A group of veterans is embarking on a mission to confront the crisis of veteran suicides.
This Saturday, over a dozen veterans will take part in a 20-mile horseback journey through Manhattan, aimed at raising awareness about this heartbreaking issue.
The seventh annual Trail to Zero ride, organized by the nonprofit BraveHearts, will lead the riders from Ground Zero towards Times Square and Central Park, eventually returning to One World Trade Center.
For veterans like Brandon Spandet, this notable ride highlights the alarming statistic that approximately 20 veterans take their own lives each day and showcases the positive impact of equine-assisted therapy.
“I was on the brink of becoming one of those 20. It was a last resort for me; I had exhausted all my options,” shared Spandet, 33, from Illinois, in an interview with The Post before the intense eight-hour ride. “I showed up for my first lesson, and I’m fortunate enough to be riding … [draft stallion] Beau.
“He’s massive, yet a gentle giant,” he continued. “He truly has saved my life.”
Spandet, who also served as a first responder, recounted his struggles in adapting to civilian life after leaving the Army, a transition that led him to BraveHearts, as recommended by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2022.
“[Beau] is an incredible listener. He’s been there for me during difficult calls and the ups and downs of military life, and he remains unfazed,” Spandet noted. “He listens and steadies me.”
“He often reflects my emotions,” he added. “The instructors can tell when I’m feeling off because it’s usually mirrored in how the horse behaves.”
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Meggan Hill-McQueeney, President and CEO of BraveHearts, stated, “Horses have an incredible ability to reach people when words are insufficient.”
“Trail to Zero unites veterans and the community, igniting essential conversations about mental health and reminding everyone of our collective responsibility to support those in distress,” she added.
“For many veterans, horses provide a crucial lifeline.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that, on average, 17 veterans die by suicide daily, from around 130 total suicides that occur each day in the general population. This figure has decreased from the initial 20 suicides per day reported when BraveHearts launched Trail to Zero in 2017.
Spandet described the sense of camaraderie felt during the ride as transformative.
“It’s about what you can do for others and lending a hand,” he expressed. “By the end of the ride, you feel exhausted and sore, yet alive.”
“Being able to give back — if I can just help one person and save one life — that makes it all worthwhile,” said fellow participant Amanda Bethards, a U.S. Navy veteran who has become a certified therapeutic riding instructor at the nonprofit since joining in 2017 to manage her own stress and anxiety.
At 40, Bethards has taken part in roughly a dozen rides, including two in New York City. Similar events have since emerged in other cities such as Chicago, Houston, Washington D.C., St. Louis, as well as in Normandy and Deauville, France.
“Each ride has its own significance,” Bethards shared. “While we’re eager to promote our mission, each ride carries a heavy emotional weight … it’s for all veterans who are struggling in silence, and that makes it worthwhile.”
This year’s participating riders represent branches of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, coming from states including Texas, Indiana, and Illinois, along with a Gold Star father whose child died during military service.
The 14 riders have all completed BraveHearts’ equine therapy programs and received preparation before the ride, according to Hill-McQueeney.
The NYPD’s mounted police unit, along with similar units from nearby areas, will assist in escorting the riders through busy intersections throughout their journey.
Veterans like Spandet, gearing up for his inaugural ride in New York City, feel prepared for the challenge ahead.
“I’m fortunate to have ridden Beau weekly for the past three years; I trust him completely,” he said. “He must trust that I’ll handle myself well with the trains, buses, and traffic.”
“It’s a partnership,” he concluded, “and caring for the horses helps me care for myself.”
