COVER STORY
A Deep Love for Horses—and a Desire to Improve Mental Wellness for All
HERO BEAN STEVENSON The mental health podcast host and therapist-in-training shares her story and her hopes for the horse world at large WORDS: PHOTOS:
HERO BEAN STEVENSON ERIC RAY DAVIDSON
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ANDID CONVERSATIONS about mental health
are on the rise. Simone Biles made headlines and opened minds this summer when she spoke up about the intersection of gymnastics and her mental health. In our corner of the sports world, Hero Bean Stevenson is hoping to do the same. The California-based amateur hunter rider, 25, was on track for a career in fine art when her own battle with an eating disorder prompted a detour. Today, the host of “All of Us,” a mental health podcast set to debut its second season, is studying to become a therapist herself. With hopes of a horse community that does a little more cheering for each other and a little less hiding of our struggles, she shared her story with The Plaid Horse.
50 THE PLAID HORSE December 2021 / January 2022