Veterans Find Support at Loudoun Therapeutic Riding
Written by Laticia Headings | Photos by Gracie Savage
Loudoun County is a haven for horse farms and well known for its array of equestrian sports, but horses also play a key role in therapeutic riding centers across the region by helping humans heal.
Loudoun Therapeutic Riding (LTR), which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, continues to lead the way in equine-assisted programs at its 25-acre farm in Lovettsville. Guided by the motto “Love, Trust, & Respect,” the program welcomes individuals of all ages into its barn, providing support to those with physical, intellectual, or emotional needs and challenges. “We mostly do adaptive riding, but we also have adaptive driving, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy,” says Executive Director Laura Smith.
Since 1974, over 14,000 clients have traveled in and out of LTR’s stable doors and more than 5,000 volunteers have donated their time, including the likes of actors Elizabeth Taylor and Robert Duvall.
The Equine Services for Heroes program, founded in 2010 by retired U.S. Navy commander and LTR staff member Mary Jo Beckman, accounts for 20% of LTR’s ridership. “Mary Jo initially began working with the caisson horses at Arlington Cemetery and is known internationally for her work with veterans,” Smith shares.
The program offers equine-assisted services to wounded warriors in recovery, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury, at no charge to the veteran.
“We’ve had veterans come in who have never ridden a horse before… and I know it’s making a difference because they keep coming back,” retired Army veteran Karyn Brown says. In 2001, her unit was among the first responders to the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City, where she witnessed the aftermath firsthand.
“PTSD comes in a lot of forms. I used to be more gregarious and more social, and then I completely shut down,” says Brown, who volunteers and rides at LTR twice a week. She says the program has “opened me back up again. I’ve got more self-confidence, I’ve got more trust in people, and it gets me out of the house … and moving.”
Highly trained staff members and volunteers are adept at handling the unique needs of veterans. Meanwhile, horses, who can sense a human heartbeat from five feet away, provide an atmosphere of trust and comfort and help to build self-confidence and discipline.
“We have a lot of veterans who start with groundwork like grooming and leading, just to learn horse behavior and get an emotional connection and relationship with a horse. We then work on riding the horse after they’ve gotten comfortable,” Program Coordinator Rachel Doyle says. But the biggest goal is “transferring these skills to their daily lives.”
LTR partners with the Wounded Warrior Project, which regularly refers Gulf War veterans to the program and covers the cost of up to 10 sessions. Any additional sessions for veterans are funded through LTR’s own fundraising efforts. “Once they start, they don’t want to stop,” Smith says.
Between now and Veterans Day on November 11, Veros Technologies, an LTR sponsor, will match donations up to $25,000. Smith says, “We have new veterans coming to the barn every day, and we rely on community support to cover the cost of their continued participation.”
On November 8, LTR will hold a veterans’ reception and screening of “War Horse” at the Middleburg Community Center. This event is open to the public, and Smith hopes it will have a great turnout. “We are looking forward to celebrating our veterans and first responders and honoring the sacrifices they’ve made to keep us safe.” ML
Visit ltrf.org for more information or to make a donation.
Featured image, left to right: Karen Brown, Debbie Gerbich, Caitlin Barnhouse, Laura Smith, and Rachel Doyle.
Published in the September 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.