Detroit Horse Power, a USEF Community Outreach Organization located in Detroit, Michigan, has cultivated a partnership with Horses for Mental Health, a USEF Opportunity Supporter to further the message that horses can help humans strengthen their mental health.
Detroit Horse Power participated in Horses for Mental Health’s Seen Through Horses campaign, a nationwide campaign that aims to gather support for nonprofit organizations who incorporate horses for their mental health treatment.
Horses for Mental Health is a nonprofit advocacy organization that was founded to “increase awareness, public engagement, funds, and access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth,” according to the Horses for Mental Health website.
“Our mission is to amplify the work that countless organizations are doing across the United States,” said Tyler Brklacich, the Executive Director of Horses for Mental Health. “We cast a wider net. We get more people involved, and we've been able to increase more awareness this way.”
Detroit Horse Power reached out to Horses for Mental Health after seeing a call for applications on social media.
“We first became aware of the Seen Through Horses campaign in 2023. We did not actually participate that year, but we saw a lot of great content on social media around Horses for Mental Health as a national movement,” explained David Silver, the Executive Director of Detroit Horse Power. “Our program has so much in common with their mission. We build critical social-emotional skills in the lives of our Detroit young people through partnering with horses.”
Silver explained that Detroit Horse Power participated in the Horses for Mental Health campaign for two reasons. Not only is the organization promoting its after-school programs and summer camps, but it is also raising money for a new urban equestrian center. Groundbreaking for the facility is scheduled for this fall, and the center will be built on a 14-acre demolished school site.
“The annual fundraising gala this year raised $190,000, which is a new record for us. The Seen Through Horses campaign started immediately after that and hit a $2,500 fundraising goal,” Silver said. “All the support goes to expanding access to horses for Detroit students today. That is a huge new chapter that we are really excited about.”
“We're not raising money for these organizations; we are providing the tools. We are not giving them the fish; we are teaching them how to fish,” added Horses for Mental Health President Lynn Thomas. “Detroit Horse Power utilized the tools that we provided, and they mobilized their community and their supporters to help uplift their program and provide funding.”
Brklacich said that, in a wider sense, funds raised by these social media campaigns go to whatever the organizations need, whether that be horse care, facility care, expanded programs, or scholarships.
“Those dollars then increase access for communities,” he said. “These donations go directly to people in need of support with their mental health or well-being. It's really critical that we share that message unapologetically and without stigma. It is OK to access these resources.”
Silver elaborated that the goal of Detroit Horse Power’s expansion is twofold: expanding geographical access to horses for students living in urban environments and utilizing vacant land in Detroit that “needs new and creative purposes.”
“Detroit Horse Power always moves from barn to barn, and our students generally don't get to ride the same horse twice. They don't get to build lasting relationships with horses. Having that consistent access in Detroit, at a space that our students can really count on, is going to be an absolute game-changer for our students,” Silver said. “This project has been embraced by the residents of this community, who are so excited to add horses as a vibrant part of their neighborhoods.”
High school senior Sonia Singh participated in Detroit Horse Power’s after-school program and explained that the program helped her develop her social-emotional skills.
“Confidence, self-control, responsible risk-taking, perseverance, and empathy are the five things we usually focus on the most,” Singh said.
Singh’s participation in the after-school program also made her realize she wants to pursue a horse-related field of study in college. Currently, she plans to attend Michigan State University and study animal science and barn management.
“When I graduate from high school, the urban equestrian center won't be fully built yet, so I will most likely come back and help during the summer or during the school year,” Singh said. “After I graduate, I want to work with large animals, so probably horses, cows, or other farm animals. Then, I’d like to continue riding, of course.”
In regard to the Seen Through Horses campaign and Horses for Mental Health as a whole, Brklacich said “the sky’s the limit.”
“We're really only two and a half years old. We want to keep expanding the communities that we serve, whether it's through marketing strategy, resources, or storytelling videos,” he said. “We want to continue to provide things beyond the Seen Through Horses campaign. It's a complex ecosystem that we are building, but I think it's something that is going to continue to grow.”
“Our vision is that every person around the world knows that these services exist, so when they have mental health struggles, they'll find a program that incorporates horses and have access to those services,” Thomas said. “We're ultimately looking to uplift the great work that organizations like Detroit Horse Power are doing.”
Thomas elaborated that there is a “huge mental health need” in society, and promoting services that benefit both horses and humans is essential to addressing this crisis. Currently, the Seen Through Horses campaign is centralized around May for Mental Health Awareness Month. However, Thomas wants to expand it so that therapeutic services are promoted year-round.
For now, Silver said he is satisfied with the expansion his program has seen and he continues to hope for more.
“We're really proud of the participants in our after-school program who have been stepping up as junior counselors, supporting the experience of brand-new summer campers,” Silver said. “Watching the students that we've taught through our program become the ones that are teaching young people that are brand new with horses is that full-circle moment that we're all proud of.”
Singh, who is now employed as a counselor at Detroit Horse Power’s summer camp, also hopes to see more participation in the future. She explains that students she teaches in the summer camp often go on to join the after-school program.
“I like seeing that spark, seeing that they want to come back and do it more.” Singh said.
About Detroit Horse Power
Detroit Horse Power uniquely addresses two persistent problems facing the Motor City: the shortage of opportunities for metro Detroit’s vulnerable populations (especially children) and the abundance of vacant land. Through riding and caring for horses in a safe and enriching space, program participants learn valuable skills that set them up for future success. Our facility, built on repurposed vacant land, will contribute to the city’s renewal and be a center for community events and equestrian services. Learn more at https://www.detroithorsepower.org/.
About Horses for Mental Health
Horses for Mental Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization harnessing the transformative power of the horse-human connection to revolutionize mental well-being. HMH was founded to increase awareness, public engagement, funds, and access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. Horses for Mental Health convenes the industry to build a future where everyone has access to effective mental health services. Diversity and inclusivity are at the core of our mission, ensuring these life-changing experiences reach all communities. Learn more at https://horsesformentalhealth.org/.
About Community Outreach Program
The USEF Community Outreach Program includes a directory of organizations that provide equine-based learning opportunities and support the positive impact horses can have within their local communities. Organizations must apply and be accepted for inclusion in the USEF Community Outreach Program. These organizations must meet certain standards of horse and human welfare, including USEF Safe Sport requirements and abiding by the USEF Non-Discrimination Policy, as well as offering their services for free or on a sliding scale of fees based on financial need, and more, before being recognized through this program. To learn more, visit www.usef.org/opportunity.