The month of May is Mental Health Awareness, and in honor of this very important topic I thought I’d share some equine-assisted wellness programs that I’ve stumbled upon throughout my internet-ing. Mental health is something that takes on many different interpretations, but the basic reality is this: life is tough, and the expectations that we pile upon ourselves, that we receive from those around us, and the perception we have of ourselves as a result is a whole lot to sift through. When things get heavy, and with so much feedback coming at us from all sides (including from inside our own hands) – well, it’s easy to see why there’s an all-out mental health epidemic affecting today’s society.
Lucky for us, horses happen to be an excellent source of therapy (just don’t tell your bank account – or do! consider it a mental health investment!) and one program that piqued my interest this week is the Atlanta area’s SOOFA (Stretch Out on Faith Again) Ranch. Founded by Daryl L. Fletcher, SOOFA Ranch focuses on the mental benefits of time spent around horses, aiming to help its participants learn connection, confidence, character and communication.
“We make sure that a person has a connection with the horse they’re riding. We make sure they are comfortable riding that horse, and once we get them saddled, we’re building their confidence because a horse is very in tune with a person’s emotions,” Daryl told Travel Noire. “When you’re excited or sad, the horse can feel it. Our experience gives you a glimpse of what we call ‘Equine Assisted Learning Therapy’ to help you be mindful of your emotions.”
It’s something we can all take a page from: meditative, reflective time spent with our horses. I hope you get some time with your horse for your own health this week.
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Flora Lea Farm H.T. (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]
MCTA H.T. at Shawan Downs (Hunt Valley, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]
Otter Creek Spring H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]
Spring Gulch H.T. (Highlands Ranch, Co.): [Website]
Wednesday Reading List:
“I want to bring awareness to people, saying, ‘It’s okay not to feel good. You’re not alone,'” Ryder Richardson told US Equestrian for their most recent “I Am US Equestrian” feature. “There’s somebody out there to help you.” Don’t miss the inspiring story here.
Have you heard? We just launched an epic giveaway in partnership with SmartPak to get you all kitted out in rain/mud gear. For your chance to win over $400 worth of rain-ready gear, you’ll definitely want to check out this fun contest here.
US Equestrian has released an update to its COVID-19 Action Plan to recommend that members comply with local and state regulations as an added layer of flexibility. Read more here.
The right flooring in your horse’s stall can make a big difference, as this case study from our friends at Haygain shows.
Wednesday Video Break:
Go behind the scenes with the incredible para-equestrian program, Balmoral:
