Erin Lee

I’m raising money for Horses SenseAbility because its mission is deeply personal to me. Horses have been a part of my life since childhood, and returning to riding as an adult about eight years ago became more meaningful than I ever expected.

For some background, I’ve lived with depression and anxiety for most of my life. A few years ago, my therapist asked me a simple but powerful question: When do you feel truly present? My mind is busy so the times in which I felt present were limited and at that time, were really only when I was reading or horseback riding.

There’s something about being at the barn that grounds me immediately. The sights, sounds, and quiet rhythms of the horses bring me into the moment. When I’m riding, I have to be fully aware of my body — every movement, every breath — because the horse responds to it all. They feel my tension, my stress, even the smallest imbalance. Learning to soften, to be present, and to regulate myself isn’t just helpful for riding — it’s been transformative for my mental health.

In 2024, I was invited to join the board of Horse SenseAbility, a small nonprofit that provides therapeutic horseback riding to children and young adults of all abilities and backgrounds. It felt like things had come full circle. The healing and clarity I’ve experienced through horses is exactly what they strive to provide for others.

I’m raising money because I’ve felt firsthand how powerful this connection can be. Everyone deserves access to moments of peace, presence, and joy — and horses have a remarkable way of making that possible.