SPANNING COMMUNITIES. Trinity Equestrian Center, a local Eau Claire nonprofit, has served the community in a variety of ways for over 20 years. It is perhaps best known, today, for its efforts to support veterans. (Toni Mattson, pictured, co-founded Trinity. Submitted photo)

Humans and horses have a divine connection, turning trauma and pain into hope and resilience. Fueled by faith and compassion, Eau Claire's Trinity Equestrian Center aims to change the lives of survivors of trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTS) by offering free equine-assisted therapy for veterans.

Growing up with horses and a family full of veterans, Toni Mattson, one of Trinity’s founders, carries a passion for both. In following her calling to combine equine therapy services with military personnel, Mattson has witnessed countless healing moments between vets and horses.

Trinity is built on what Mattson calls “the Trifecta: connection, relationship, and trust.” Because horses are honest creatures, the “Trifecta” is a huge part of equine therapy as individuals connect with their four-legged therapy partner. “It’s not about riding. It’s about surrendering,” Mattson said.

Trauma doesn’t only affect veterans. Driven to make a bigger impact, Trinity is expanding its services to reach first responders — police offers, firefighters, EMS, and healthcare — and their loved ones by offering the same free equine-assisted therapy and resilience programs they’ve provided veterans for the past 16 years. “They’re loved and need to feel heard,” Mattson said. “Their voices matter and their stories matter.”

Trinity Equestrian Center's horses help folks through the organization's variety of programs, including equine assisted psychotherapy, adaptive riding, and more.

This fall from Oct. 3-4, Trinity Equestrian Center will host its first annual event, the Strength in Service Summit. Spanning the Midwest, this is “a transformative event on equipping veterans and first responders with real tools to manage stress, heal from trauma, and restore resilience and relationships — mentally, physically, and spiritually,” Mattson said.

The two-day event's tickets – which will benefit Trinity Equestrian Center – cost $100/person. The event includes keynote speaker Jessica Lynch, an Iraq prisoner of war (POW) survivor, alongside several other speakers, meals of charcoal chicken and pizza, live music by Chris Kroeze, a silent auction and sportsman's raffle, and more.

Strength in Service Summit tickets can be purchased online through Trinity-ec.com.

Strength in Service Summit is a two-day benefit event occurring 6-8pm on Oct. 3 and continuing the next day, Oct. 4, from 8am-8pm • Stephanie Nesja works with Trinity Equestrian Center and is a contributing writer for Volume One • Learn more about Trinity Equestrian Center (S5300 State Road 37, Eau Claire) online at Trinity-ec.com and keep up with the organization on Facebook