SOMERSET, Texas – You don’t need to know horseback riding to participate New Tactics 6It’s an equestrian clinic in Somerset, but you must be experienced or a first responder.

Jim Schaale and his wife, Tammy, founded the nonprofit equestrian clinic in 2018.

“Our goal was to encourage veterans, military, and first responders to get outside and bike, get them out of their environments, give them a place where they can relax and be free from daily worries,” he said.

Every Saturday, veterans come to a three-hour clinic. It costs $15 and includes basic riding instruction, but it’s much more than a lesson; At least that’s what Schaale hopes.

“I hope they learn something about themselves and the horse that will help bring this to life,” he said.

Schaale explained that the name New Tactics 6 has a special meaning.

“We use all kinds of tactics in the military. That’s why we wanted your life to be a new tactic, something you would change in your life,” he said. “And six means, ‘We got six.’ “That’s why we’re here and we always stand behind our warriors.”

James Holbrook started by taking classes and eventually became a peer tutor. He is there to motivate other war veterans.

“I can truly say that we’ve made people’s days and weeks and months livable and somehow made it so that they can come back week after week, put their week behind them, relax and start the next week fresh,” Holbrook said. “For veterans with PTSD, it is very difficult to say yes to many things. And it’s hard for us to go in and say, ‘Yes, I’ll come.’ But when they finally come and see that, that barrier breaks, the PTSD really kicks in and allows them to kind of open up and be around other veterans and say, ‘I don’t have to have that ego anymore.’ I can take that shield off and be here.’”

Click here To make a reservation for the Saturday session.