It's a horse, of course, but here's why it was in downtown Exeter

EXETER — Seeking to ease the mental health crisis plaguing the nation, Saco, Maine resident Gerry Scott believes he has come up with a solution.

All people need to do is come meet his black Friesian horse, Hercules, and his sidekick yellow lab, Molly.

Scott has started the nonprofit “Horses Over America” and he and his animal companions paid a visit to Exeter this past weekend.

“People think more and feel less, but horses are just the opposite, and they feel more and think less,” said Scott, a 28-year U.S. Army veteran. “They are in a natural state of harmony. So because people are not in the same harmony as a horse, whether they realize it or not, they know they want more of it.”

Scott said Horses Over America’s mission is to partner with New England police departments as well as other horse owners around the region. He said the goal in working with police departments is so he and other horse owners don't cause traffic congestion.

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Then, he said Horses Over America is trying to raise $1.2 million, or about $2,000 per police department in New England, so they can spend a couple weeks a year in a town to walk around and cheer up residents. He said the money will be for any costs borne by police for possible traffic details.

Scott said he has adopted 10 communities across New England he will regularly bring Hercules and Molly to, as well as a couple of communities he’ll “guest visit” with his animals. He said his goal is to connect with horse owners willing to take on 10 communities each to spread goodwill in the community through passersby’s connection to their animal.

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Scott said he was inspired by the city of Liverpool, England’s experience during the COVID-19 lockdown. There, he said horse owners teamed up to pay a visit to every home in the city, and residents were able to meet their horses and it lifted their spirits while in isolation.

“The horse owner would just knock on the door and ask people if they wanted to meet his horse,” Scott said. “99.9 percent of the time, the residents would come running out to see the horse and pet him.”

Scott said Exeter’s response to meeting Hercules was incredible as scores of pictures were uploaded onto Exeter Community Forum Facebook page by community members who met her. He said when people see a horse, they instinctually harken back to their ancestors relying on horse-drawn carriages or saddle riding from place to place before automobiles.

“I'm doing something very old, but back in 1850 I'd say 70% of men and women in Portsmouth and Exeter were horsemen and horsewomen,” Scott said. “When we go down the street you can just feel the energy skyrocket. Nothing that goes down the street entices people to pull out their camera like seeing a beautiful black stallion that teams up with a yellow lab and they see three creatures in harmony.”

To learn more about Horses Over America, and support Scott’s work, visit HorsesOverAmerica.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Horses Over America spreads goodwill on horseback in Exeter NH