By LYNN THOMAS, LCSW
We all know how horses can steady our nerves, humble our egos, and lift our spirits. But as Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us each May, emotional well-being doesn’t come automatically—even for those lucky enough to be around horses every day.
Breaking the Silence on Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Month was first launched in 1949 by Mental Health America to elevate the importance of emotional well-being and reduce the stigma around mental health challenges. While conversations around mental health are becoming more accepted, there’s still progress to be made—even within the equestrian world.
Horses for Mental Health: Advocacy Through Connection
Horses for Mental Health (HMH) is a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2021 to raise awareness about mental health challenges and how professional services incorporating horses can be a powerful part of the solution.
Those who work with horses often understand their extraordinary sensitivity, authenticity, and ability to reflect and impact human emotion. These qualities create a unique therapeutic environment in mental health sessions—offering immediate feedback, emotional regulation, and moments of healing that words alone can’t always reach.
The Seen Through Horses Campaign
Each May, HMH leads the Seen Through Horses Campaign, a national awareness and fundraising initiative spotlighting the mental health crisis and the healing potential of the horse-human connection. With generous support from title sponsor Zoetis Equine, the campaign brings together mental health professionals, nonprofits, influencers, equestrians, and businesses to tell powerful stories, elevate access to services, and build a movement of support.
Driven by its bold mission, this trailblazing campaign raised $1 million in its first three years, supporting 205 organizations delivering life-changing equine-assisted mental health services. Now in its fourth year, Seen Through Horses is bringing together its largest coalition yet in support of 95 nonprofit organizations across 33 U.S. states, along with partners in Canada and Northern Ireland.
“Our goal is for every person to know that incorporating horses into mental health treatment is an accessible and effective option,” says Lynn Thomas, LCSW, Co-founder and President of
HMH. “These 95 organizations are transforming lives and addressing the mental health crisis by offering these life-saving services.”
Focusing on Veterinarians—And Others Who Work with Horses Daily
To spotlight the often-unseen emotional burdens in the equine industry, this year’s campaign launched with a powerful short video on veterinarian mental health. These dedicated professionals face immense stress—from long hours and difficult decisions to compassion fatigue and personal grief. The film not only gives voice to their struggles, but also reveals how horses can be part of their healing journey.
Even for those who are around horses every day—whether in veterinary practice, competition, or equine care—stepping into a space where the focus is emotional wellbeing, not job performance, can be profoundly transformative. When guided by trained mental health professionals, the horse-human connection becomes more than familiar—it becomes healing.
Additional films to be released throughout May feature powerful real-life stories: one of deep grief and emotional renewal, and another of a veteran who lost the will to live. These case stories, shared by two of the campaign’s nonprofit partners, demonstrate how horses can be an essential catalyst in life-changing healing processes.
Watch Now
Join the Movement
The Seen Through Horses Campaign invites all of us—riders, vets, grooms, trainers, and horse lovers alike—to take part in creating change:
● Watch and share powerful short videos and personal stories
● Support one of the 95 nonprofit program partners
● Normalize conversations about mental health in equestrian spaces and beyond
With help from over 30 ambassadors and influencers—including The Bellamy Brothers, Mae Estes, Randy Travis, Kerri Kasem, C. Thomas Howell, and Misdee Wrigley Miller—the campaign is reaching millions of people and making it easier for others to seek support.
Because sometimes, whether in the show ring or at home, even the strongest among us are struggling. And healing can come from the very animals we’ve devoted our lives to.
Join the movement. Watch the videos. Share the stories. Let’s make space for more people to experience what horses have always offered: connection, reflection, and the possibility of healing.
Learn more at: horsesformentalhealth.org/campaign
Learn more about veterinarian mental health: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/horses-supporting-veterinarian-mental-health/
