The Giant City Stables will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, September 16, 2024 to celebrate their new enclosed arena.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL) -- Representatives with the Giant City Stables held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new enclosed arena. The groundbreaking was on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the stables.
The new enclosed arena will enable the facility to provide services year-round. Services are set to include therapeutic horseback riding programs and other essential services to better serve the community and our veterans.
Illinois Senator Dale Fowler helped secure the funding for the new enclosure, which comes from grant money through DCEO, IDNR, the Illinois Conservation Foundation and private partnerships.
鈥淯ntil you come here and you see these veterans on these horses and the smiles on their face, and you hear some of the stories about what this has done for them. It makes you want to do more for our veterans. I can鈥檛 wait to visit when this arena is in a fully operational state," Fowler said.
Jodie Slaton is a veteran and has visited this facility many times over the past ten years. She talks about her experiences here and how it has helped with her PTSD.
鈥淪omething about the horses," Slaton said. "The horses feel what I feel, so when the horse was upset, I didn鈥檛 necessarily know I was upset, but the horse knew I was upset. The horse will know when I鈥檓 stressed, and you have to learn how to deal with that horse not to upset it while you鈥檙e in the stall with it. The horses teach you how to be present. They help you release the stress that you have.鈥�
