Mimi Mazuk, U.S. Army Veteran, ROCK ROV Graduate and Volunteer, will ride in the Trail to Zero Ride on September 28, 2024 in New York City.
Mimi will be accompanied to New York by our Program Manager, Joan Cutler, as Mimi’s Ground Support.
You can follow Mimi’s ride with the purchase of a special bracelet with GPS tracking from Braveheart’s Trail to Zero website!
“In November of 2021 when the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital referred me to ROCK’s equine therapy program to combat my anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The riding program I enrolled in did not start until early 2022, however, I attended Tuesday night grooming and therapy sessions every week until then. I quickly realized ROCK was a special place and found myself making excuses to head to the barn early and just breathe the air.
Through ROCK’s veteran program, I attended three eight week riding sessions. In the beginning I had great difficulty just walking in the arena next to the horse. My body was tired and abused and my mind was in worse shape. I was determined to work through it and it has been a fantastic strengthening journey for my mind, body and soul. Many tears were shed in the dirt as the feeling of the weight of life’s burdens came off my shoulders. My life is totally changed forever. I am now physically and mentally stronger than I have ever been before.
When my sessions ended I started volunteering as a side-walker and quickly became a horse handler and mentor for the female veteran’s class. I didn’t want that happiness to end and I wanted to share the healing powers with others. The joy that I have while participating and assisting in this program every week is hard to put into words. I have witnessed such magical greatness. In my time volunteering with equine therapy I have witnessed children who are non-verbal speak. I have seen both children and adults overcome physical and mental disabilities and successfully ride a horse confidently. I have watched a veteran break down their own walls and finally become the person they wanted to be. That last particular veteran was ME.”
-Mimi Mazuk,
(Taken From Mimi’s Trail to Zero Admissions Letter)
