How horses are helping veterans in the Rhondda Valley

A Falklands War veteran with PTSD who found solace in horses has now brought equine therapy to other veterans in the Rhondda Valley.

Around 20 years ago the charity Valley Veterans was founded by Falklands War veteran Paul Bromwell.

Founder and CEO Paul Bromwell

Having served in the Welsh Guards during the Falklands Conflict, Paul was all too aware of the effects of returning to civilian life after suffering from PTSD himself. And on his return home to the Rhondda Valley, initially he struggled to get the support he needed.

It was that struggle that led him to set up an informal support group for PTSD sufferers that has now grown into a vibrant veteran-led community hub with more than 140 active participants.

Valley Veterans provides weekly support for vulnerable veterans which benefits their mental and physical health. For the first 15 years Paul personally funded the group by remortgaging his home to purchase land to build stables for equine therapy services.

Paul explained how the idea for the equine therapy was born. Paul said: “I went away horse trekking with Combat Stress and it helped me so much that when I came home, I bought a horse and on the days that I couldn’t sleep, I’d be up on the mountain with my horse and it would calm me down.

“I just thought if this is working for me that it will help others. By then I was looking after a couple of lads that were good friends of mine and were also feeling a bit of stress and had problems caused through active service.”

“Being outside has been a game changer – it could be working in the gardening, mucking out the stables or grooming the horse”

And from those early days of a few friends and one horse, Valley Veterans, now links many support groups and more than 100 veterans across the Valley.

“When people need help, we are always here – it’s never that dark place with no-one to help, there’s always somebody here.

“Being outside has been a game changer for many of the people that come here – it could be working in the gardening, mucking out the stables or grooming the horses –the benefits are clear to see.

“They can come and get help with their paperwork on a Wednesday, socialise at the breakfast club on a Thursday and any day of the week, work outside in the gardens and the equine area.”

Gary Pethig, 64, from Gelli, who served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, said, “This group has changed my life – it has literally been a godsend for me because without it I’d just be sitting at home watching television - instead I come here and have made lots of new friends."

Equine therapy and garden area at Valley Veterans

Stephen Roberts (55) from Williamstown, who served in the Royal Engineers and now works for the Welsh Blood Service, said, “I first came here six years ago as I was struggling with PDSD, I’d shut myself away from society and was struggling to get out. I knew about this place but I didn’t have the guts to come up here until eventually I arranged to meet someone here that I knew and have been coming ever since.

“I have met a brilliant bunch of friends that I’m close to and have had support off them ever since. It has changed my life, I was withdrawn from society before but coming up and spending time here and socialising has helped me hugely and I can now go out to social events such as birthday celebrations and fundraisers that I wasn’t able to before.”