Al Armenta, his wife Anna, and Shannon Montoya couldn't be happier.
Their organization Hero Hearts EquiCenter Inc. is ready to offer a special service to help returning injured military personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan who have undergone amputation or suffer from blast concussions or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Armenta and Montoya joined forces a while back and began training horses to be used in special needs therapy sessions like those at CANTER.
When they heard about the Horses for Heroes, they quickly got involved and began dreaming of their own facility to take on the growing numbers of soldiers who need help upon returning to normal life.
With a nod of approval from the county planning and zoning commission for a special use permit to start operations on Hawthorn Lane in Hereford, Armenta has been building riding arenas and round pens with the help of many volunteers, including Home Depot staff who helped dig post holes and stretched fencing around the enclosures.
Mitch Shade, assistant manager of the Sierra Vista Home Depot, said Armenta had made an appeal to his employees and they decided to get behind the program.
The store not only provided some voluntary man and woman power, but also managed some discounts for supplies as well.
For years, children and adults with special needs have taken advantage of equine therapy with great results.
Now that therapy is being applied to soldiers returning from and through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association's Horses for Heroes Program.
Physically and mentally impaired warriors benefit from the program.
Since the program is run under the auspices of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, there is a requirement that some of the staff be certified through a training program.
Montoya has already received her certification and Armenta is scheduled to attend the training class.
What makes the therapy a challenge is to match the client with the horse.
A returning veteran may hold fears inside and those fears will show in the manner in which he or she approaches, handles or rides the horse.
While one may need a gentle horse; another may need one with a bit more spirit.
The horses have to be thoroughly trained as well for any situation that may arise, he said.
All the horses at the Hero Hearts facility have been as desensitized as is humanly possible so they won't spook at passing tumbleweed or a free-floating plastic bag, for instance.
If there's one thing Armenta knows, it's horses and horse training.
"I've been training horses since I was 8 years old. So, my job is what I've always done -- interpret the horse's reactions," Armenta said. "You can tell from the horse how the rider is doing. A horse will look back if there's a knee pressing in or a tight grip on the reins. We can help the therapist by letting her know what is happening out in the riding ring just by how the horse reacts."
In the riding arena, a ramp has been constructed for wheelchair access and a landing for those who can't stand so they can mount the horse with ease.
Armenta also wants to build a shade cover for the clients, too.
Right now they are waiting to receive 501(c)3, nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Though the military supports the program verbally, financial support is lacking. A 12-week semester for one patient of one session for one hour a week runs $1,500, Montoya said.
"We want to keep these costs down and through donations that is possible," he said. "It's the only way to help as many people as we can."
"Our goal is to relieve the soldier of the financial obligation. We want it to be as inexpensive as possible for them to participate," Armenta added.
There are grants that could help with therapy costs and the organization will be seeking them.
In the meantime, the group has to rely on the kindness of strangers.
To start, the center will sign up five clients who will be assessed by local psychologist Dr. Toni Leo, Armenta said.
She will determine if the client is able to start ground work with the horses and when they can move up to riding.
Armenta hopes military retirees and others will volunteer for the special duty, since each client needs two or three volunteers.
"In this war, people come home with big problems," Armenta said. "This has been a successful program all over the country, and I think we need it here locally."
