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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Entertainment
Paul Daley

‘This saved my life’: the emotional alchemy bonding traumatised veterans and damaged racehorses

Mike Bowers Navy New South Wales Royal Australian Navy
Former Royal Australian Navy chaplain Mel Baker with retired racehorse Treble Clef
Former Royal Australian Navy chaplain Mel Baker with retired racehorse Treble Clef at Horse Aid’s indoor training ring in the NSW southern highlands. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Scott Brodie and Mel Baker stand in the middle of the indoor training ring on a horse farm in the New South Wales southern highlands. A magnificent black gelding and former racehorse, Treble Clef, canters around the rails, stopping now and then, pricking its ears and regarding them quizzically.

Brodie, a 60-year-old former horse trainer and chief riding instructor with the NSW mounted police, speaks softly to both the animal and Baker, a medically discharged former Royal Australian Navy chaplain.

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