Basalt’s Smiling Goat Ranch participates in mental health healing campaign

Hay has always been for horses, but now the month of May — which is Mental Health Awareness Month — is for them, as well.

Recently, Smiling Goat Ranch out of Basalt was selected out of over 100 applicants to be a part of the Seen Through Horses month-long national campaign, which helps increase awareness and improve access to programs incorporating horses into mental health and personal growth services, according to a Smiling Goat Ranch press release.

While the campaign is only in its third year, this is the first time the Basalt nonprofit has been a part of it, according to Sheryl Barto, founder and executive director of Smiling Goat Ranch, which has been around since 2015. 

Similar to other organizations selected to be a part of the campaign, the non-profit brings the healing effects of horses to anyone with neuropsychiatric conditions — including autism, depression, anxiety, and PTSD — as well as veterans, people in recovery, those affected by grief and trauma and doesn’t charge families for therapeutic services, according to the release. Small social animals like goats, rabbits, and dogs are also used.

“We raise money because we do not charge families for our services,” she said. “All of our therapeutic programs are free to families, so fundraising is critical to keeping our mission alive.”

Tyler Brklacich is the co-founder and executive producer of the nonprofit Horses for Mental Health, which is the organization that operates the Seen Through Horses campaign. 

“What our purpose is, we’re ultimately building a stage to spotlight non-profit organizations across the country that are incorporating horses into mental health,” he said. “We’re amplifying the work they’re doing. A lot of these mom-and-pop shops, they don’t have the resources or maybe the talent. Their specialty is doing services for their community and mental health. But, social media, going out and getting celebrities involved — all of that is what we do to bring them more eyes and education. And they benefit from all of that.”

Dozens of celebrities and influencers are recruited and used to broadcast the campaign out generally and direct those interested to the Seen Through Horses website, he said, which has links to all participating non-profits/charities by state and organization, like Smiling Goat Ranch.

“It’s a peer-to-peer fundraising awareness program,” he said. “Any money they raise goes directly to their non-profit organization. We don’t take any of the money.”

In addition to donating directly to Smiling Goat Ranch via its website, Barto has a few, small fundraising events during the month that people can participate in, which she hopes people will attend.

For more information, visit smilinggoatranch.com or horsesformentalhealth.org