When Vincenzo DiLuna thought about his Eagle Scout project, he wanted to do something that benefitted his local community and helped those in need.
What better way to accomplish both goals than by helping veterans.
And when he found out that Horsemanship 4 Heroes, a Reno, Nevada-based nonprofit organization was looking to build an obstacle course for veterans to build confidence riding horses, DiLuna had his official Eagle scout project.
“Before I had started researching for my Eagle project that I wanted to build something and I wanted not just to build something like a giant tower or something,” DiLuna told KOLO in Reno. “I wanted to build something that had a direct impact on the community.”
Horsemanship 4 Heroes help veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression through equine assisted therapy and mentorship programs.
Project Has Added Meaning
Since both of DiLuna’s parents are veterans, his project carried special meaning, knowing he’s building something significant that will help those who served through difficult times. He worked with other scouts to build the course.
“My parents are veterans and (in my family) a few generations above them are veterans as well, so they mean a lot to me and they have a special place in my heart and in our community,” DiLuna said.
His parents provided tips on constructing the “confidence course” and DiLuna went to work. His group worked for several months, jotting down ideas, drafting proposals and making sure everything received proper approval.
DiLuna partnered with a local lumber company to get materials and about two weeks ago, brought his group of scouts together to work on the course. DiLuna said the project shows the impact of teamwork and young people banding together for a good cause.
“Projects like this can be done by anyone,” he said. “Anyone in the community can give back to the community and I feel like that’s an important thing in itself.”
Course Helps Veteran-Horse Bond
Scott and Karolyn Hooper, who founded Horsemanship 4 Heroes, said the obstacle course helps veterans bond with their horse through challenges, forging a connection that allows veterans to overcome trauma.
“Each obstacle that was built, our heroes will lead their horses through each one of them, and at first, it’s going to be scary,” Scott Hooper said, “and the way to help them navigate each obstacle is to have trust.”
Karolyn Hooper was impressed by DiLuna’s meticulous nature in planning the obstacle course.
“We saw them build the obstacles at a different location and today to come out in force to actually install it and all because they want to help our veterans is great,” Hooper said. “What a wonderful outpouring from the community.”
Scott Hooper said the course will be challenging at times for both horses and veterans, but that’s fine. That means DiLuna’s project is working.
“If the horse trusts the human then the horse will follow the human and navigate all those obstacles and it will take time and practice and it’ll incite some frustration and that’s okay because then they help understand how to deal with that now and these horses have helped them ground themselves to do it,” he said.
