Finding peace after serving their country can be a challenge for some veterans.
At Pal-O-Mine in Islandia, that healing can start with a horse.
The nonprofit uses equine-assisted therapy to help veterans work through anxiety, build confidence and navigate life after the military.
Jimmy McCune, of Smithtown, has been part of the program for the last few years. He says spending time with the horses gives him a chance to slow down and focus on something other than what's going on around him.
"Calms me down when I'm a nervous or anxious. He just takes my mind off general problems in the world,"McCune says.
He adds that the benefits extend beyond himself.
"There's a lot of guys struggling that come back from overseas and they are struggling. Horses seem to really take their minds of their problems," McCune says.
Over the last 10 years, horses at Pal-O-Mine, including Teddy, have helped more than 3,000 veterans.
Sunday's Vets Fest featured demonstrations of Pal-O-Mine's Roping for Service program. It gives veterans a chance to saddle up, learn a new skill and take on a challenge together.
"When they are together, there is a sense of safety and the horses feel that too. There is a shared goal. It's hard. Roping and riding together is hard. It's a challenge and most veterans like a challenge," said Elizabeth Hayes, an equine specialist at Pal-O-Mine.
That challenge can lead to something more: a bond built on trust, patience and learning to read one another, even without saying a word.
"Once you learn, they do mirror your emotions because maybe it's like 'I have to fix something with me.' Transitioning out of the military has its speed bumps along the way," said Tom Hayes, a veteran liaison at Pal-O-Mine.
The program continues to provide veterans with opportunities to connect, build confidence and find support through their relationships with the horses and each other.
