On a calm Saturday morning, far from the chaos of combat zones and the clamor of everyday life, a small group of veterans gathers at The Barn, a Goodyear nonprofit equine program where the most profound lessons are taught not by people, but by horses.
Here, in the dust and open air, veterans are trading their service fatigues for riding boots, finding a unique path to peace and camaraderie through a complimentary, six-week horsemanship program.
They’re learning to groom, lead, and bond with a herd of horses, applying the principles of ground-based horsemanship to the challenges of post-military life, from strained relationships to the silent weight of trauma.
The program, an initiative born from shared passion and serendipity, is spearheaded by two unlikely partners: Joe Consoli, a Vietnam-era Marine veteran and retired police officer, and Steph LaClair, a certified Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator.
For Consoli, the program is a personal mission to give back to his fellow veterans. Consoli, whose 35-year police career included stints as a detective, SWAT member, and hostage negotiator, first discovered the therapeutic power of horses after retiring in California.
“I was looking for something to do, and I happened to see this lady on TV with a horse and thought that might be fun to get involved with” Consoli said.
He started volunteering at a horse rescue, eventually participating in a veterans’ horsemanship program there.
“It was, I want to say magical, which sounds silly, but when you get a horse to follow you and you can tell that horse is with you, really it is magical,” he said.
When he moved to Arizona, he found The Barn and quickly became a volunteer. Seeing an opportunity to share his experience, he worked with leadership to establish the veteran-specific program.
Consoli serves as the program’s mentor, drawing on his background to create a safe, trusting environment.
“We opened the meeting by introducing ourselves. We each went around and gave our military experience,” he said. The rule, he stresses, is absolute trust: “What’s said and done at the barn stays at the barn.”
Consoli said while many veterans struggle with post-traumatic stress, not everyone is ready to talk about it.
“We don’t have to deal with PTSD,” he said. “I’ve discovered that these horses connect with you, no matter how great you’re feeling, how bad you’re feeling.”
The focus is on the horse, giving veterans a tool to work things out internally.
“I saw guys cry,” he said, describing the session in which he participated in California. “And it was at that moment that they forgave people for things that happened years or maybe decades before.”
The drop-in program combines traditional horsemanship with Equine-Assisted Learning, a non-mounted, non-riding approach facilitated by LaClair.
“Equine-Assisted Learning is not therapy,” LaClair clarified. “EAL invites individuals to participate in activities centered around horses to gain insight about themselves and increase positive thoughts and behaviors.”
LaClair, whose passion for horses was rekindled after an almost two-decade hiatus, found her niche in EAL, a practice that encourages curiosity, kindness, and resilience.
LaClair said the partnership with Consoli was a serendipitous and perfect fit.
“It seemed natural. I could do the horse part, Joe could do the veteran part,” she said.
The initial sessions focus on safety, learning to read horse body language, and how to properly introduce oneself to a horse to establish trust and communication. LaClair said the veterans are learning that the key to leading a horse is patience and respect.
“You want to look for signs that the horse is nervous, and if you do, you back up,” Consoli advises. “You calm the horse down. Once a horse is calmed down, he’s yours.”
According to LaClair, the horses serve as a powerful, non-judgmental mirror for the veterans’ inner states. If a person is anxious, the horse will react. If they are calm and assertive, the horse will follow. This immediate feedback provides a tangible metaphor for real-life relationships and challenges.
The veterans program is a natural extension of the core mission of The Barn, founded by Elizabeth Trier in 2013. The nonprofit’s vision is to make horses accessible to everyone, regardless of financial means, and to foster mental, physical, and emotional well-being through equine partnership.
“If it has something to do with horses, we probably do it,” Trier said, detailing a vast array of services that include traditional and adaptive riding lessons, Horse-Powered Reading, and community service programs for special education students.
Trier said the fundamental belief at The Barn is in the power of community and getting hands dirty.
For Trier, a major part of The Barn’s success is simply creating a place for connection.
“One of my favorite things is seeing people make connections; people that just stay and talk after their sessions,” she said.
This community aspect is particularly vital for the veterans group, providing a safe space to share experiences among peers who understand.
“Veterans feel safe among other veterans,” Consoli said, highlighting the importance of the camaraderie. “It’s a safe place to open up.”
LaClair echoed the sentiment from an EAL perspective.
“You don’t get better on your own, you get better by connecting, whether that is with other people or with our horses you are looking forward to that connection,” she said.
The first six-week program launched with four participants, a small start that the team intends to build upon. Though The Barn is currently covering the costs themselves.
“We intend to keep offering it free of charge to veterans,” Trier said, with the longterm goal of securing grants or donors to cover the operating costs as they expand.
They plan to keep the group sizes small, about six to eight people, to maximize individual attention, potentially offering multiple concurrent groups as interest grows.
“I’m blessed to be here and be able to give back,” Consoli said, grateful for the opportunity to share the peace he found with horses. “That’s what I want to do to other veterans.”
The sessions are on Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m. with the coming events scheduled from April 25 through May 16.
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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