01:27:09,180 --> 01:27:13,358 like, of all places possibly, to be anxious, right? New York City. 1518 01:27:13,402 --> 01:27:15,273 -Nobody was anxious. -Right? 1519 01:27:15,317 --> 01:27:18,233 HILL-McQUEENY: Times Square, like, there's people everywhere. 1520 01:27:18,276 --> 01:27:22,759 Cars everywhere, buses, horns, noises, bikes, skateboards, everything. 1521 01:27:22,802 --> 01:27:24,891 And the horses took it all. 1522 01:27:24,935 --> 01:27:27,981 They just sucked it all up like big sponges. 1523 01:27:28,895 --> 01:27:30,593 [HORNS HONKING] 1524 01:27:30,636 --> 01:27:33,987 And the time we spent interacting and getting to know people. 1525 01:27:34,031 --> 01:27:37,164 Obviously, we weren't prepared for the amount of exposure 1526 01:27:37,208 --> 01:27:40,211 and the amount of, you know, contact with people. 1527 01:27:40,255 --> 01:27:42,431 We ran out of literature halfway through the ride. 1528 01:27:42,474 --> 01:27:45,260 HILL-McQUEENY: Between all the people taking pictures and movies 1529 01:27:45,303 --> 01:27:48,698 and asked us what we were doing and all the information that we're handing out, 1530 01:27:48,741 --> 01:27:51,483 and just seeing how many people have been e-mailing and texting 1531 01:27:51,527 --> 01:27:54,356 and Facebook-ing or whatever, like, "That's on my bucket list." 1532 01:27:54,399 --> 01:27:57,272 Like, "How do I get to do that? Like, that's so amazing." 1533 01:27:57,315 --> 01:28:01,188 You know, how we try to capture all of that enthusiasm 1534 01:28:01,232 --> 01:28:03,756 and then use it for the true good of the cause. 1535 01:28:09,371 --> 01:28:11,938 MERCURIO: We were actually fortunate enough 1536 01:28:11,982 --> 01:28:14,550 to stop at a couple of firehouses 1537 01:28:14,593 --> 01:28:17,292 who were kind enough to water our horses 1538 01:28:17,335 --> 01:28:22,906 and they were fire houses that participated on 9/11. 1539 01:28:26,475 --> 01:28:29,216 And we were accepted by the people that came around 1540 01:28:29,260 --> 01:28:32,437 when we were at those spots where we took pictures. 1541 01:28:32,481 --> 01:28:37,268 People came, you know, literally, in droves to ask us questions, 1542 01:28:37,312 --> 01:28:41,098 know what we were about, you know, to touch the horses. 1543 01:28:41,141 --> 01:28:43,274 And that was, I guess, kind of interesting, too, 1544 01:28:43,318 --> 01:28:44,754 is that when people were... 1545 01:28:44,797 --> 01:28:47,365 You know, some had never been near a horse. 1546 01:28:55,808 --> 01:28:57,462 [INAUDIBLE] 1547 01:29:16,263 --> 01:29:19,658 Columns of two, column right! Ho! 1548 01:29:19,702 --> 01:29:24,271 We also were fortunate enough to have six mounted policemen with us. 1549 01:29:25,447 --> 01:29:27,405 They led the charge. 1550 01:29:27,449 --> 01:29:30,843 So when there was any kind of an obstruction or whatever, 1551 01:29:30,887 --> 01:29:33,150 they were right there to help us avoid it. 1552 01:29:33,193 --> 01:29:36,022 The mounted police, a bunch of them were on their off day, 1553 01:29:36,066 --> 01:29:39,330 and they came in because they wanted to support the cause. 1554 01:29:39,374 --> 01:29:43,203 HILL-McQUEENY: They were just honored to even be invited to join us. 1555 01:29:43,247 --> 01:29:47,251 That was pretty humbling to hear, like, "Wow." 1556 01:29:47,294 --> 01:29:51,777 You know, 'cause we feel like here that we're trying to fight for a cause so hard, 1557 01:29:51,821 --> 01:29:53,736 and then, here we go to New York City, 1558 01:29:53,779 --> 01:29:56,391 and have total strangers get behind what... 1559 01:29:56,434 --> 01:29:58,480 -What we're doing. -Mm-hmm. 1560 01:29:58,523 --> 01:30:00,917 And then when we went down to Ground Zero, 1561 01:30:00,960 --> 01:30:02,832 that was an awesome experience. 1562 01:30:02,875 --> 01:30:05,965 I mean, that was a heartfelt thing that we all participated in. 1563 01:30:06,009 --> 01:30:09,229 You could tell that it really had a meaning for all of us, you know? 1564 01:30:09,273 --> 01:30:11,362 Certainly for the New York policemen. 1565 01:30:12,624 --> 01:30:15,148 [BAND PLAYING "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER"] 1566 01:30:19,849 --> 01:30:22,417 ["THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER" CONTINUES] 1567 01:30:34,429 --> 01:30:38,258 [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] 1568 01:30:43,612 --> 01:30:44,917 MAN: Semper Fi. 1569 01:30:44,961 --> 01:30:46,615 -RIDER: You a marine, too? -Semper Fi. 1570 01:30:46,658 --> 01:30:48,660 -RIDER: Semper Fi, sir. -Semper Fi. 1571 01:31:00,542 --> 01:31:02,587 HILL-McQUEENY: I think it's somewhat sad 1572 01:31:02,631 --> 01:31:06,722 to think how many people really don't understand the epidemic that's going on, 1573 01:31:06,765 --> 01:31:10,508 don't understand whether the number is 20 or 22, whatever it is. 1574 01:31:10,552 --> 01:31:12,467 HEDLUND: So many people didn't know... 1575 01:31:12,510 --> 01:31:15,295 -Yeah. -...that that's how many were committing suicide every day. 1576 01:31:15,339 --> 01:31:17,689 You can't ignore that and think that that's acceptable 1577 01:31:17,733 --> 01:31:19,648 for the United States of America. 1578 01:31:19,691 --> 01:31:22,738 ["THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER" CONTINUES] 1579 01:31:33,575 --> 01:31:35,838 [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] 1580 01:31:35,881 --> 01:31:37,796 [HORNS HONKING] 1581 01:31:41,800 --> 01:31:43,846 PHOTOGRAPHER: One, two, three. 1582 01:31:43,889 --> 01:31:47,545 MERCURIO: I wish I would have started 50 years ago,[CHUCKLES] 1583 01:31:47,589 --> 01:31:49,808 but I'm here now and I'm gonna make the best of it. 1584 01:31:49,852 --> 01:31:52,594 RENO: It's so awesome, 'cause people are like, "What do you do?" 1585 01:31:52,637 --> 01:31:55,597 "I work with mustangs, man. You gotta come check it out." [CHUCKLING] 1586 01:31:55,640 --> 01:31:57,903 And they're like, "What do you mean, Mustang cars?" 1587 01:31:57,947 --> 01:32:00,079 "No, mustang horses. Wild horses." 1588 01:32:00,123 --> 01:32:01,820 "Wild horses?" "Yeah, wild horses, man. 1589 01:32:01,864 --> 01:32:04,257 "Come check it out. It's a pretty awesome experience." 1590 01:32:04,301 --> 01:32:05,998 I just had a veteran tell me yesterday, 1591 01:32:06,042 --> 01:32:09,393 like, "If I didn't have this place, where do I go? 1592 01:32:09,436 --> 01:32:13,049 "I don't want to go to the bars. I don't want to sit in the VAs. 1593 01:32:13,092 --> 01:32:14,964 "That's not where... 1594 01:32:15,007 --> 01:32:18,184 "I need to be encouraged. I need to be challenged. I want something to do." 1595 01:32:18,228 --> 01:32:20,796 HARDY: I think people need something that's measurable 1596 01:32:20,839 --> 01:32:24,451 where they can look back and see what they've accomplished. 1597 01:32:24,495 --> 01:32:27,542 Working with the mustangs, it gives me that sense of accomplishment. 1598 01:32:27,585 --> 01:32:29,718 So I came to a place where I realized, 1599 01:32:29,761 --> 01:32:33,373 "Hey, I'm getting better and life is looking up for me." 1600 01:32:33,417 --> 01:32:35,593 And I always wanted to be in a situation 1601 01:32:35,637 --> 01:32:37,900 where I could try to share that with other veterans. 1602 01:32:37,943 --> 01:32:39,205 It's like a family. 1603 01:32:39,249 --> 01:32:41,207 It's like an extension to the family. 1604 01:32:41,251 --> 01:32:42,295 We're both Mitchells. 1605 01:32:42,339 --> 01:32:43,862 -MAN: Are you really? -Yeah. 1606 01:32:43,906 --> 01:32:45,995 APPER: A lot of times, we say in the military, 1607 01:32:46,038 --> 01:32:48,084 you know, our units become our family. 1608 01:32:48,127 --> 01:32:50,652 Um, this is my civilian unit now. 1609 01:33:08,060 --> 01:33:10,628 NARRATOR: The mustangs and the veterans. 1610 01:33:12,630 --> 01:33:18,505 Together, they find a new way to live, a place to belong. 1611 01:33:18,549 --> 01:33:21,944 A feeling of safety, hope. 1612 01:33:23,685 --> 01:33:25,512 A bright new spirit. 1613 01:33:27,036 --> 01:33:30,561 Can you believe that? A horse named Marshall. 1614 01:33:30,605 --> 01:33:33,346 Now with the Creative Arts, equine therapy, 1615 01:33:33,390 --> 01:33:36,654 there is that spiritual healing that can happen. 1616 01:33:36,698 --> 01:33:40,789 HEDLUND: This program has motivated me from sitting in a wheelchair, 1617 01:33:40,832 --> 01:33:43,443 not even able to walk around, 1618 01:33:43,487 --> 01:33:45,445 to, all of a sudden, I'm running. 1619 01:33:45,489 --> 01:33:47,273 I'm able to run now. 1620 01:33:47,317 --> 01:33:50,581 There's a lot of other centers like BraveHearts that want wild horses. 1621 01:33:50,625 --> 01:33:52,235 They just don't know how to start it. 1622 01:33:52,278 --> 01:33:53,976 There's about 800 across the country. 1623 01:33:54,019 --> 01:33:56,761 So, you know, that's a lot of veterans 1624 01:33:56,805 --> 01:33:58,850 that could possibly be assisted, 1625 01:33:58,894 --> 01:34:00,460 as well as a lot of wild horses 1626 01:34:00,504 --> 01:34:02,767 that could actually have a new purpose in their life 1627 01:34:02,811 --> 01:34:04,595 other than standing in a holding pen. 1628 01:34:04,639 --> 01:34:08,338 And these horses, um, are the love that shines through. 1629 01:34:08,381 --> 01:34:12,690 Like they're the part of my heart that was there before deployments, 1630 01:34:12,734 --> 01:34:15,432 before the military, before everything else. 1631 01:34:15,475 --> 01:34:16,912 McKEVITT: What better match-up? 1632 01:34:16,955 --> 01:34:20,263 You know, the wild mustang and a warrior 1633 01:34:20,306 --> 01:34:23,832 that's gone overseas to protect everything that we all have? 1634 01:34:23,875 --> 01:34:25,790 It's magic. 1635 01:34:25,834 --> 01:34:28,663 So we're trying to get equine therapy to move to the top of the list, 1636 01:34:28,706 --> 01:34:31,883 or at least up the list instead of being the last resort for the VA. 1637 01:34:31,927 --> 01:34:35,713 Move it up and have it so it's a regular therapy 1638 01:34:35,757 --> 01:34:38,803 that veterans can get turned on to and they can get involved in. 1639 01:34:38,847 --> 01:34:40,718 Because if they get involved early on, 1640 01:34:40,762 --> 01:34:42,720 you could probably save a lot of guys' lives. 1641 01:34:42,764 --> 01:34:48,552 You know, we need lots of support, equipment-wise, logistics. 1642 01:34:48,595 --> 01:34:52,425 Um, I hope that people will step up to the plate and support that 1643 01:34:52,469 --> 01:34:55,428 so that we can continue to get more horses, 1644 01:34:55,472 --> 01:34:58,431 better equipment, serve more veterans. 1645 01:34:58,475 --> 01:35:02,348 You know, our veterans that are coming home and are in tough spots, 1646 01:35:02,392 --> 01:35:07,658 they deserve a whole lot more than, you know, what we're doing right now. 1647 01:35:07,702 --> 01:35:10,139 And so, getting these horses placed, 1648 01:35:10,182 --> 01:35:12,532 you know, getting these veterans 1649 01:35:12,576 --> 01:35:15,100 a purpose to leave their houses, 1650 01:35:15,144 --> 01:35:18,669 to start to integrate with fellow veterans, 1651 01:35:18,713 --> 01:35:20,453 to have a project, you know, 1652 01:35:20,497 --> 01:35:23,543 have something that, at the end of the day, they can be proud of 1653 01:35:23,587 --> 01:35:25,328 and think that "I left this round pen 1654 01:35:25,371 --> 01:35:28,418 "a whole lot better than it was when I walked in." 1655 01:35:28,461 --> 01:35:31,290 HARDY: For me, my goal in life now 1656 01:35:31,334 --> 01:35:35,033 is to always just try to spend my day doing something I enjoy. 1657 01:35:35,077 --> 01:35:37,819 And cherishing the moments in the time I have left 1658 01:35:37,862 --> 01:35:40,691 with the people, my family and friends I have. 1659 01:35:40,735 --> 01:35:42,693 What is a mustang? 1660 01:35:42,737 --> 01:35:45,783 People think it's a breed, and we like to say, 1661 01:35:45,827 --> 01:35:48,133 it's a lifestyle. [CHUCKLES] 1662 01:35:48,177 --> 01:35:50,483 I found sobriety in horsemanship. 1663 01:35:50,527 --> 01:35:52,964 I found faith in horsemanship. 1664 01:35:53,008 --> 01:35:55,924 And I'm a real live person. 1665 01:35:55,967 --> 01:35:58,535 Look at me, Mom! [LAUGHS] 1666 01:35:58,578 --> 01:36:05,585 I've changed as far as, um, not being drunk all the time, probably. 1667 01:36:05,629 --> 01:36:07,370 [LAUGHING] 1668 01:36:07,413 --> 01:36:11,287 I don't have that crutch that I got to fall back on. 1669 01:36:11,330 --> 01:36:14,072 I got something to do. I got something more meaningful 1670 01:36:14,116 --> 01:36:17,815 than to be sitting at the bar, 1671 01:36:17,859 --> 01:36:22,820 to be drinking alone, or, you know, or doing any of that stuff, 1672 01:36:22,864 --> 01:36:24,474 because every time I come out here, 1673 01:36:24,517 --> 01:36:27,912 whether I'm riding or instructing or feeding, 1674 01:36:27,956 --> 01:36:30,436 or helping fix fences, 1675 01:36:30,480 --> 01:36:33,004 or whatever we got to do out here, 1676 01:36:33,048 --> 01:36:35,398 everybody wears a lot of different hats, 1677 01:36:35,441 --> 01:36:41,273 and to to build and to have community and have friends 1678 01:36:41,317 --> 01:36:47,366 and to be able to share and experience what I am out here, you know, 1679 01:36:47,410 --> 01:36:52,328 and go to sleep thinking "I did a good job today," you know? 1680 01:37:00,118 --> 01:37:03,165 I'm a happy camper. I'm a happy camper. 1681 01:37:04,557 --> 01:37:06,733 [BIRDS CHIRPING] 1682 01:37:10,215 --> 01:37:12,739 [PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING] 1683 01:38:59,542 --> 01:39:03,546 [CHIEF PHILLIP WHITEMAN, JR SINGING "PRAYER SONG FOR WORLD PEACE"]