Veteran Paul Nichols on cross-country horseback tour for PTSD
A Canadian military veteran stopped in Stittsville, Ont. Friday as he makes his way across the country on horseback to kickstart conversations with soldiers who are having trouble adjusting to post-military life.
Paul Nichols served in Bosnia and Croatia in the 1990s but said one of the biggest battles of his life was getting reacquainted with civilian life.
"That's when my war started," Nichols said.
"I started to question the value of my service. I started to question the value of the sacrifice. We lost good boys in the Balkans. And when you have those doubts and you're asking yourself those questions, if you've got the demons, that's when they come after you — when you're alone."
He said his wife, a therapeutic riding instructor, and his horse helped him readjust but said some soldiers are left suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder without the support they need.
Nichols began his journey in Victoria in April and has since travelled thousands of kilometres, meeting other war veterans along the way, including Drummond Fraser.
"This has been fantastic because it has tied a lot of veterans to each other. It's a great way for a lot of veterans to become aware that there are many others sharing their experience," Fraser said.
Nichols is expected to make his way through Ottawa on Sunday. His tour is scheduled to end on Nov. 9 in St. John's, N.L., just before Remembrance Day.
