“Angel Reins saved my life.”

These words have been repeated over and over again by veterans whose lives were changed at Angel Reins Stable.

Located in St. Augusta, Angel Reins is a volunteer-run 501c3 nonprofit that serves veterans and area nonprofits’ clients at no charge. Begun and led by Kathy Zachman, its mission is to provide a safe, peaceful place for people and horses to experience kindness, hope, and healing through equine-assisted activities and relaxing at the stable.

Veteran Joe S. spent 3-½ years in active duty and another 20 years in the guard. Suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury, he met Zachman five years ago.

“When I first came to Angel Reins, one of the female horses walked right up to me and wouldn’t leave my side,” he said. “It was magical; it touched my soul.”

“Kathy changed my life and Angel Reins saved my life. I’m a combat veteran. You come here, and you forget all the things you’ve done. If you’ve ever been disconnected from life and are reconnected again, you understand.”

Because of his experiences there, Joe now volunteers at Angel Reins and helps out however and whenever he can.

“I’ve had a lot of violence in my life,” he said. “When I’m at Angel Reins, I don’t feel violence; I feel comfortable. I feel calm. My heart is full.”

Once, while Joe was cleaning an old saddle at Angel Reins, a black widow spider dropped out. He was going to kill it, but Zachman stopped him. He brought it outside instead.

“That’s Kathy’s soul,” Joe said. “She’s caring and welcoming to everyone.”

A pair of older Belgian workhorses named Yeti and Yogi have made a big difference in the lives of many. Rescued days away from slaughter, thin and work down, the pair instantly reminded Zachman of veterans and how they have so often had a long, hard life of service, only to be tossed away and forgotten.

“Although most of Yeti and Yogi’s physical scars have healed over, emotional scars remain,” said Zachman. “It’s this commonality that draws veterans and others suffering from PTSD to the pair. There is a bond each understands. With time, love, and commitment, trust develops, and healing at an emotional level begins.”

One such veteran is Rob V. 

“I’ve been deployed to five different countries in two deployments,” he said. “When I came back, everything hit me hard. I came home to an empty house and began drinking. I was functional, but when I was home alone, my demons hit me.”

His first time at Angel Reins was during a field trip with his motorcycle group. Rob asked Zachman if he could see Yeti and Yogi, the biggest horses. Yeti came limping up to Rob, looked him dead in the eye, dropped his head, and nuzzled him. Zachman was amazed as Yeti had never done this before.

“It was like he was saying, ‘It’s okay, I’m hurt, too,’” said Rob. “It hit me so hard. The horses made me realize I needed help.”

Rob started going to the VA and, realizing his struggles could help others, today assists fellow vets.

“Helping others convinced me it was okay to ask for help,” he said. “Deploying is easy. You know where you’re going, you know you’ll have food and a place to stay. Coming home is stressful. You have to pick up the pieces you left behind.”

Vietnam veteran John H. credits Angel, an elderly blind horse, for assuring him he would be alright. Suffering from double vision and getting no answers, Angel ‘spoke’ to him from 40 feet away, and he somehow knew he was going to be okay.

When his vision recovered, he knew he wanted to thank Angel.

“I was so infatuated with the care given to the blind horse,” he said. “I thought, what would I do if I went blind? Would I be thrown away? I appreciate this place so much; I’m very thankful.”

Zachman continues to build on her dream for Angel Reins. Today the organization is in the early stages of developing Angel Reins Rescue Ridge on 10 acres of land. The project will consist of building a log cabin on the property with pastures of horses nearby. 

For more information on Angel Reins and Angel Reins Rescue Ridge, or to share ideas, contact Lynne Crandall at lynnecrandall@msn.com or Katherine Zachman at info@AngelReinsStable.org.