Calling all Angels.

Earlier this month, my family and I experienced a hammer blow.

We lost my youngest brother Nick to a very brave year long battle with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. It changed the shape of our lives. One blessing for me personally looking back, was I had the honor to be at his bedside up until the very end.

Before his departure someone quite close to me asked me,

"Tony, ... What would you do if you only had six months to live?

After meditating and praying on it, ... an answer came back. Working with horses in order to help as others heal from their trauma.

In early 2015 I saw healing with horses in a ritual with the Lakota people. in the Black Hills. The True Human Beings made an impression my head and heart that I shall never forget.

For the last six years I have volunteered and worked as both a barn hand and a groom at several non-profits who rescue horses. This led to my love affair with these magnificent creatures - especially the Mustangs who are so adept at connecting.

The highest form of training in Equine Assisted Learning is known as EAGALA certification. There is a course being offered this May 2026, at the REINS | 501(c)(3) non-profit Therapeutic Riding Program where I have recently been initiated as a new volunteer.

The money raised with this GoFundMe drive would go a long way to cover the tuition, travel and all additional expenses, for this week long event, on May 6th-10th, 2026.

The bottom line for me is that in dealing with our grief, I have come to realize that we all have our own way to deal with sadness and loss. My objective here today is to honor my brother Nick, who himself was the gentlest of souls, by being of service to others in this way.

It may seem a bit of a divergence for me as a professor at university teaching in Film and Photojournalism, but the way I look at it now it folds neatly into the two previous books I have helped edit and ghostwrite that deal head on with PTSD, suicide and sexual abuse issues.

Thats really the center of all this.

Equine Therapy has shown to be brilliant as a treatment for healing when veterans who do not find recovery by traditional psychotherapy means often find real transformation in this equine space.

In point of fact, it is because the nature of this experience is immersive and largely non-verbal the horses have an uncanny ability to see into the clients story without it ever being articulated.

If you have ever witnesses this kind of Equine assisted learning or therapy before you know there is a phenomenal connection which can resonate with each participant.

Over the last few years I have taken tuition in horsemandship from some of the best master instructors in the field, like Sam Van Fleet and Chris Cox whose elegant gentle approach defines their ethos.

As part of my continuing education I feel is something I can proudly devote myself to - on a healing path where the unthinkable loss of my brother requires that I heal myself and others as well.

The dream is to be a certified equine expert, to develop working relationships with other mental health professionals, to team up as a professional practice in this space for all those who suffer psychic scars which we understand are largely invisible to the naked eye.

2026 is the Year of the Horse (specifically the Fire Horse which comes once every 60 years) symbolizes a, fast-paced, and transformative year characterized by freedom, energy, and rapid progress.

Grateful in service,

Yours,

TDZ