Powerful short film explores bonds between mustangs and combat veterans

This documentary — titled “500 Miles” and released at the end of 2017 — was created and filmed by Heroes and Horses, a program that inspires veterans to move beyond the difficulties experienced from years of war, toward a life of restoration and hope. 

According to its description, the purpose of this innovative short film is to start a new, universally-understood conversation around the necessity of struggle, challenge, and perseverance as they relate to creating meaning in one’s life — without one, you cannot have the other. The “500 Miles” film communicates the importance of this concept by telling the story of the un-purposed wild mustang and the un-purposed veteran, following both as they learn to face and navigate challenges, with the ultimate goal of discovering what their greater purpose in life is. For these mustangs, the arduous 500 mile journey through New Mexico and Arizona was their purpose-defining challenge, but we all have our own version of a “500 mile journey.” It’s the moments in life when we choose to buck up instead of give up. When we choose to take the unbeaten path instead of the easy road. It’s the moments that force us to take a hard look at ourselves, and the decisions we have been making, and decide if we have been letting life happen to us, or for us.