“You know, I was laughing, crying. And it just unloaded years of stuff off my chest,” he says.

Cortright then entered a round pen in the arena to meet up with his former motorcycle partner—and a horse.

“I remember this horse just running in circles around me,” he says. “I just fell in love with the place, and the horses, and just being out here.”

Since 2020, Cortright has held various roles within the organization, most recently serving as executive director.

Applicants who are current or former veterans or first responders are screened to make sure they’re the right fit for the facility. Once admitted to the five-day on-site program, activities range from horse-related chores, such as cleaning stalls and brushing horses, to communication sessions, journaling and on-site therapy. And, of course, horseback riding.

Cortright says most participants begin the program with little to no previous experience with horses.

“You’re going to start from nothing on day one,” he says, “and by the end of the week, we typically have people fully loping a horse and throwing ropes, like lassos, off horses.”

He adds, “So, it’s a very physically and mentally demanding program, but it rebuilds confidence and communication.”