Many of these veterans returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and many others with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Riding and grooming horses was proving to have much healing value for these veterans. The clubs in District 6650 were approached about donating money towards a Rotary Foundation Global Grant to buy equipment to be installed at Solid Rock for both occupational and physical therapy to complement the existing equine therapy program. Some of the veterans are very young and need another occupation. Others have carried 100-150 lb. packs on their backs in combat, which has contributed to muscular/skeletal issues, or are dealing with muscle weakness due to TBI. Twenty-nine clubs pledged a total of $18K and our district pledged nearly $25K in District Designated Funds. Two districts in India, through the efforts of Past District Governor Meena Patel, contributed $13K and two clubs in those districts contributed $7K. The Rotary Foundation read our grant proposal and saw the value in the equine therapy for U.S. Military Veterans and their families. The Foundation was also very intrigued by the idea of Rotarians abroad contributing money to help a project in the U.S. Usually the money goes the opposite way, from the U.S. to Asia, Africa or elsewhere. The Foundation pledged more than $50K and the grant was approved for a total of nearly $113K. With the bulk of the money we purchased the equipment. The Foundation was planning to send a film crew and a journalist to the Grand Opening at Solid Rock in September 2015 with the idea of publishing an article in “Rotarian” magazine and creating a film about the equine therapy program for the veterans. Unfortunately, issues arose with the Lake Township Zoning Office as well as the Stark County Building Inspection Office, and it was obvious there would be a lengthy delay. After we gave Solid Rock a deadline for compliance so we could move forward and they were not able to meet the deadline, and after much soul-searching, our District Community Services Committee began seeking out other horse farms. We discovered Pegasus Farm near Hartville. Pegasus was founded in 1986 and has a sterling record in the region. They have several equine therapy programs already in place for children and adults, as well as a Veterans Program. In the Spring of 2016 the decision was made to switch our grant over to Pegasus Farm, and a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed by District 6650, Pegasus and The Rotary Foundation.
A few months ago, Walsh University in North Canton learned of our project and has signed on to work with us. Walsh has physical and occupational therapy programs and counseling programs which can provide a clinical element. This would assure sustainability as well as measurability, both of which are required by The Rotary Foundation. Pegasus Farm is willing to build a building on their farm to house our equipment. In the meantime, we have discovered a horse farm for sale northeast of Louisville which would make a perfect stand-alone Military Family Center, managed by Pegasus Farm. We are actively seeking donors to purchase the farm and hold it until Pegasus can raise the money to pay them back.
So, in spite of our setback with Solid Rock, we are on a better track now and we are moving forward to provide our military veterans and their families a place where they can ride and groom horses. Through the generosity of Plain Township Rotarian Mike Pierce, our equipment is stored safely in his warehouse until we can install it at Pegasus Farm or another nearby farm which would be managed by Pegasus. We will keep you posted.
If you would like more detailed information on the Veterans Equine Therapy program, please contact me at 330-465-8131 or If you know someone who would be sympathetic to this cause and who is in a position to purchase the farm near Louisville and hold it until Pegasus, District 6650 and Walsh University can raise the money to pay them back, please contact me. Thank you.
Phil Mariola, District Governor 2014-15