Equine advocates Jen Grant, Jessica Normand, and Lynn Thomas join Jamie Brannan to share the transformative power of equine-assisted programs for mental health and personal development – and what they are doing to support equitable access to these life-changing programs.
From mental health professionals to horse enthusiasts, many have long known the incredibly powerful bond between humans and horses. Join Jen Grant, Jessica Normand, and Lynn Thomas to learn about their groundbreaking campaign that sheds light on the powerful healing potential of horses in mental health treatment and personal growth.
Their conversation with Jamie focuses on:
Jamie Brannan:
Hello, I'm Jamie Brannan, Executive Vice President and President Zoetis International Operations and Aquaculture. Welcome back to my podcast, Wellness, where I get the chance to connect with Zoetis colleagues, the greater veterinary and animal health community and other experts about topics around wellbeing. From understanding the positive impact pets can have on our physical and mental wellbeing to learning how we can better manage stress at work and find a comfortable life balance, we are continuing the conversation about how we can better look after ourselves and support each other. A recent study from the World Health Organization shows that one in eight people are affected by mental health challenge, with anxiety and depression as the most common. At Zoetis, we know that the human animal bond can have a profound impact on our mental wellbeing. This is supported by the research we've conducted in partnership with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute over the last years that proves these positive outcomes with data.
Because of these proven benefits, our colleagues all over the world are working on different projects to promote the amazing link between animals and humans. One of these initiatives is the Zoetis sponsorship of the Seen Through Horses Campaign in the US, which aims to expand the roles horses play in mental health and wellbeing. I'd like to welcome my colleagues, Jen Grant and Jessica Normand from the Zoetis Equine team in the US along with Lynn Thomas, the co-founder of Horses Through Mental Health, the organization behind the campaign. Jen, let's start with you. Can you tell us a little about why Zoetis got involved with horses through mental health?
Jen Grant:
Thank you, Jamie. I would love the opportunity. So my name is Jen Grant. I have the great fortune to be the head of marketing for the Equine Division, Zoetis, here in the US. Long before I had that one opportunity, I think I emerged from the womb as a lifelong horse lover. I have a couple horses of my own and I compete them in my spare time, such as it is. So this topic hits really personal to me on a lot of levels. This journey really began a couple years ago when the Equine Division took a look at how we were going to market and how we were strategizing as a business for the future. And what we realized is that while we have an amazing portfolio of products to help care for horses, we hadn't necessarily connected that to the why behind why each one of us gets up every day inspired to support those products and support the caregivers and the horses themselves with them. And so we did something that was a little bit radical. We thought about starting with the why.
Just as Zoetis, the corporation has an amazing purpose and recognizes that advancing care for animals can have a positive impact on the world and humankind. We realize that within the equine space, there's an amazing reciprocity of care between horses and those who care for horses. When you think about the benefits from a physical standpoint, from an emotional standpoint, from a social standpoint, from a mental health standpoint, and even from a spiritual standpoint for some people, horses play an incredible role in our lives. And so we've captured this story under the umbrella of Long Live the Horse, which is a rallying cry for all the things that horses do for us and our commitment to help them live longer, happier, better lives. And so we were approached with a really exciting opportunity to do something new and do some trailblazing in the industry, which eventually became the Seen Through Horses Campaign. And just to that journey and really why it fits so well within our strategy, I'd like to turn it over to Jessica Normand on my marketing team to share that.
Jessica Normand:
I'm a senior marketing manager on the Zoetis Equine team in the US and part of my job is helping to manage our equine pharmaceutical portfolio, the other hat that I wear has been working really closely with Jen to oversee this portfolio brand vision, branded house that not only veterinarians connect with, but really connecting those dots even further like Jen was speaking to with horse owners and other equine professionals across our world. And we had such a fun time over several years, really. And what we found was regardless of why you have horses in your life, the thing that unified all of us was love of the horse, considering the horse a member of the family, and all of the benefits we get, horses truly make our lives better. I know firsthand how powerful it can be to have horses in your life when you're going through something difficult.
As a teenager, I lost a parent really unexpectedly in a tragic accident. And I can say horses probably saved me. Just having the ability to go to the barn, have this community of people who could support me around our horse activities, but mostly having time with my horse was just truly lifesaving at that stage of my life. Since then, in my adult years, besides working professionally in the equine health industry, I've also volunteered for about the last 10 years in different capacities in the space we know as equine assisted services. And then there are programs that deal with developmental and learning disabilities, that support everything from autism, to children with Down syndrome, to those dealing with trauma abuse, you name it. And Lynn is really the expert in this face. So I'll safe the rest of that part of the conversation for her. Horses in these therapeutic modalities are literally the best example of how horses are making people's lives better.
And so it was a no-brainer for Jen and I to say, "Sign us up. How can we support organizations like PATH Intl.?" Which is the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International work, of which I'm also a board member in my personal time. And to really be at the forefront of new organizations like Lynn's group, Horses for Mental Health and to support their inaugural Seen Through Horses Campaign, really honing in on that mental health connection specifically. So with that, I am really happy to introduce Lynn Thomas, who is founder of Horses for Mental Health, and she's going to speak to us more about the Seen Through Horses Mental Health campaign. Thanks.
Lynn Thomas:
Thank you Jessica and Jen and Jamie. I'm Lynn Thomas. I'm a mental health professional and co-founded Horses for Mental Health as a nonprofit organization focused on providing a collaborative infrastructure to amplify awareness of the power that horses can have for mental health and to support these programs that are providing these services. And the primary way we're doing that is through what you guys have been talking about, the Seen Through Horses Campaign, which is an annual camp peer-to-peer awareness and fundraising campaign to spread awareness of the power of this work. And I first of all really want to thank Zoetis and you guys, Zoetis Equine for your support of this. I love the word that you used, Jen, trailblazing, because Zoetis was willing to come on to a brand new project that had never, in fact, nothing like this has been done in the equine industry. And that you guys were willing to take a risk and say, "This is something we believe in the vision."
And we did our first one in October of 2022 last year and actually ended up going beyond our expectations. We had a 46 nonprofit organizations who provide these services that raised over $60,000 to support those programs. We had a huge amount of reach. We had, I think it was just under 25 celebrities and influencers that got on board, again for our very first one was pretty phenomenal. And so we decided to move the campaign to be in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month for many reasons. But it worked out great, that Mental Health Awareness month, it would align with what's already being talked about in a much more public way. And so we're really excited to collaborate with that message that of reducing the stigma of mental health and to start getting the message out there that there are a lot of solutions and to really start recognizing that the value and benefit that horses bring to us emotionally and spiritually and mentally.
And now just depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. We really are in a mental health crisis. And the fact that horses can bring so much to us on that side of things, that's really the message we want to get out there. That there are a lot of solutions, there are different ways to get help and there are these wonderful programs that are providing these types of services involving horses. So we're really, really grateful. And this year's campaign is going on May 1st through 31st. It'll go each year through this time period. And we look forward to it growing. And this year's already grown at this stage that we're talking. We've now raised over $85,000 for just about 60 programs. And even more celebrities and influencers have gotten involved, including wonderful, iconic country singers, Tanya Tucker and Randy Travis. Dr. Temple Grandin is one of the supporters as well, which is no small name in the world of mental health and the human animal bond.
Jamie Brannan:
That was fantastic. You don't need me here. I'm going to leave, you three can just talk, right? Because this is amazing just to sit to listen to what you've achieved so far. And I had the chance, I looked through some of the YouTube stories earlier today and the first thing that really resonated to me was you don't have to ride. And sometimes we probably take it for granted, but when you're trying to get this message out there, people may look at this and think, well, I don't ride horses, so this is not for me. So it'd be interesting, Lynn, just to know a little more on how the services work and why they're so effective.
Lynn Thomas:
Yeah, I mean, one of the things that we're doing through the campaign is creating videos that share stories of transformation. And one of the things we want to show with those stories is the uniqueness that horses bring to the process. So animals in general are wonderful and emotionally bring so many emotional benefits, and of course being out in nature. But horses provide something unique and yeah, there is a kind of misconception that everything to do with horses has to do with riding horses. And a lot of mental health programs, it's really on the ground, it's about that relationship and that horses are just able to be themselves. And so it's provided this great niche for all horses to be involved and have a role. But yeah, I mean, some of these stories include, for instance, one of our videos talks about a Veteran with post-traumatic stress and having a lot of panic attacks and struggling to breathe and going out and nothing was working.
Medications, different types of therapies were just not helpful or helping. And he started a program involving horses. And there it was really about getting to know the horses. But one horse in particular that stood out for him that reminded him and he named this horse War Horse, and he was out there and he had not connected with that particular horse, but while he was in the arena, he got triggered and started having a panic attack. And that horse is the one that came up to him, kind of sat down next to him while he was kind of on his knees too, and just started breathing slowly, breathing deep breaths. And that Veteran just stayed with that horse, breathing those deep breaths and got up. And after about 20 minutes said, "Wow, I've struggled to breathe all this time, but now I feel like this horse is teaching me how to breathe again."
So the horses do these things that are unique from even other animals that they kind of come and approach and engage in relationships in a way that is just distinct. And I'll just tell one other really quick, one of our other videos, a mother's grief about a mother whose teenage daughter died by suicide. And again, just struggling through just horrific grief journey going through that. And nothing again was helping. And she went to a program that involved horses and there was one horse in particular that just never would get near her. And she would try to approach that horse and it still would move away and would just keep this distance. And she was like, "Why is this horse keeping this distance?" And it was one time while she was in the space after several months and she just started releasing the emotion in a way she hadn't before and sobbing.
And it was at that moment that that horse that had kept its distance walked all the way up to her and puts his nose on her side and just held it there. And it was this moment that for her realized that God, others, her daughter, everybody that she was angry at and felt distant from actually hadn't left her and was still with her. And it was the first time she indicated that she actually felt peace again in her life. And so those are kind of the things that had nothing to do with riding, but it was just that connection in the way that the horses choose to engage with us in their authentic way that really becomes very meaningful for people.
Jessica Normand:
I'll add to that too, we have so many modalities call under this umbrella term of equine assisted services, but I think the majority of programs that have a mental health focus tend to be unmounted programs. There's just so much that can happen just through being in the presence of horses. And I could talk all day about that, I won't. But I have my own couple of examples of, I spent quite a few years volunteering in a program, an unmounted program specifically for Veterans. Most of them were coming to us because of post-traumatic stress, these mental health focused programs that are facilitated through experts in this space. We are not just having horse people lead these, we are also involving mental health professionals, which again, Lynn can probably speak more to that. But my stories, of course, involved myself being there for the horse facilitation part of it.
In this particular example, a counselor from the local VA, a licensed social worker, they were always present in these types of programs, which is an important component of this work. This particular gentleman, he was an older Veteran. He had been in quite a bit of combat in his younger days, and he had heard about our local program, which was about four miles down the road from his VA. And it took his VA counselor who loved our program about a year and a half to even get him to come visit the horse farm because leaving home and changing his routine was so challenging with his traumatic stress symptoms. And once we actually got him to come visit, it changed his life and he became the ambassador of our program. He did every 10 week session, spring and fall. He never missed a day, it was just the highlight of his week.
His wife would say that he actually took less medication during the 10 weeks that we were running our sessions because he just felt so much better. The very cool thing is that we're now entering an era where we're trying to fund and design research protocols that are actually proving that these benefits, that it's not just woo woo magic, like Jen, Lynn and I could tell you all day that horses are magic and they heal people. We can't explain it. But we're now actually trying to back up these benefits through research. And so that has a whole new era of realm of possibility behind it because if we can prove some of these benefits, whether it's for mental health or physical disabilities, learning disabilities, eventually there's a greater chance that medical insurance might provide reimbursement for patients and participants and medical and mental health professionals can actually prescribe these services. So that takes it to a whole other level, but it's really that profound. And in terms of the examples that Lynn just had to share.
Jamie Brannan:
So we've talked about that in the past on the podcast about you need these on prescription and this is what you're talking about, Jess, in terms of how do we get the right information, the right data to promote this through from a human health perspective. So do you want to just talk in a little more detail about what you're doing in that area?
Jessica Normand:
There's another group that also participated in the Horses for Mental Health and Seen Through Horses Campaign. The Horses and Humans Research Foundation, they're one group that's taking a look at grant funding and identifying and funding the optimal grants for looking at research in this space. There are independent researchers, there are folks involved with universities who have equine programs, who are looking at everything from what's physiologically happening in the human's body when they're around horses, like are their cortisol levels coming down? Is there heart rate and respiration normalizing in the presence of horses? That's at the basic level. There's much smarter researchers than I designing all kinds of protocols to take a look at this space. And Lynn, I'm going to tag you back in so that you can add more into that in case you have more to add.
Lynn Thomas:
I mean, with my background, I've been involved in this area of incorporating Horses for Mental Health for about the last almost 30 years and including in training and certifying professionals how to do this type of work. And it really has come a long ways in getting some credibility. I mean, originally talking to mental health community and professionals, it would be like, "What? what is this? And that sounds a little out there." And there wasn't a lot of credibility. And over the years thanks to the different organizations that we're all collaborating now, which has been wonderful, like PATH Intl., Horses and Humans Research Foundation and others, we've come a long ways, but Horses for Mental Health, which we just were founded in 2021, was kind of that, it needs to go to the next level. Of really that every person really understands that this is an option for them, that there is that data to support it.
And there actually is quite a bit out there. People can go to horsesformentalhealth.org and we do have a summary of research that is out there an evidence-based, peer-reviewed journal type research. So people can access summaries, but there always needs to be more. And so it's time to take it to that next level like Jessica was talking about. So that's what we're doing, and the best way to do that is by working collaboratively. And that's what's been so neat about this campaign is all the leading organizations are coming together and I know that will keep growing bigger mouthpieces that have bigger reaches are coming and supporting this in a really passionate way. So it's touching a lot of people, both mental health and horses seems to be touching a lot of people. So we're really excited.
Jamie Brannan:
Yeah. I mean, the collaboration you've got, it is amazing. And that's that bigger voice together rather than trying to do it in separate avenues. That's clear to come through what you guys are achieving. Sorry, Jess, did I cut over you there?
Jessica Normand:
I believe equine assisted services is the fastest growing segment of the horse world. So incorporating horses into these types of programs, it's incredible. However, the other side of that coin and where it really circles back to the need for organizations like Zoetis to step up to the plate and be involved is that if we're not careful, the horses can get overused. I don't even really love the term using horses, but these horses, each individual horse is not a robot, they are truly sentient beings. They have their own opinions about their day-to-day jobs. They need a break for their own physical and mental health. So the programs that are following standards set by credible organizations like PATH Intl. and some of the other ones we've spoken about really are advocating for the welfare of the horses in these programs and literally setting standards. Like if a horse is used in a therapeutic riding lesson or a mental health program, he needs this much time of a break and this is what a break looks like and things of that nature.
The more the mainstream world gets involved in horses, people who don't have a deep background and a deep knowledge of horses in their personal life starts to get involved in horses, the more we do risk less knowledgeable people owning and caring for horses. And then there is the potential that the horses don't get the level of care they need from a veterinary perspective and a lot of different day-to-day management perspective. And so there's also like it's incredibly good, but hand in hand and parallel, we need to step up to the plate and educate, educate, educate around what owning a horse or incorporating a horse into a mental health program, what care is required to really give that horse the best quality of life. Jen, would you add any for that?
Jen Grant:
No, I mean, I think that's the exact conundrum and opportunity, and I do believe it's an opportunity because at the end of the day, the resources are out there. We as a company invest in a lot of that educational material to help support. Yes, come into the fold. Yes, bring horses into your lives or into your equine assisted protocols, but do it in a way that's a win-win for both the human participants as well as the equine participants. It's funny because these worlds continue to collide.
I'm also on the board of the American Horse Council's Marketing Alliance who is tasked with really raising the profile and raising the visibility of horses and all the things that horses can do for people to a more mainstream audience who may not have grown up riding or experiencing horses. And so it's interesting because like Jess said, equine assisted services is such a growing space. The opportunity is there, more horses in more meaningful activities where they're nourished and they're nourishing others should be a win for everyone. And I think we really have a privilege and an opportunity as the world's leading animal health company to take a stance and to help bridge that gap.
Jamie Brannan:
With the right education, as we've said, right? When you think about it's a two-way street. So we're looking to support people in their wellness, at the same time, we need to make sure we support the horses in their wellness through the process. So when are these programs coming outside the US?
Jen Grant:
Well, and I will definitely add to that there are many wonderful programs happening globally as we speak right now. So the campaign at this stage has been focused in the US with the resources, but it is absolutely our vision to expand that this campaign for both for awareness and for fundraising will be available for all the programs around the world. So just know that they're already out there and definitely to look into them. And then I'll also add too, your market in the sense that my background had nothing to do with horses. I didn't know that I had an interest in horses at least until later in life. And so being able to get involved in this work, and I came at it from a mental health standpoint, meaning that as a mental health professional, I saw the impact these horses were having in a way that I've not seen in any other setting or environment. So I saw how it benefited the clients, how it's benefited. And then now my life, the last 30 years have been devoted to horses.
And the education, I love what you guys were saying. So much of healing comes from emotionally safe environments. And for clients to be in the presence of horses that are well kept and kept healthy is part of the important part of that journey. And when horses get sick or anything that clients can be part of that journey of helping to care for because maybe that's not what they got in their life or anyway, what that role models and the healing that provides to take the journey of caring for and being with horses even as they encounter their hardships in life with illnesses or anything that clients can be part of that journey. So I just think it's really part of the powerful healing that we're all doing. It's kind of this mutual benefit. I love your guys' campaign with how the horses benefit us, that we take care of them too. I think that's a big part of mental health and emotional health. And so it's all adding to it. And I appreciate all you guys do.
Jessica Normand:
It's definitely a global movement. PATH Intl. is an international organization. It governs about, I believe it's about 830 programs all over the world that are essentially horse farms that are offering services. Some of them are mental health focus programs, some of them are therapeutic riding and some of the other modalities we spoke to, it kind of covers the gamut there. If anyone listening is interested in finding a program in your area, visit Horses for Mental Health, visit PATH Intl., visit Horses and Humans Research Foundation. Chances are there's a program in your area that offers some services. It might be just down the road and you didn't even know. It could be a small program that has three horses in their small backyard farm to a state-of-the-art facility that has almost a hundred horses and all kinds of professionals offering these various therapeutic modalities and also professional therapists on staff. It kind of runs the gamut.
So there's a growing interest in corporate leadership programs incorporating horses, and there's a great program in Ireland actually. So a little seed could be planted for others Zoetis colleagues, even if you don't ride or don't have experience with horses, there might be a program in your area where you could bring your team together. And again, because everything we've spoken about, even if it's not necessarily under the mental health umbrella, horses have something to teach all of us.
Jen Grant:
[inaudible 00:28:10] and horses have definitely humbled me over the years and will continue to do so, no doubt perhaps this afternoon. But I think the other component of really sharing this out and making this a global platform is not just the campaign itself, but really the insights that all of this has been based on, that sense of reciprocity of care, that sense of the role that the horse plays in human wellbeing in so many different ways. When we did our initial research and really built the long lived the horse message, we looked at not just the US but brought in global insights to that conversation. And so we've been excited that in conversations with some of our other markets, there's been real appetite and interest to bring that messaging, that campaign, that philosophy into what they're doing. So the impact that horses can make on humans is truly a universal thing. And we're very excited and happy to help share this foundation across our different markets because it has such universal resonance.
Jamie Brannan:
Well, I hope this conversation could help in some small way. So Lynn, I need to ask because as a mental health professional, you then found horses. So do you own horses now?
Lynn Thomas:
I still do not own horses. I'm not to that stage. And actually, I mean, that's neat about this work is, it's not about people needing to own horses. We want access to everybody. But I work with amazing facilities and wonderful equine professionals who do own the horses, and I'm super grateful for them and what they've brought into my life. So yeah, it's not to that level yet. I did take some riding lessons just for my own interests and that too. So that was really a great experience and a lot of fun. And I do enjoy what you can get so much from on the ground with what we do. I really do enjoy that relationship component.
Jamie Brannan:
It was inspiring. I mean, some of the videos I watched earlier today and some young kids wore with sort of anxiety issues and just how their faces lit up as soon as they were near the horse. So it was just getting close to the horse and just through the grooming and leading the horse out, it was just amazing. Did you want to write something, Jess?
Jessica Normand:
We already do know that just being in the presence of a horse actually does something beneficial to our system. Our heart rates can synchronize and breathing rates can synchronize. And so they really are incredible creatures for all of the fun stuff that we've talked about. But there's also some other deeper level of, I like to call it magic, but the scientists would hate that. So it's somewhere between magic and incredible science that happens when we're in the presence of horses. And so I'm not at all surprised that just watching a few videos, you could just see it on their faces, their energy just changes. So it's pretty incredible.
Jamie Brannan:
What a better place to stop than there. We know they're magical, we all know that. But we also need the science behind it and great work going on there as well. So Jen, Jess, and Lynn, thank you so much. Great conversation. I much appreciate it. Thanks for tuning in today. The human animal bond is a powerful connection and I'm proud of the ways Zoetis is working with partners to support it. It was quite moving to hear from some of the breakthrough personal stories that our guests shared today. And I'm looking forward to see the progress we can make with equine assisted services for personal development by improving understanding and accessibility. If you want to learn more about the important work Lynn is doing through her organization, you can find out at horsesformentalhealth.com. Until the next time, stay healthy, safe and be well.