What staff and volunteers at Riding To The Top we have seen, however, is that experiential work with horses can bring about profound changes in people who struggle with mental health issues. This can be through direct therapy services (Equine Assisted Psychotherapy), or can be through equine-assisted learning and therapeutic riding – services that are not direct mental health therapy, but can improve one’s overall health and wellness by making connections with these powerful, sentient beings.
“We are thrilled to be part of this campaign that will bring awareness and as well as important funds to organizations who seek to improve access to equine-assisted services. Riding To The Top is a PATH International Premier Accredited Center, and while we do not provide direct mental health services, we witness daily the changes that happen when people and horses work together, from physical well-being to social-emotional connections and improved self-confidence, to overall enhanced mental health and wellness,” said Sarah Bronson, RTT Executive Director. “Our volunteers also frequently comment on how much better they feel after working with our amazing equine partners. We are grateful to be part of the Seen Through Horses campaign.”
Riding To The Top’s mission is to enhance health and wellness through equine assisted services. As it joins the equine and mental health sectors around one message, shared together during the month of May, RTT encourages the public to help them spread awareness of our services.
You can support Riding To The Top leading up to and during the campaign, by visiting https://sth2025.raiselysite.com/riding-to-the-top-therapeutic-riding-center and making a donation.
The Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) was founded in 1993. Located in Windham, RTT is the state’s only PATH International Premier Accredited Center (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) solely dedicated to equine-assisted services.
More than 250 participants are impacted annually, assisted by certified instructors, a herd of 16 horses and 100-plus volunteers, all specially trained to assist with therapeutic riding, carriage driving, equine-assisted learning, and Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy services using equine movement. Riding To The Top is a community-based nonprofit, receives no federal or state funding and provides scholarships to more than 60 percent of its clients. For more information about RTT’s client services, volunteering, or making a gift, please visit www.ridingtothetop.org or call 207-892-2813.
Seen Through Horses is a peer-to-peer campaign composed of individuals, nonprofits, mental health professionals, influencers, and businesses to increase awareness, public engagement, and raise funds to improve access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. Horses can make a much-needed difference for the mental health challenges so many in our world face. Seen Through Horses aims to convene a community, empower nonprofits, and share stories of transformation to illustrate the positive impacts of incorporating horses into mental health services and programs.
The Seen Through Horses Campaign is made possible by Title Sponsor, Zoetis, and is produced by Horses for Mental Health. In addition, premier partners supporting the campaign also include The American Horse Council, American Psychological Association’s Section on Human-Animal Interaction (APA/HAI), Arenas For Change (ARCH), Black in the Saddle, Equine Network, EQUUS Films & Arts, EQUUS Foundation, EQUUS Television Network, Horses & Humans Research Foundation, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, Natural Lifemanship, New Trails Learning Systems, PATH International, Polyvagal Equine Institute, Rescued Hearts, Rural Minds, Temple Grandin Equine Center (CSU), The HERD Institute, and US Equestrian. As the organization galvanizes the equine and mental health sectors around one message, espoused at the same time, donation to support Seen Through Horses will be accepted from May 1 to May 31, 2025 at horsesformentalhealth.org/campaign