WATCH: Local horse riding therapy group for veterans makes special Chicago trot

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A veteran’s equine therapy organization called BraveHearts had a couple dozen veterans riding 20 miles on horseback along the lakefront Friday.

Each mile was dedicated for a veteran who dies by suicide each day. They call it the "Trail to Zero.”

The riders set off from Jackson Park and headed north on the Lakefront Trail.

WBBM met Bill Mercurio, 81, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. He’s now part of the BraveHearts organization and is a  big believer in equine therapy.

“We’ve had a tremendous amount of sort success stories where fellas came in, and they were on the edge, maybe in a pretty dark place. And, after their period of time spent with the horses, they’ve changed their demeanor altogether,” Mercurio said.

He got involved years ago.

“I’d never been on a horse. I live in Chicago. I rid the EL,” he laughed. “It was amazing…I realized that I was much calmer, and I was able to kind of center myself, take a deep breath and enjoy the idea of being with a horse.”

BraveHearts has horses in Harvard and Poplar Grove.

They welcome veterans, volunteers and donations.

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