Animal sanctuary fundraiser supports equine mental health services

May is a time when many individuals prioritize their mental health, and one way people can do so is through equine therapy. In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, Forever Amber Acres Animal Sanctuary is holding a fundraiser to support an organization that provides mental health services with horses.

“We belong to a network called Horses for Mental Health,” Forever Amber Acres founder and Executive Director Michele Bolinger said. “It’s a global effort of horse professionals and nonprofits around the world that are trying to amplify awareness of how healing horses can be and the need to support nonprofits that are doing the work.”

Horses for Mental Health was founded as a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources for equine-assisted services for mental health and personal growth. The organization was started by social worker Lynn Thomas in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was a way for her to support other nonprofit organizations that were, at that time, also struggling to keep their barn doors open,” Bolinger said. “The mental health crisis was really amplified at that time during COVID and has been ever since.”

Likewise, the mission of Forever Amber Acres is to provide hope and healing for veterans, military families and first responders through the horses the sanctuary rescues. The organization, which currently houses seven horses, provides equine-assisted services free of charge.

“It’s organizations like ours that include mental health professionals, equine professionals and the horses, and we’re all trained in delivering equine-assisted therapy and wellness services to others,” Bolinger said.

One benefit of equine therapy, Bolinger said, is the ability of horses to help people live in the present moment without ruminating about the past or worrying about the future.

“That’s a big thing because us humans are always thinking about the past, past trauma, past experiences, worrying about the future, so they will teach you how to stay in the present moment,” she said. “They can help lower your breath rate, your breaths per minute. They can help lower your heart rate. They can help us identify things that are going on internally within ourselves that maybe we haven’t wanted to talk about before or try to fix.”

Additionally, Bolinger said horses are always acutely aware of how to keep themselves safe and can help humans learn how to do the same.

“I hope that people get awareness and a sense of pride that they have made a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are struggling, as well as the therapy horses that we have rescued who are giving back to their community for those who have served,” she said.

The fundraiser goal is for Forever Amber Acres to raise $20,000 to support the Healing Through Horses campaign. Donations can be made through May 31 at foreveramber.org and shorturl.at/zjOak. Checks also can be mailed to Forever Amber Acres, 1133 Granger Road, Medina, OH 44256.