OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Acceptance, love and a place where you feel welcome – a home. Kira Zeynalov has found such an environment, one where a caring a team of people have made her feel like an individual, where she is someone, not just a number.
The U.S. Navy veteran faces the challenges associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but has found a place where she’s welcome: the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA).
The past few years have been especially difficult for Zeynalov. In 2022, she faced a series of life-altering events, starting with a divorce in July. Despite remaining close friends with her ex-husband, the separation marked the end of a chapter they had planned together, including buying a home. Earlier that year, she left a toxic work environment in Broward County, where she had spent two years as a veteran employment specialist.
“That was too much for me. I couldn’t do full-time work anymore,” says Zeynalov. “I had to go to something part-time. That job was killing me.”
Her struggle with MS, an autoimmune disease that attacks nerve coverings, worsened during this stressful period. Determined to rebuild her life, she moved to Ocala to start anew. While financially stable, she felt emotionally depleted.
“I was empty,” says Zeynalov. “I told my brother I got a house. Everyone in my family was wondering why I was so quiet. I had so much to deal with; I just felt like an empty shell of myself.”
Seeking community and support, Zeynalov visited the Ocala Vets Center, where she learned about equine therapy. At first, she was hesitant.
“I was a little bit nervous. I was thinking, ‘What am I getting into? I don’t know if I’m ready to meet new people, even though they’re veterans,'” said Zeynalov. “I just came through a lot of difficult challenges.”
But after giving it a try, Zeynalov found herself drawn to the horses and the people at MTRA. The program offered more than just physical activity; it provided emotional healing and a sense of belonging.
“They passed around pictures of all the horses with their stories at the table, and I chose Mocha,” says Zeynalov. “I read her story. She’s a broodmare. There was something about Mocha’s eyes that said she was sassy and feisty, but there was something caring about her. I said, ‘I want Mocha.’ [Mocha and Rowdy are] both my babies. They’re my left and right hands.”
Mocha, along with Rowdy, a retired barrel racer Zeynalov now rides, became central to her life.
For Zeynalov, equine therapy has been life changing. Riding has helped her stay active, improve core strength, and enhance coordination—physical benefits that are crucial for someone managing MS. But the emotional impact has been even greater.
“When I’m out there with the horses, I’m free,” says Zeynalov, who feeds all 20 horses at the facility every Sunday. “As soon as I walk into that gate, it’s like home. The horses are nickering and whinnying at you. It’s pure love. They kiss you, and they love on you. They’re my yin and yang, my balance. They both give me different things.”
For Zeynalov, the MTRA is more than a therapy center; it’s a home.
“I have a home, a place I don’t get looked down on,” says Zeynalov, overcome with emotion. “I get treated like a real person. When I have a bad day, people check on me. It’s not like they leave me like they did in the military. They left me when I needed them the most. I’m home now. They care about me for Kira, not just another number. I have never been more loved in my life, in a veterans’ group. This is the place I need to be.”
Through her connection with Mocha, Rowdy, and the MTRA community, Zeynalov has discovered not only healing but also hope for the future. For this Navy veteran, the horses are more than animals—they are partners in her journey to reclaiming joy and purpose.