Grief has shaped parts of my life in ways I never expected.
There have been seasons when loss felt heavy, when the ground beneath me didn’t feel steady, when I was holding more than I knew how to carry. In those moments, words didn’t always help. Advice didn’t always help.
But the horses and donkeys did.
They stood with me in my grief without trying to fix it. They didn’t rush me. They didn’t ask me to explain what I was feeling. They simply offered presence — steady, grounded, honest presence. And somehow, in that quiet space, I began to find my footing again.
That is why this work is so personal to me.
At Healing Strides, I see others walk through our gates carrying their own grief — grief from trauma, loss, stress, anxiety, burnout. And I watch what happens when a horse meets them exactly where they are. I see shoulders soften. I see tears fall safely. I see strength return.
These are the quiet miracles I witness every day.
As an ambassador for Horses for Mental Health, I am raising funds so more people can access this kind of healing — regardless of their circumstances.
Because sometimes healing doesn’t happen through words.
Sometimes it happens through connection.
And sometimes it begins with a horse or a donkey.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to stand with me and support this work.
