Thanksgiving always makes us slow down and think about the people and programs that make this work feel so special. Horses For Mental Health is grateful for our Program Partners all year long, but this season has us reflecting a little extra on everything they pour into their communities. We asked them what they’re grateful for right now, and their answers say so much about the heart behind this field.
At Freedom Equine Connection, this season has brought so much to be grateful for. Since the campaign, we’ve continued to grow and have supported foster youth, at-risk youth, veterans, first responders, and families through the healing power of horses. With this year’s campaign support, we’ve provided 30 sessions, each creating meaningful moments of confidence, emotional regulation, and connection.
We are deeply thankful for our donors, Fundraising Ambassadors, volunteers, and our local community. Campaign funds go directly toward caring for our herd, covering essential needs like feed, farrier work, supplements, and veterinary care so our horses can continue showing up fully for the people who rely on them. Because of this generosity, we also provided 10 scholarship sessions to youth and women who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to services.
As we enter this season of gratitude, we’re reminded of the power of community and the impact created when people come together in support of healing. From our team and our herd, thank you for believing in our mission of Horses and Humans Helping People.
Since the Seen Through Horses campaign, H.O.O.V.E.S. has continued to grow and change lives thanks to the incredible generosity of our community. We are deeply grateful to share that we raised $40,000, coming in third place overall in the campaign, which was truly an honor.
These funds directly supported eight veterans through our five-day healing intensive and one year of success coaching. Each veteran experienced powerful breakthroughs and reconnected with hope, purpose, and the will to live.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Levis Commons, The family and friends who donated in memory of Jay Held, VFW Auxiliary Post 1238, The Toledo Club, Bayview Park Amvets Post 222, Sarah Hess, Drake Strategic Consulting, Tony and Marcy Fronk, Justen Cariss Memorial, Walbridge VFW Post 9963, and the McMaster Family Foundation for being some of our top contributors to the campaign.
Because of you, our veterans and horses continue to heal together, and we are reminded that community truly makes this mission possible. This Thanksgiving, we are most grateful for the power of connection, the kind that happens when compassion, purpose, and partnership come together to save lives.
Photo courtesy of KH Photography
Our program has continued to grow in strength and purpose since this year’s campaign with Horses for Mental Health. Through the generosity of supporters across the spectrum of our events and the momentum from the campaign, we’ve expanded our sessions and reached even more individuals seeking healing and connection. Our organization is able to serve over 200 people in Equine Assisted Services per week, including programs for veterans, teens facing anxiety and families rebuilding trust.
We are deeply grateful for everyone who stands beside us, our donors, fundraising ambassadors, volunteers and our local community. The kindness in our community keeps the tradition of healing alive through horses. Most of all, we’re thankful for the steady partnership of our herd, whose quiet presence continues to change lives in ways words can barely capture. Because of this shared commitment, we move into the season ahead, hopeful, grounded and ready for what comes next.
What began as our first year participating, with a modest goal of $2,500, became a powerful testimony to God’s provision and the generosity of our community.
Together, we raised $9,086, thanks to the kindness of family, friends, and compassionate strangers. One angel in disguise was Sarah Bliss, a first responder who generously helped facilitate a major gift from the Sharon A. Campbell Estate, which accounted for over half of the funds raised in our campaign.
Her generosity reflected the very heart of our mission, bringing hope and healing to those in need, and beautifully embodied what it means to care for the community both in and out of uniform.
From June through October, these funds allowed us to provide 68 hours of equine-assisted therapy for struggling youth and 27 hours for adults. Within that, 18 sessions were offered free of charge to disadvantaged youth, and 17 decompression sessions were provided at no cost to adults serving our community, including first responders, veterans, and caregivers, helping them find rest and renewal. Participants worked through anxiety, depression, stress and overwhelm, grief and loss, PTSD, and the weight of life-altering medical diagnoses.
The support we received also covered our liability insurance for the coming year, ensuring the safety and sustainability of our program.
This Thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for the reminder that healing happens best in community. From donors and ambassadors to everyday neighbors, it’s people caring for one another that makes hope possible.
Each act of generosity reflects the truth that when we come together, hearts are restored and lives are changed, one relationship at a time.
We at In The Herd Cape Cod want to send out a very big Thank You this holiday season to all who have supported us and our mission to serve others.
We must first acknowledge Horses for Mental Health. Without them and the support that they’ve given us we might still be horsing around with this mission to serve and better our community 😉
A very big, warm thank you to all who have directly supported us financially and physically. It takes a lot to run efficient, effective programs with horses.
Thank you, With Love and Gratitude to all my family, friends, and these organizations.
