COLUMBUS, Ohio — LeAnne Hosmer once had a friend tell her she’s more confident on a horse than on her own two feet.
That line resonated with the Army veteran, who suffers from PTSD and gets anxious in front of large crowds.
But it hasn’t stopped her from facing her fears at the Heroes on Horses event at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
“When I’m on them, I’m more focused on the horse and how the horse makes me feel, rather than, you know, when I’m on my two feet. Then I’m thinking about all my surroundings,” said Hosmer.
The Galena native said her companion horse of 13 years, Freya, continues to have a positive impact on her daily life.
“She’s helped me a lot with my PTSD and they really make you have to adjust your mentality and your mood, breathe and try and reduce that anxiety,” said Hosmer.
Hosmer grew up in California and worked in the U.S. Army military police as a special reaction team sniper, later moving to Fort Lewis Washington where she was a K-9 handler.
She moved to Ohio two decades ago and currently raises and trains golden retrievers.
For the past six years, Hosmer, with her husband Ralph by her side, has participated in the “Heroes on Horses” event.
Win or lose, Hosmer is just happy to compete. And she encourages other veterans to consider equine therapy like she has with groups like Stockhands Horses for Healing in Delaware.
“The camaraderie with all the other veterans, just talking and having a good time. And you know, joining an equine therapy group like that is very beneficial for therapy. And I would love to get out and do more shows than I do. Hopefully, I’ll get there,” said Hosmer.
