The connection between people and horses has been in existence for thousands of years. In more recent years, many of us have discovered how healing it can be to spend time with horses. As a result, equine-assisted service programs has seen an increase in activity and demonstrated its ability to impact thousands of people, including victims of abuse, people who have been trafficked, veterans with physical injuries or PTSD, and children who are experiencing trauma, behavior challenges or social issues (bullying, lack of self-esteem, etc.).
I have had the joy of working at Strides to Success since August of 2025 and have witnessed the amazing impact of our horses and donkey on a variety of clients who have walked through our doors seeking support.
As one who has loved horses my entire life, I also have experienced the positive impact horses can have on someone’s life. There are times in my life where spending time grooming my big boy (Hans) or just spending time with him has brought me immeasurable peace.
We have been very fortunate to have Horses for Mental Health select us as one of their program partners for the May campaign! Horses for Mental Health is a 501c3 organization that concentrates on supporting organizations like Strides by inviting us to participate in this global campaign. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so what better time to have a fundraising effort that focuses on centers like ours that help people learn ways to work through some of the challenges they may be experiencing?
So, I am proud to be an Ambassador for this campaign and raise money to continue the wonderful programs we offer here at Strides to Success! Working alongside our equine partners, we hope to continue to offer our services and support to individuals seeking a different way to heal themselves.
