The Smiling Goat Ranch is hosting its annual mental health, autism and veterans awareness walk Friday during Carbondale’s First Friday with an added 5K run.

The fifth annual Healing Hoof will begin at the Carbondale Recreation Center, 567 Colorado Ave., at 5 p.m. with a shotgun start at 5:30 p.m. Runners are going first, followed by walkers and the Smiling Goat therapy animal parade.

Streets will be closed for walkers as they cross Colorado Avenue to the Promenade continue down Main Street before connecting to the Rio Grande Trail to the Gus Darien Rodeo Grounds where they will turn around and finish where they began.

The animal parade will consist of therapy horses, goats, miniature horses and dogs alongside families served by Smiling Goat and its community partners.

Following the walk, participants are invited to a post-walk celebration on Fourth Street for photos with animals, drinks and snacks and information booths by Smiling Goat partners Aspen Hope Center, Challenge Aspen, the Veterans Hospital of Grand Junction, Stepping Stones, Ascendigo, Aspen Strong, Western Slope Veterans Coalition, Mind Springs health, Huts for Vets, Arc of the Central Rockies, Aperture of Hope and YouthZone.

Established in 2015, Smiling Goat Ranch helps humans heal through horses and interaction with other social animals, movement, nature and supportive community. The ranch served more than 300 people in 2021, according to a press release, and does not charge families for therapeutic services.

All proceeds from the event will go towards helping Smiling Goat Ranch provide therapeutic services for free to autism families, veterans with PTSD, children and adults with anxiety, depression and related conditions.