Ten wounded warriors, three of whom are still on active duty, participated in the Cowboy Challenge on the J Bar C Ranch in Culpeper from June 11 – 15, 2013, through the Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program for Wounded Warriors.

The weeklong event culminated with a “Game Day,” a rodeo on June 15 that consisted of the 10 service members and five “cowboys” competing as singles or teams in six events: flags, pony express, team pinning, barrel racing, poles and calf branding. Each team had two service members and one cowboy.

“Today is a great day for all of us,” said Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, when he addressed the crowd and competitors at the event.

Today we “focus on our abilities, not our disabilities,” he added.

The wounded warriors arrived on the ranch and began bailing hay, mucking stalls and generally living the life of a cowboy on June 11, said Paul Fitzgerald, manager of Team Semper Fi, who runs the Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program for Wounded Warriors. Team Semper Fi's motto is, "recovery through sport." Fitzgerald started working for Team Semper Fi after learning a position was open while he volunteered at one of their events.

"You can really see the difference it makes," added the veteran.

Fitzgerald isn't the only one to believe in the healing powers of horses.

"Nothing better to get these guys back than riding horse," said Navy Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Keenan, an observer at the event. Keenan was injured in an IED explosion in Rhamadi, Iraq, in 2006 and said that horses helped him. "They teach you patience again. The program is good for anyone. Horses kinda fix everything, not just wounded warriors."

The host of the event and owner of the J Bar C Ranch agreed.

"We see a lot of changes in these Marines," said Jim McDonough. McDonough started hosting events like this with Team Semper Fi four years ago in Nokesville. Now, Jim's goal is to host at least three a year.

Christian Lowe, participant, former Marine sergeant and currently an animal control officer with the sheriff's department in Fort Worth, Texas, joined the Wounded Warrior Battalion in 2010.

"These horses saved my life," he said. "I was going down a bad path when I was injured. They made me realize it wasn't as bad as it could be. At least I'm here, alive."

Lowe deployed five times while he was in and has one hope.

"I wish people would get more involved," he said. " It really does help. It's better than sitting on a couch talking to someone for hours on end."

Joey Broom, also a participant, was wounded by an IED in Afghanistan in 2009 and agrees.

"You can't lie to a horse," he said. "It can tell when you're upset or angry. You have to neutralize yourself."

-- Correspondent: rebekka.heite@usmc.mil

Editor's Note:
    The Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program provides riding and horsemanship clinics across the nation to wounded service members and their families, according to www.teamsemperfi.org.

"The program is dedicated in memory of Col. Jinx McCain," according to the site. "Jinx was a four-time Purple Heart recipient from Iwo Jima, Korea and Vietnam. While stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., in the 1960s, Jinx would host trail rides for the amputees from Vietnam."

Not long after the June 2011 dedication of the program, 10 select service members from the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment participated in the inaugural event — the first Wounded Warrior Cutting Horse Classic at the D & M Cattle Company in Nokesville. During this weeklong event, riders enhanced their horsemanship skills and were given the opportunity to strengthen themselves in their recoveries, both physically and mentally.