On Saturday, numerous veterans and law enforcement officials participated in the eighth annual Trail to Zero ride, an event organized by an equine therapy organization that many attendees credited with helping them heal after their challenging transitions from military service.
Fifteen veterans rode horseback across a demanding 20-mile route through Manhattan, raising awareness for suicide prevention, particularly among veterans facing the aftermath of trauma and a lack of adequate support in civilian life.
This year’s ride, put together by the nonprofit BraveHearts, lasted over eight hours, starting at Ground Zero and covering landmarks like Times Square and Central Park before winding back to One World Trade Center.
The brave riders this year included representatives from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force and came from states such as Texas, Indiana, and Illinois.
Each horse was adorned with ribbons displaying the name and military branch of veterans who lost their lives to suicide. Amber Eck, the veteran services director at BraveHearts, explained that the names are often submitted to commemorate lost loved ones, and the ribbons are returned to their families after the event.
The Squad 18 firehouse on West 10th Street served as a rest stop around 3 p.m., where firefighters provided refreshments, including a giant blue bucket of water for the horsesâexcept for one particular pony, who preferred being fed lemon-flavored Gatorade from a bottle.
From there, the riders continued their journey, symbolically covering 20 miles to highlight the nearly 20 veterans who tragically end their lives each day, returning to One World Trade Center.
“This ride carries significant weight because our mission is personal for the veterans involved. Each participant has likely lost a friend to suicide or has faced similar struggles themselves,” Eck shared with The Post.
Ellie Schlotz, 42, who served six years as an analyst in the Air Force, traveled all the way from Wisconsin with her 13-year-old American Mustang, Velvet, to participate in the ride through the city.
Schlotz’s horse, Velvet, sported two ribbons in memory of a Navy veteran and a Marine veteran.
Having been around horses since childhood, Schlotz now shares her passion for horses with her children while fostering the community at BraveHearts.
Ryan Ohrmundt, 51, who served in an MP battalion in Iraq from 2006 to 2007, also made the trip from Wisconsin.
He noted that nearly every veteran has experienced losing someone to suicide after military service.
“Equine therapy is often underestimated, but it holds immense potential beyond mere appearance. It plays a vital role, not just in addressing PTSD or physical disabilities but also in suicide prevention,” he said.
“Part of our mission is to open peopleâs eyes to possibilities they may not consider. We aim to guide them toward seeking the help they need.”
