While traveling through Iceland on a National Geographic Young Explorer grant to document lichens, I came across a green pasture with lichen-covered fences and a group of Icelandic horses nearby. As the midnight sun cast its golden light across a cotton candy sky, the horses wandered over to greet me.

Their gentle chuffs, flowing manes, and curious eyes created a moment of connection that felt deeply grounding. Horses have long been used in therapeutic settings to help neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities build trust, confidence, and emotional connection. In that moment, I felt seen — not just by the horses, but by the land itself.