Smiley Goat Farm/Provided Photo
Hay has always been for horses, and now May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, is for horses as well.
Basalt’s Smiling Goat Ranch was recently selected from more than 100 applicants to participate in a month-long national campaign called “Scene Through Horses.” The campaign will help raise awareness of horses and improve access to programs that incorporate horses into mental health and personal development services. Go to the Smiling Goat Ranch press release.
Cheryl Balt, founder and executive director of Smiling Goat Ranch, which has been running it since 2015, said this is only the third year of the campaign, but this is the first time the nonprofit organization Basalt has participated.
Along with other organizations selected to participate in the campaign, this nonprofit organization will support people with neuropsychiatric illnesses such as autism, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as veterans and those in recovery. The healing effects of horses have also been brought to those affected by the disease. It is due to grief and trauma, and families will not be charged for treatment services, according to the release. Small social animals such as goats, rabbits, and dogs are also used.
“We don’t charge families for our services, so we’re raising money,” she said. “All of our treatment programs are free to families, so fundraising is essential to sustaining our mission.”
Tyler Vuklasich is the co-founder and executive producer of Horses for Mental Health, the nonprofit organization behind the Seen Through Horses campaign.
“Our goal is to create a stage that will ultimately shine a spotlight on nonprofits across the country that are integrating horses into mental health,” he said. “We’re expanding their efforts. Many of these mom-and-pop stores don’t have the resources or the manpower. Their specialty is providing services for the community and mental health. But social… The media, going out, getting celebrities involved, these are all things we do to bring more attention and education, and they benefit from all of that.”
He said dozens of celebrities and influencers have been recruited and are being used to broadcast the campaign to the public and direct interested people to the Seen Through Horses website. The website includes links to all participating nonprofit/charitable organizations by state and organization, such as Smiling Goat Ranch.
“This is a peer-to-peer fundraising awareness program,” he said. “All the funds they raise go directly to their nonprofit. We don’t receive any money.”
In addition to donating directly to Smiling Goat Ranch through its website, Barto holds small fundraising events several times a month that people can attend, which she hopes people will attend.
For more information, visit smilinggoatranch.com. or horseformentalhealth.org
