RNC teams with Rainbow Riders to offer equine therapy program to first responders with PTSD

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is partnering with a St. John's non-profit organization to provideequine therapy to first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The RNC's mounted unit, which features four horsesused mainly for patrols and crowd control,will be based part time on the Rainbow Riders' grounds onMount Scio Road to deliver the Heroes Equine Learning Program, an Ontario-basedcharity.

"I think there's a great need. I think that horses can provide such a calm and comforting feeling to a lot ofpeople, especially our horses where they're so big and they're so beautiful and majestic,"Const.Kelsey Muisetold CBC News on Wednesday.

Muise spearheaded the program after meeting with the leaders of the organizationin Ottawa. The registered charity provides horse-assisted psychotherapy and personal development for military, first responders and their families.

The program takes seven peopleon a four-dayretreat filled with equine therapy and mindfulness activities.

Lending a hand

Muise hasbeen a member of the RNC for 18years, and a part of the mounted unit for the last three. Several years ago shewas ready to hang up her hat after being diagnosed with PTSDstemming fromtraumatic events she experienced on the force, but said Chief Joe Boland helped save her career byoffering her a position on the mounted unit.

"I was finished. I was ready to leave it all behind and walk away," Muise said. "But the universe had a different plan."

BolandtoldCBC News that sharing resources with Rainbow Riders a therapeutic riding program that helps children and adults with variousphysical, emotional, cognitive or social disabilities will have many benefits, including efficiencies in delivering the program to those who are struggling.

As part of the partnership, the RNC added four new horse stalls to the Rainbow Riders facility, a new command trailer and upgraded electrical, plumbing, and surveillance systems.

This will now be a second home to the four RNC horses for most of the year, with the unit returning to the Government House grounds for the summer.

"The idea at first was strictly about the wellness of the horses," Boland said, adding the facilities at Government House are ideal for the summer, but the horses needed a better home with plenty of room to exercise over the winter.

But the move also presented an opportunity to help more first responders and their families.

"This is very real work when you're talking about policingor military, fire or paramedics," said Boland.

"Some of the things they see, touch, smell, read, it impacts them and they struggle sometimes to be able to deal with it. This is to help that community be able to better deal with what we ask them to do every single day."

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