Jason Travis:

I have spent the majority of my life in service. I started with eight years in the Marine Corps, spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement until I retired, and then became a volunteer firefighter. I never once during that time considered owning a horse. I never realized how God could use a connection with horses to bring healing and calm to the spirit of a man who carried decades of post-traumatic stress from a life of service.

When we bought five acres in western Montana, my daughter and my wife both wanted horses. We couldn’t afford much, but a friend soon found the perfect horse for our daughter, and before we knew it, a beautiful four-year-old mustang was looking at us from the temporary pen we set up. Two days later, that pretty little mare had kicked my daughter square on the chin and severely broken her jaw. After an event like that, most people would consider getting rid of the horse. Not us. It wasn’t the horse’s fault. A month or so later, two more horses joined the herd. The two geldings had both been feral on a reservation before being rescued from the kill pen, and were young and healthy and just the right price. Now we had three green horses to go with three green owners, and that was a recipe for trouble. With the help of a knowledgeable friend, we worked with the horses and made good but slow progress over the next year. Though we still couldn’t ride them, we had come to enjoy them immensely. The friend didn’t have enough time, however, and we didn’t have enough confidence. It was becoming clear we needed additional help. The horses were here to stay. My search led me to Joe Misner and Wild 2 Ride. I joined the Wild 2 Ride Academy and sent my horses to train with Joe as well. My wife and daughter began taking riding lessons.

It goes without saying the horses have become an important part of our family’s life. They are very much loved and will be a part of our lives for a long time to come. We are finally getting the training we need to safely work with and ride our horses and, if it stopped there, it would be a blessing. However, Wild 2 Ride goes beyond that. Joe helps you to understand what your horse needs both for its proper care and its ability to accomplish what you ask of it. Joe doesn't use a lot of the old cowboy training techniques; instead, his training takes into account the spirit of the animal so it learns without its spirit being broken. It is a way that builds trust and leadership with the horse. I have learned to better control my own emotions and support the horses as they learn. The ability to control myself so I can be a better leader for the horse also helps me deal with the trauma that has built up over the decades of service. I believe God has created a special bond between man and horse. The horses give me a sense of peace that has only been enhanced by my time at Wild 2 Ride.