Horses, soccer combine for day of family fun

Photo By Pfc. Christopher Enderle | Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Texidor and Staff Sgt. Lee Jones of Company A, 105th Cavalry Squadron guide their horses in an attempt to try and score a goal during an equi-soccer match at the family readiness group event sponsored by the Cav. Association and Freedom Stables for the 105th Cavalry Squadron and their families Saturday, June 15. The 105th Cavalry Squadron held their FRG event at the Freedom Stables which held an equi-soccer match, events for children, and a fundraiser for future events. 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment photo by Pfc. Christopher Enderle  

DEERFIELD, WI, UNITED STATES

06.20.2013

Courtesy Story

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office       

By Pfc. Chris Enderle
112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

DEERFIELD, Wis. — Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 105th Cavalry Squadron and their families joined together during a Family Readiness Group event hosted by owners of the Harmony Horsemanship Freedom Stables here June 15.

The event had horse rides for the children followed by an equi-soccer match, in which members of the 105th rode horses while playing soccer against one another for bragging rights for the year. The event also included hay bale tossing followed by a children's version of equi-soccer with stick horses, a water balloon-tossing event, a rock wall and a pie throwing contest.

“I love doing events like this, because it shows both the Soldiers and their families that we truly do care about them,” said Sgt. Maj. Curtis Patrouille of the 105th Cavalry Squadron, shortly after awarding both the winning and losing teams with their trophies. “The Soldiers are strong, there’s no doubting that at all. They’re built like a brick wall. But a wall is nothing without its mortar and foundation, and that’s what their families are. As such we have to make sure we take care of both.”

The fundraising event was also open to the public as part of the Cavalry Association, which accepts public membership and public donations. All proceeds from the event went towards helping fund future events for both the Cavalry Association and Freedom Stables.

Paulette Stelpflug and Teddy Schluter, owners and caretakers of the farm, have been working together with the Army for years through their At Ease program. The program is designed to help Soldiers returning from war learn to cope and handle the stresses of living back at home again, said Schluter, a wounded Vietnam War veteran.

“The reason why we do this is because there is nothing harder on a Soldier or their family than coming back from a war,” Schluter said. “What we aim to do here today is help ease the tension at home, and the best way I’ve seen is through the connection a man makes with a horse. It’s a beautiful thing, which you won’t see anywhere else.”

Schluter and Stelpflug said they plan on holding events such as these and helping Soldiers and their families for as long as they can.

• Date Taken: 06.20.2013
• Date Posted: 06.20.2013 16:23
• Story ID: 108973
• Location: DEERFIELD, WI, US