GPL’s Impact Continues To Grow The Gay Polo League Advances The Goal For Investment In LGBTQ+ Sports

By Jennifer Martinez

Chip McKenney, founder and president of the Gay Polo League (GPL), knew he had created something special when he received a simple, but powerful compliment from the event’s parking lot supervisor at the end of the 2014 International Gay Polo Tournament.

“People arrive happy and leave happier, which is rare,” the supervisor said. “We noticed because we are the first and last group to interact with your attendees.”

McKenney felt the significance. “He was moved to share that,” McKenney recalled. “It showed that the tournament resonated with him in a deeper way.”

This year’s Lexus International Gay Polo Tournament, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, will be held April 6-8 at the National Polo Center-Wellington.

McKenney, a branding expert and president of McKenney Media, knows the tournament’s experience is critical to growth.

Founded in 2006 as the only LGBTQ+ polo organization in the world, GPL is dedicated to producing high-end LGBTQ+ polo events and experiences. McKenney endeavors to unite and celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, including polo celebrities, aficionados, sports enthusiasts and the general public. “I wanted GPL to be as inclusive and as far-reaching as it could be,” McKenney said.

His vision has been a formula for success. Since McKenney brought the tournament to Wellington in 2010, attendance has grown to more than 2,500. Sixty-five percent are in-state, and 35 percent come from outside Florida and the United States. An astonishing 80 percent have never attended a polo tournament.

The players have also grown — in diversity and skill. In GPL’s early years, most players were novices. Those players have honed their game, and the league has attracted more experienced players — gay and non-gay — from all over the world. Now, games are “fast and open,” McKenney said.

While the league has evolved, McKenney has stayed true to GPL’s inclusiveness by putting forward only one expectation.

“Anyone who comes on any given day makes it better because they are there,” he said. “You can be a complete novice, and never get out of the walk, and we will welcome you as much as a high-end polo fast champion.”

Fueling GPL’s growth are the high-end sponsors drawn to the tournament’s success and its mission.

Luxury automotive brand Lexus has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2021. Presenting sponsor Douglas Elliman Real Estate, a company passionate about delivering exceptional experiences, has also been on board since 2021. Both were a perfect match for GPL, believing in the value of inclusiveness by partnering with the league, and appealing to the tournament’s luxury-oriented demographic. The prestige of the brands “speaks volumes about our event and the quality,” McKenney said.

Sponsor of the tournament’s VIP tent every year is Cherry Knoll Farm. Owners and allies Bob and Margaret Duprey, whom McKenney describes as a “fan favorite,” are an example of how all sponsors at every level share a common denominator with the league. “We want to be special, we want to be valued and we want to do good,” McKenney said.

GPL’s growth has also come from the support of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the United States Polo Association.

In 2022, GPL was inducted into the Palm Beach Sports Hall of Fame and received the prestigious Palm Beach County Sports Commission “Champion of Equity & Diversity in Sports” award, recognizing its work to create an atmosphere that affirms and supports the understanding and acceptance of all individuals. McKenney received the award during the commission’s 45th hall of fame induction ceremony.

“What made it so meaningful was that we were voted in by non-LGBTQ+ people,” McKenney said. “It reinforced my belief that what we do has value way beyond the people who play on our fields.”

McKenney’s invitation to join the USPA’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee last year was another milestone. He played a significant role in developing the association’s diversity policy, which acknowledges the value of the entire diversity spectrum to sports.

“Sporting organizations are recognizing that diversity enhances the sport, the experience and the events,” McKenney said.

GPL’s partnership with the Village of Wellington, a new tournament sponsor, is another milestone.

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes sees how the GPL aligns with advancing the community’s goals, particularly as a Palm Beach County Sports Commission partner.

“The Wellington Village Council has identified sports tourism as a component of what we do here in Wellington,” said Barnes, citing the linkage to the village’s investment in parks and recreation as a key part of building community. “It’s in our DNA.”

Equally important, Barnes noted, is greater support for the LGBTQ+ community. “Sponsoring GPL is another step to being an inclusive community and acknowledging and supporting the members of our community who are here,” he said.

Wellington’s LGBTQ+ inclusiveness is recognized at state and national levels. The village was chosen as the partner and host community for the inaugural Florida state LGBTQ+ Liaison Summit hosted by Florida’s Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in October 2022. Nationally, the village was awarded the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Municipal Equality Index “All Star” designation. Wellington voluntarily submitted for the nation’s only assessment of LGBTQ+ equality regarding municipal policies, laws and services, scoring 100 out of 100 points in 2021 and 2022.

“We want to be the gold standard,” said Kimberly Gibbons, the village’s HR director and LGBTQ+ liaison. “It’s so important for everyone to chart this path and be open and inclusive, welcome everyone, and make sure everyone feels valued and safe.”

The relationship between the village and GPL began when McKenney was introduced to Barnes and Gibbons through Rand Hoch, founder and president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

Gibbons sees the connection between supporting the GPL’s development and the village’s. “There is a growing body of research that shows an openness to diversity and inclusion is a key element that leads to economic growth,” she said.

Barnes noted the dollars that flow from the tournament into the area’s hotels, restaurants and retail stores, as well as the supporting equestrian businesses and services utilized by the GPL.

“There is a direct economic benefit to the local community. We have a local case study right here in our backyard,” Barnes said. “It’s 12 years of success and growing.”

McKenney has his sights set on continued growth by making the tournament a destination for LGBTQ+ tourism. “We are well on our way, and we’re going to keep going,” he said.

True to his inclusivity mission, McKenney recognizes all who helped GPL get this far.

“A lot of people over the years have touched and improved this event,” he said. “I really owe the success to everyone.”

Learn more about the Gay Polo League at www.gaypolo.com.

At The GPL, It’s All About The Mission

By Jennifer Martinez

When Chip McKenney reflects on why he founded the Gay Polo League (GPL), memories of exclusion and isolation come rushing forward.

“I felt like I was the only gay athlete in the world,” said McKenney, the league’s founder and president. “There was pressure then, that still exists today, to keep quiet if someone is gay and athletic. I felt team sports were not a safe place for me, so I avoided them.”

Polo became the vehicle for McKenney to create belonging. As a former show jumper, he saw polo as a way to bring the LGBTQ+ community together for sport and fun. He launched GPL in Los Angeles in 2006 by inviting gay athletes and allies to a monthly tournament at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Beyond the joyful camaraderie of the matches, he saw the greater impact that GPL was making.

“We have an opportunity to model athletes who are LGBTQ+ in a way that shows younger people that you can be a gay person, you can participate in a team sport, and you can do both authentically and openly,” McKenney said.

McKenney also sees the Gay Polo League’s broader role in uniting all on the field.

“We are a gay-identified organization. However, we are inclusive, not exclusive,” he said. “We believe there is power and great value in allies playing on our teams and supporting our events.”

He sees it all as part of the GPL’s mission, which is “to inspire and empower those individuals who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender via the promotion of and participation in the sport of polo.”

As the league grew, it wasn’t long before McKenney set his sights on Wellington, bringing the first International Gay Polo Tournament to the village in 2010. He saw the power of GPL just as that first tournament concluded.

As McKenney left the stage at the end of the trophy presentation, a security guard approached. He shared the story of his close cousin, a Vietnam veteran, who disappeared to San Francisco after the war. The guard never heard from his cousin again, learning later that he was gay and died of AIDS. He told McKenney, “Protecting you today was something I couldn’t do for him.”

In that moment, McKenney experienced the GPL’s mission coming to fruition.

“Awareness stimulates discussion, discussion generates understanding, and understanding is the foundation and cornerstone of inclusion and equity,” he said.

The league’s efforts to advance inclusivity grew when the tournament became a nonprofit charitable organization in 2016. Since then, the league has chosen an LGBTQ+ charity as the beneficiary of each Wellington tournament, creating awareness of the isolation and exclusion that has hurt gay people of every age.

The first year, the tournament donated funds to the Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center in Lake Worth to support its youth center and homeless youth outreach. The following two years, GPL chose SAGE, a national advocacy organization that looks out for LGBTQ+ elders who face financial hardship, challenges in finding care facilities that will accept them, and other, often unseen, barriers.

This year and last, GPL chose the onePULSE Foundation, established in the aftermath of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre, to honor the legacies of the 49 people killed. The four pillars of the charity’s mission are to create and support a memorial, a museum, educational programs and scholarships for students who share the same ambitions as the victims.

McKenney credits Barbara Poma, owner of the Pulse nightclub and founder of onePULSE, for inspiring an exponential increase in giving — from $20,000 in 2020 to $135,000 in 2022 — through sharing her moving story at GPL events.

“OnePULSE is helping us move the needle toward visibility and acceptance,” McKenney said. “It also gives us an opportunity to give back to the LGBTQ+ community.”

It’s a needle that McKenney will never stop moving. His vision is for the tournament is to become a “massively successful $1 million fundraising event.”

“It can be done,” he said with the conviction of a polo player who sees nothing but an open field ahead.

Learn more about the onePULSE Foundation, this year’s beneficiary, at www.onepulsefoundation.org.

Sponsors Make The Magic Happen
The International Gay Polo League Relies On Sponsor Support To Impact Change

By Jennifer Martinez

In a world of philanthropy and impactful work, sponsors are vital in supporting change. No organization recognizes this as well as the Gay Polo League, which annually hosts the Lexus International Gay Polo Tournament, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, in Wellington. Sponsors have helped to grow the event in attendance size, notoriety and dollars raised to make an impact for the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2022, the organization, thanks in large part to the generosity of sponsors, was able to make its largest donation to date — $135,000 to the onePULSE Foundation. It was that day that the bar was set for 2023.

Stepping up once again as title sponsor is Lexus. Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology and exhilarating performance matches the work being done by the Gay Polo League, both on and off the field. The company, and the nonprofit, embrace the luxury lifestyle to create amazing experiences with a slate of international events happening throughout the year.

Returning as presenting sponsor is Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Douglas Elliman brings more than a century’s worth of insight, experience and knowledge to deliver unparalleled experiences for every real estate need. And whether you are looking in Wellington, or across the pond, there is a team ready to assist you.

A name synonymous for quality and achievement, Cherry Knoll Farm, will return as the VIP tent sponsor and as a team sponsor. Cherry Knoll Farm, led by Margaret Duprey, competes at the highest levels of competition both in North America and Europe. The three additional team sponsors for the 2023 event will be Greenberg Traurig, Woodford Reserve and McKenney Media. U.S. Polo Assn. will serve as the team jersey sponsor.

Grand sponsors include the Baptist Health Foundation, 3 Graces Dressage and Equity Performance Equine. J. Pacetti Precious Jewels is the jewelry sponsor, with RBC Wealth Management serving as sponsor of the VIP reception.

Additional sponsors for the upcoming event include: the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Discover the Palm Beaches, Emerald Elite Senior Home Care, Churchill Downs, Nomad Sean Rush, Palm City Polo, Passport Magazine, Casablanca, Wellington The Magazine and the Village of Wellington.

The Village of Wellington’s sponsorship includes an exciting donation of signage around town to let residents and visitors know about the upcoming festivities.

“We are honored and excited to welcome our new and returning sponsors for the 2023 event,” said Chip McKenney, GPL’s founder and president. “Each and every sponsor is an ally and a partner in moving the needle forward for equality. We are very much looking forward to the event so we can join together to celebrate change!”

Learn more about the sponsors at www.gaypolo.com/our-sponsors.

Everybody Is Welcome At The GPL The Stars Are Aligning For The Gay Polo League’s Tournament Set For April 6-9

By Jennifer Martinez

If you have ever attended the Lexus International Gay Polo Tournament, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, you know it is equal parts celebration and serious competitive play. Both will be on full display when the tournament returns to the National Polo Center-Wellington on April 6-9.

Chip McKenney, founder and president of the Gay Polo League (GPL), and his team recognize all the facets that come together to give polo and the tournament its mystique and appeal.

“It’s a historic sport, it’s a traditional sport, it’s a sexy sport and it’s a global sport,” he said.

According to McKenney, it is also a welcoming sport. He credits polo for embracing the LGBTQ+ community and the tournament he first brought to Wellington in 2010, drawing player and ally celebrities from near and far.

Leading American polo player Nic Roldan participated in the tournament in its early years, immediately bringing star status to GPL. No. 1 world player Adolfo Cambiaso and his wife María Vázquez have cheered on the players.

Polo professionals Joey Casey and Hector Galindo, both Polo Hall of Fame inductees, have competed in numerous GPL tournaments. And Argentinian pro Nacho Figueras has attended and expressed his support for the league, as have numerous 10-goalers and other top professionals who have watched the matches.

They are more than spectators to McKenney. Their support as allies has enhanced the league’s credibility.

“If gay people say it’s important, that’s one thing,” McKenney said. “If an ally says it’s important, it seems to be louder, to hold more value.”

When McKenney thinks about the value that the players bring to the field — gay and non-gay — one word comes to mind: courage. “People who are comfortable enough in their own skin who are not gay and want to play in a gay polo league are powerful and brave,” he said. “It also takes bravery for someone who is LGBTQ+ to play as an openly gay athlete.”

This year’s tournament will feature a majority of LGBTQ+ players, including an entire team from France. Other players hail from Argentina, Germany, the Netherlands, Peru, Spain, California and New York. McKenney meets many of the players during GPL’s international events in Argentina, England and France. With members in 15 countries, the league is looking forward to fielding a GPL team to compete in the 10th Luxembourg Polo International Tournament this summer and will produce an International Gay Polo Tournament in London this September.

However, Wellington holds the title of GPL’s flagship tournament. The play on the field is as unique as the league itself. It will be the first time any of the players have come together as a team. None will play on their own horses, and they will have only one day of practice before competing. McKenney credits Joey Casey with sourcing the ponies, matching them to the skill levels of the players, and putting the four teams together for the tournament. Four polo pros will also donate their time to make the tournament the best it can be.

“People are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge,” McKenney said.

GPL has opened the door for a diverse collection of people to come together. Players and allies from all over the world descend upon Wellington each year from all circles, including gay and non-gay, celebrity players and novices, international polo aficionados and local entertainment-seekers, all looking for a highly engaging multi-day event where everyone is welcome.

“We celebrate the best of our community by encouraging creativity, energy and positivity for everybody, whether they are playing on our teams, or spectating and building incredible tailgates,” McKenney said.

And the tailgates are incredible. They are a visual component of what is unique and joyful about the GPL. Field-side tent décor has ranged from Alice in Wonderland to Brunch at Tiffany’s, with prizes awarded for best theme and best food.

The tournament’s Polotini Wigstock kickoff party the Friday night before the tournament, billed as a “hair-raising extravaganza,” has also developed a following. As the event has grown, so have the wigs, becoming more elaborate and colorful every year. “When somebody puts on a wig, they’re already starting the party,” McKenney said. “They arrive ready to rock and roll. It’s great fun.”

The joy of the evening has poured over into generosity from those who attend. Last year, Wigstock raised $135,000 for charity partner the onePULSE Foundation, the cause that has been selected again for 2023.

No matter what part of the five-day tournament someone attends, no matter how many years in a row they’ve participated, McKenney guarantees that it will be better than the last. He credits his production team with challenging themselves to reinvent the experience every year.

“I want people who come year after year to leave thinking that it was unlike any event they’ve ever been to — including ours,” he said. “Our goal isn’t to be the biggest. It’s to be the best.”

Learn more about the Gay Polo League at www.gaypolo.com.

New Logo, Same Mission Rebranding Symbolizes The Union Of The Central Palm Beach County Chamber And The Hispanic
Chamber Of Commerce Of Palm Beach County

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County recently held a launch party at the Wellington International showgrounds to celebrate the unveiling of new logos and branding for the jointly run organizations.

The new logo outlines a white palm tree in blue, green and gold colors. Mary Lou Bedford, CEO of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber, said that the goal of the rebranding is to solidify the message of the union between the two previously separate organizations as one.

“In the summer of 2020, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce expressed interest to join with our organization as its area encompassed a large portion of the Hispanic businesses, and our missions were aligned,” Bedford explained. “During the pandemic, we saw a trend across the nation’s chamber organizations, partnering to give a stronger, more collective voice to the business community.”

The Central Chamber’s board of directors voted to move forward with the Hispanic Chamber as part of a unified organization.

“However, after almost a year and a half of the partnership, the message still wasn’t clear that we are one organization with two entities within it,” Bedford said. “If you are a member of one, you are a member of both. It’s important for our members to realize that the Central Chamber remains focused on economic sustainability, development and advocacy for our businesses, but now we had an additional opportunity with the Hispanic Chamber as part of the organization to serve a larger demographic of businesses countywide. It gives members of both chambers a broader networking pool.”

In 2022, at the suggestion of current board chair Pam Tahan, CEO of Wellington Regional Medical Center, they put together a focus group of members from both organizations.

“During the focus group sessions, it was determined that a rebranding of the chambers would be effective with our new strategy as an organization,” Bedford said.

Maria S. Antuña has been the CEO of the Hispanic Chamber for eight years and continues in that role, in charge of business development/Hispanic affairs for the unified chamber group.

“The decision to join the two chambers brings combined efforts in the areas of economic impact, marketing opportunities, workforce development strategies and a stronger combined effort in the advocacy area,” said Antuña, noting that the Hispanic Chamber has been around since 1996. “The Hispanic Chamber and Central Palm Beach County Chamber overlapped in pockets of the county. With the Hispanic Chamber covering all of Palm Beach County, it made sense to join forces, and both chambers benefit from creating a solid, strong partnership.”

She believes that the rebranding effort will create clarity and a strong perception of a unified organization. The new logo better represents the joining of the two chambers, Antuña said.

Krissy Robbs, marketing manager for both chambers, was involved in planning the Rebranding Launch Party held in February at the Wellington International showgrounds.

“The Village of Wellington partnered with the chambers for this event,” Robbs said. “The main objective for having the Rebranding Launch Party at Wellington International during the Great Charity Challenge was to increase awareness of the partnership of the two chambers.”

Chamber Vice Chair Michael Stone, president of Wellington International, led the invitation-only event and revealed the new logo to the board of directors, members and guests.

“Guests mingled and watched the equestrian activities while enjoying dinner,” Robbs said. “The Village of Wellington’s council members and Mayor Anne Gerwig made a proclamation at the event honoring the equestrian season. Guests were gifted favor bags as a token of appreciation from the chambers. ProForma Turnkey Marketing donated the bags and the items inside. Inside the bags were bamboo water bottles, a notepad and pen, and hand sanitizer — all with the new branding of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Palm Beach County.”

Stone was excited about how the rebranding has been received. “The rebranding was essential to show how the Hispanic Chamber and the Central Chamber are clearly working together to help businesses both large and small in Palm Beach County,” he said.

“We saw the event as a great opportunity to showcase how our organizations work together, as well as a celebration to thank Mary Lou and Maria for their all they do for our organizations,” Tahan added.

Bedford noted that the unified chamber, which operates out of an office in Wellington, represents not only a huge coverage area, but also a large slice of local history.

“The Central Palm Beach County Chamber, formerly known as the Palms West Chamber, is celebrating 40 years this year,” she said. “We became the Central Palm Beach County Chamber in 2012, after a merger with the Lake Worth Chamber, expanding our footprint to one-third of the county. The Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce had been in existence for more than 100 years at that time, so there’s a lot of history in this organization.”

Bedford believes that the recent rebranding will help unify the local business community. “It will bring a more unified business community, that has a strong, diversified representation of business leaders and organizations in all industries,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to support initiatives that impact a larger demographic of the business community. Our organization will continue to be a voice for advocacy in all areas of industry, throughout Palm Beach County, to ensure a healthy business climate for all.”

Antuña believes that the future is strong for the Hispanic Chamber.

“With the help of our newly formed diversified Hispanic Advisory Council, the Hispanic Chamber will continue providing a platform for the Hispanic community, serve as a voice for the Hispanic community, and provide opportunities for businesses to contribute to the economic growth in Palm Beach County,” she said. “Both the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Central Palm Beach County Chamber are proud in serving all of the county, contributing to the economic growth of the area while representing and supporting diversity and inclusion.”

For more information about the two chambers, visit www.cpbchamber.com and www.hispanicchamberpbc.com.

Helping Horses In Need
Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary Advocates For America’s Forgotten Horses

By Sydney Jones

You don’t have to be a large-scale operation to make a difference, you just have to be passionate enough to facilitate change. Olivia Alcorta, founder and owner of Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary Inc., works to do just that every day.

The nonprofit horse rescue is dedicated to protecting horses in need by providing sanctuary and driving awareness to end the export and inhumane slaughter of American horses. By focusing on three main initiatives — rescue, advocacy and rehabilitation — the small, nine-stall farm has saved more than 275 horses in just over two years and has no plans of slowing down.

Nestled on an 18-acre plot that was purchased by Alcorta and her husband, Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary opened in early 2021 to save lives and promote equine welfare. The organization actively rescues horses from inhumane situations all across the United States, providing them with a safe place to live in peace.

They also use their voice to help horses, spreading knowledge and support for animals that have been mistreated. Most importantly, the organization aids in the animals’ recovery efforts, no matter what the outcome looks like. Returning to competition is oftentimes the utmost priority for injured or neglected horses, but for Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary, a happy and healthy animal is always the end goal.

During her personal riding career, Alcorta frequented the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. Year after year, she would make the trip south to compete in different amateur jumper divisions throughout the circuit. Her competitive career ultimately fostered a love for horses that became the driving force behind Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary.

Not every horse is meant to be a show jumper, but every horse is meant to be treated with the love and care they deserve.

“I rescued our first horse, Abe, from a kill pen in July 2020. Everyone told me I was crazy and that all the horses in those pens were in there for a reason and were dangerous. I was terrified for Abe to arrive, but the moment he got off the trailer, he buried his head into my body and has wanted to be there ever since. He is gentleness personified and one of the most special horses I’ve ever known,” Alcorta said. “After saving and getting to know him, I knew I had to help more horses like Abe. From there, a mission was born and is fueled every day by his presence and all the other souls we’ve been fortunate enough to save.”

Taking care of neglected and abused horses isn’t a one-woman show. Alcorta relies on a dedicated group of individuals to help bring her vision to life. The daily undertaking they have to shoulder to give these animals the life they deserve is extensive, and the nonprofit appreciates any and all volunteers.

“Our day starts with giving all of the horses their breakfast. We do a mixture of triple crown grain, shredded beetroot, horse guard supplements and whatever individual medicine they require,” Alcorta said. “The horses are then moved to their respective paddocks, and we start with morning chores. As the morning wraps up, we will tend to any medical needs that the horses require, as we typically always have a medically intensive case here at the sanctuary. We will then do some training with the orphan foals or ride the horses. We usually take a midday rest before it is time for evening chores, and I will do a night check as well.”

However, the conversation doesn’t end with Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary. As a sanctuary with limited space, there is always something more that the horse world can be doing to support these animals.

“I think the best way to advocate for abused and neglected horses is to shed as much light on the issue as possible,” Alcorta said. “Share on social media pages, talk about it with people who may not be aware, and generally just get this issue in front of as many eyes as possible. Ignorance is bliss, but change happens when we bring this darkness into the light.”

What started as a scary idea for Alcorta has developed into an operation that is more than she could’ve ever dreamed of. For future endeavors, she hopes to acquire more land to be able to save and care for more of America’s forgotten horses.

“I think every horse that comes here is a success story for us,” she said. “Each horse that our mission gets to touch and change is a major victory. Every day that we are still operating and giving them the care and life they deserve is the ultimate success for me.

Learn more about Storeybrook Farm at www.storeybrookfarmsanctuary.com.

Seen Through Horses Horses For Mental Health’s 2023 Campaign Will Coincide With Mental Health Awareness Month In May

By Jillian Eberlein and Sydney Jones

Horses have been an essential part of human life for thousands of years and continue to be beneficial beyond the show rings. In recent years, horses have proven to be an integral part in making a difference for individuals facing mental health challenges.

Due to their size and presence, horses provide an engaging and emotionally safe way to understand ourselves and make healthy changes with the support of treatment professionals. As prey animals, horses are highly sensitive to nonverbal messages and intentions, which can provide valuable feedback that leads to healing. The relationship between humans and horses provides a safe, dynamic environment where peace and healing coexist.

Horses for Mental Health, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2021 to increase awareness, public engagement, funds and access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. Through these objectives, the goal of the organization is to uplift nonprofit programs that provide these services through funding support and by spreading awareness globally that incorporating horses for mental health treatment and personal development is an accessible and effective option.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five people will be affected by mental illness in their life, and depression is the No. 1 cause of disability worldwide, however only 46 percent of adults receive treatment.

Horses for Mental Health is led by Lynn Thomas, co-founder and president, who has been a leading force for change in the conversation surrounding mental health through several ventures, including Eagala and Arenas for Change, where she has served as co-founder and CEO.

Thomas is a licensed clinical social worker and received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah in 1995. She first developed a program integrating horses as a primary treatment component while serving as executive director of a residential boarding school for troubled adolescents. From Thomas’s experience, passion and knowledge regarding how horses impact the well-being of humans, Horses for Mental Health was born.

The 2023 Seen Through Horses Campaign is a peer-to-peer campaign that partners with nonprofit organizations, philanthropists, celebrities, influencers and companies to improve access to programs that incorporate horses for mental health and personal growth. The campaign will run from May 1 through May 31 to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month. On the heels of a successful 2022 campaign, this year’s event collaborates with 12 leading organizations in the sector and benefits more than 65 nonprofit charity partners. The campaign is made possible by Zoetis, Horses for Mental Health, Arenas for Change and Equine Network.

In 2022, Seen Through Horses achieved impressive results — $60,991 was raised in donations by 46 nonprofits; more than 12,168,990 people were reached through social media, print ads, media releases, video views, e-mails and podcasts; there were 661,000 video views across four videos sharing stories of transformation through horses; and six celebrities along with 15 influencers engaged in promotional content.

“With the lessons learned in the first campaign, and the proof of what can be achieved to share with other supporters, we are excited to continue the momentum as an annual campaign,” Thomas said. “Historically, these types of campaigns take about three years to really gain traction, so the vision for this campaign is to continue expanding both in program involvement, sponsor and celebrity support, and raising funds for services.”

Mental health does not discriminate. To learn more, or get involved with the campaign, reach out to Horses for Mental Health at info@horsesformentalhealth.org or visit www.horsesformentalhealth.org/campaign.