The equestrian industry is known for its grace, beauty, and its athleticism to the wider public. The wider public doesn’t know what goes on behind the scenes, but we do! The sacrifice, the long hours, the consistent or unexpected costs, the dedication and commitment needed, the pressure etc… we all need to be tough and strong and just get it done right? … Somewhat… but we need to me more open about this.

From Horse Racing to Dressage, from Show Jumping to Eventing, from Polo to Carriage Riding; equestrian sports have captured the hearts of millions and millions of people around the world. However, behind the glitz and glamour of the sporting side of our industry that the wider public see, there is a harsh reality that is often overlooked: Mental Health and Stress.

Stress is a common issue in the equestrian industry, affecting riders, trainers, stable staff, stable managers, happy hackers, competitors, grooms and in general, anyone that owns a horse!! It can stem from a variety of sources like pressure to win, the physical demands of the industry, the sacrifices, the costs, the challenges running businesses, and of course, the responsibility of caring for our horses. However, despite its prevalence, stress is often a taboo subject in the equestrian world. 

“Many equestrians I have talked to feel that talking about their stress levels is a sign of weakness, and they often suffer in silence. This is the whole reason why we launched the HAY “How Are You?” Campaign. I’m delighted to be involved in this campaign as stress can often be a cause of poor mental health and I find the easiest way of relieving stress can be done by talking to friends who listen”, said Shane Rooney the founder of The HAY Campaign.

January was a huge success for the campaign we ran with Shane. The whole industry got behind it. And after seeing the support the HAY Campaign received… The Grassroots Gazette is pushing forward for change. It is time to be the change.

We’re proud to announce The Grassroots Gazette, Equitas, and The HAY Campaign have teamed up to launch the “Stress Affects Us All” Campaign for Stress Awareness Month, aimed at raising awareness of stress in the equestrian industry. The key message is honest, brilliantly simple and 100% True (Thanks to Rachel MacKenzie the new Head of Social at Equitas for coming up with it).

 The “Stress Affects Us All,” Campaign is being launched today, April 1st, the first day of Stress Awareness Month and aims to get people talking about their experiences with stress and to change the stigma around discussing sometimes stressful life that most equestrians live.

We asked our CEO Shane his thoughts. “We believe that it’s time to break the silence around stress in the equestrian industry. You saw what we did together in January with a simple phrase “HAY How Are You”. People started talking. People started listening. It is time for the industry to begin to open up discussions on stress, talking about solutions and understanding triggers. We know that stress affects everyone in the industry, from the top riders to the stable staff. By opening up the conversation and sharing our experiences, we can create a supportive community that helps everyone thrive, supports people where needed and makes our industry far more sustainable.”

The campaign will include a variety of resources and activities designed to raise awareness of stress and encourage people to talk about their experiences. These will include social media campaigns, interviews with equestrian professionals, and educational resources on stress and mental health. The campaign will also encourage people to share their own experiences with stress and how they’ve coped with it, in order to create a supportive community that helps everyone thrive.

Note: Reach out to us here at The Grassroots Gazette, the team at Equitas or the HAY Campaign on social media if you want to get involved and support the campaign.

“Stress is a topic that is not spoken about enough. It is tolerated. Accepted. Almost Expected. We know the equestrian industry is tough and our goal is to encourage people to speak openly about stress and provide education on how to manage it effectively. Stress affects us all.” said Sarah Elebert, COO of Equitas.

Overall, the “Stress Affects Us All” campaign is an important step towards improving mental health in the equestrian industry. By breaking the silence around stress and creating a supportive community, the campaign aims to improve the lives of everyone in the industry. Whether you’re a rider, trainer, business owner, stable manager or happy hacker… stress is something that affects us all. By working together and sharing our experiences, we can create a more positive and healthy environment for everyone.

The Grassroots Gazette, Equitas, and The HAY Campaign are committed to continuing their work to improve mental health in the equestrian industry beyond the month of April. They encourage everyone in the industry to join the conversation and share their experiences with stress.

“For all equestrians stress can be the ultimate cause of all our problems, the grassroots community at times can feel this more than most as we struggle to balance our love for our sports and how we provide for this,” said Gary Monahan, our Head of Community here at The Grassroots Gazette. “We hope that this campaign will encourage people to open up and seek the support they need to thrive in the equestrian industry.”

In conclusion, the “Stress Affects Us All” campaign is a heartfelt, positive, and sincere initiative that seeks to raise awareness of stress and mental health in the equestrian industry. By creating a supportive community that encourages people to talk about their experiences, the campaign aims to change the stigma around mental health and improve the lives of everyone in the industry. We encourage everyone to get involved and help create a more positive and healthy environment for all equestrians.