For those that don’t like reading or are busy. Here is a synopsis. I’ll keep this brief, just click the link below. The Equestrian Mental Health Survey is now open and is closing next Wednesday the 24th and is only open to Equestrians over 18. The survey is for all Equestrians. All levels, disciplines and areas of interest in equestrianism. It is 22 Questions long and they are all multiple choice. It will take you no longer than 3-4 mins to do. Initial analysis of results will be available before the end of January. Mental Health is an industry-wide problem and we have little to no data on the size of the problem. This stops now. This is your chance to be part of the solution. Please, just click the link below.

Click this HAY Campaign google forms link to fill out the survey:

Click here: HAY Campaign Mental Health Survey.

So what have we done?

We have launched an Equestrian Mental Health Survey – It is 22 Questions long and they are all multiple choice. It will take you no longer than 3-4 mins to do. THIS IS IMPORTANT. NOT ONE OF US HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY OR TOUCHED BY MENTAL HEALTH – BE THAT ANXIETY, DEPRESSION OR SUICIDE. AGREED? If so, please just click the link above and fill out the survey. It is private, but THIS SURVEY IS NEEDED. The stats and results it generates are needed. To truly start addressing the problem, we need to know the size of the problem.

Last year we launched Ireland and the worlds first Equestrian Mental Health Week. It was needed. We decided instead of Blue Monday being a negative and we would term it HAY Monday and forevermore the third Monday in January is now the beginning of Equestrian Mental Health Week every year and is the official launch date of the HAY ‘How Are Ya?” Equestrian Mental Health Campaign.

When you look online, there are research papers on Mental Health issues in Racing. Be it jockeys or trainers there are at least 3-5 research papers online that we can see statistics from. But what about the other disciplines, what about other equestrians? Who is struggling the most or needs the most support… WE HAVE NO IDEA and that is NOT OK. We have to be better, we can be better, we must be better and this is our chance.

We have all been affected by mental health in some way, shape or form. Some of us, including myself and Shane Rooney have lost people, be it family or friends to suicide. I wish I had known something was up… I wish I could have said something; I wish I had been there… I wish a lot of things as I am sure some of you do to… but we can’t change the past… but we can redesign the future.

Equestrians sacrifice so much. Your dedication and commitment is something I have genuinely fallen in love with. Your unwavering love for your horses is surreal to see at times but I can also see the struggles, the pressures, the stress or anxiety. So can you. Just look around you. Help us shine a bigger light on the issue so we can start bigger discussions on possible solutions or supports.

Last year a huge amount of the equestrian community got behind the HAY Campaign… that started us talking but this survey can have real impact. The findings allow us to create pathways to support and in time, real change. This year’s campaign is about longevity… the results will help us better understand the size of the problem and where our focus should be for the HAY Campaign across the year ahead BUT WE NEED YOU. WE NEED 3 to 4 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME and WE NEED YOU TO BE HONEST.

“A problem well stated is a problem half solved.”