FERGUS – Anne Theriault has come a long way since first speaking publicly about how working with horses has helped her overcome past trauma in her life.
And she’s so amazed – and committed – to the changes she experienced herself, she hopes to bring this transformation to others through her new business Soulful Strides.
“Horses are gentle, curious, amazing readers of people,” she said in an interview at the former home of LM Equestrian, just south of Grand Valley.
There she’s able to use horses on the farm to guide people to discover what horses can tell them about themselves.
Theriault said she was a high functioning, apparently successful woman who was paralyzed on the inside.
She had deep depression, low self-esteem, and couldn’t get past the feeling of worthlessness at her core.
Her head knew it was because of sexual abuse she experienced as a child. But her heart would not allow her to see her strengths or celebrate them.
Her first experience with equestrian therapy was life-altering, she said.
The first horse that approached her trusted her, and she felt safe for the first time in a long time.
The second horse that came up just nuzzled its head in her hands and she immediately felt that she could go on. She was ready to thrive.
Since that public speaking engagement in May 2023, organized by the Recovery Speaking Initiative, Theriault has done a lot of work.
She took the Ontario Equine Employment Education Program and is also certified to be an equine assisted learning (EAL) facilitator.
Say cheese – Anne Theriault poses with Shadow, who doesn’t mind grinning for the camera. Theriault found equine assisted learned worked for her and now offers sessions for people who have suffered trauma.
She also bought her own horse and has much more experience with horses over the past 18 months.
And now she’s ready to offer group and one-on-one sessions with horses for people who have suffered trauma.
“Any kind of trauma,” she said, listing alcoholism, physical or sexual abuse and mental illness as conditions that can be helped by connecting with horses.
“We know EAL helps people who have suffered sexual trauma or abuse,” she said.
“But horses can help anyone. It doesn’t matter what brought you to harm, what matters is the journey to health – the soulful strides.”
Theriault is not a therapist and doesn’t purport to be one.
“I am not a therapist,” she said. “If you need therapy, go to therapy.
“What we’re doing here is making a connection, building a bridge. To be heard, to be seen without judgement, without shame or guilt – that is everything.”
That’s what horses offer, she said. No judgement, no guilt, just honest feedback.
Theriault calls it “soul coaching.”
“I’ve gone from surviving to thriving. I want to be a bridge for others,” she said.
Her husband Shayne Radstake said he can’t quite believe the transformation in his wife since being exposed to horses.
“Over the years there have been ups and downs but the ups more than outweigh the downs,” he said. “But seeing the depression and numbness (in Theriault) to now seeing this glow – it is beyond powerful.”
Theriault normally charges $80 for a session. But to kick off her business, and to allow as many people as possible to have a session with horses and see if it works, she’s got a few September specials.
She hopes to offer sessions to women through organizations like Women in Crisis, Elora House, Victim Services and local schools.
“I know what this has meant for my own recovery,” she said.
“I want to offer it to others too. If you need this, reach out.”
For more information, email soulfulstridesinc@gmail.com of call Theriault at 519-835-9265.
