Welcome to Happy Horses®
The Canadian equine wellness brand dedicated to happier horses and humans.
We’re on a mission to destigmatize mental health in cowboy culture.
We provide quality, accessible products and services for horses and the people who care for them. Every purchase helps support mental health in the equine community.
Cowboy culture as we know it today is rugged. Hard
work, self-reliance, and emotional restraint are worn like a badge of honour,
leaving little room for vulnerability.
But behind that tough exterior, cowboys and cowgirls are
carrying the weight of unspoken struggles. When mental health isn’t
talked about, it affects families, communities, and the horses who mirror what
their humans are carrying inside.
After contemplating ending his own life, Taylor
Douglas decided it was time to rewrite cowboy culture as we knew it.
I used to think being cowboy tough meant keeping
quiet about the things that bothered you.
Just work hard and ride it out.
For years, I wore that belief like a badge of honor. I was
always chasing the next belt buckle or title. It looked like I had it together, but I had
pushed myself to the point of serious depression and I started to think
the world would be better off without me.
I was ready to end my life.
I grew up around trauma — addiction, abuse, mental
illness, and loss. My mom was the only one of her siblings still alive, and
the biggest difference between her and them was the horses.
She rode until the day before I was born. You could say I
was born in the saddle. The horse world taught me a lot, but it didn’t
teach me how to take care of myself.
I want to change that for the next generation. I created
Happy Horses so no one would have to feel as alone as I did.
When I started sharing my story, others started sharing theirs — cowboys, cowgirls, trainers, and ranch families who’d been carrying quiet battles of their own. Their courage to share changed everything.
I didn’t feel so alone anymore.
It became clear this wasn’t an isolated problem. It wasn’t just me. It was a pattern woven into our way of life. And I think we all depend on our horses for more than a hobby, a title, or a paycheck.
“I was in an abusive relationship until I was nine months pregnant. Horses helped me survive.”
“My horse saved my life. He feels everything I feel.”
“Back in May of 2022 I developed panic disorder and GAD. It’s been an uphill battle ever since.”
I realized this wasn’t just my story. It was our whole cowboy culture, and it needed a rewrite.
Horses have this incredible ability to mirror our energy and reflect back what they sense from us. That’s why I believe horses need happy humans — and happy humans need healthy, happy horses.
Happy Horses ® is my way to help both.
Our mission is to change cowboy culture by raising awareness and funding for mental health therapies through the proceeds of quality equine products and services.
We want to build a future where cowboys and cowgirls grow up in a culture that talks openly about mental health, so silence, substance abuse, and suicide are no longer part of the ride.
Shortly after our launch of Happy Horses ®, we decided to start a Caring for Cowboys and Cowgirls Foundation™, where a portion of every sale will help make mental health care more accessible, more accepted, and part of the conversation in barns, arenas, and rural communities. Coming soon!
To join the ride, subscribe to
Happy Horses® - The Reality TV Show.
Help us show the world what real cowboy life looks like and create a safe place to talk about mental health.
