Meet anne.
I am Anne - founder, facilitator and soul behind Soulful Strides Inc.
In 2021, my sister-in-law was tragically taken from us, a victim of sex and drug trafficking. That loss, coupled with my own unhealed childhood trauma, led to my diagnosis of severe PTSD. What followed was a long and humbling journey of recovery, one that became the foundation for everything Soulful Strides stands for today.
Through therapy, trauma education, and countless quiet moments with horses, I began to rediscovery myself. Mucking a stall quite literally saved my life. Each shovel of hay and breath of barn air reminded me that healing doesn’t happen in our heads- it happens through the body, through presence, through connection.
During my recovery, I recognized a gap - a need for safe, grounded spaces where women and youth could reconnect to themselves at their own pace, without judgement or expectation. I decided to become that bridge.
Soulful Strides was born from that intention: to offer equine-assisted learning and peer support that serves others who are moving from surviving life to joyfully thriving - one soulful stride at a time.
My understanding comes from lived experience, ongoing study in trauma-informed principles and neuroscience, and deep practice in the healing power of the horse-human connection.
I am not a therapist - I am a lived-experience guide, someone who has walked through the fire and learned to walk softly again.
I am certification-trained through Dreamwinds, using Cartier Farms’ Building Block Equine-Assisted Learning curriculum in my approach, and I maintain current First Aid training.
Before stepping into this work, I spent 16 years in the insurance industry - from call centres to claims adjusting to life insurance. That season taught me empathy for people at their most vulnerable, attention to detail, and the value of clear communication - all skills that now serve me in the arena.
Today, through Soulful Strides, I guide others toward self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empowerment - always in partnership with horses, always at the pace of trust.
Looking ahead, I envision Butterfly Ranch - a sanctuary where transformation continues to unfold. It will be a place where somatic awareness, modern science, and soulful living meet; where horses, nature and community remind us that we are already whole.
Until then, I’ll keep raising vibes - one soulful stride at a time.
Anne 🦋
HORSES LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE…
In February 2023, my life changed with a vivid dream.
I was mucking a horse stall, and while this might sound mundane to some, I was overwhelmed with a sense of pure joy and happiness.
Which, at one of the hardest, darkest moments in my life, was the light that saved me, turning into a year that would bring healing, synchronicities, and an entirely new direction for my life.
Before that, I had spent 16 years working in the insurance industry—far from horses and anything remotely related. But something about that dream told me to follow the breadcrumbs, and that’s exactly what I did.
By March, I found myself at my very first Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) session with Mena at Liberty Lane Retreats. I had never experienced anything like it—the healing power of horses was real. I was hooked. From there, the doors began to open. I joined the Ontario Equine Education Employment Program (OEEEP), which provided me with essential training, industry knowledge, and even a placement in the horse industry.
Since then, doors have flung open left and right. I had the privilege of assisting other EAL facilitators for their events, working with school boards, cancer support group, kids with disabilities; I have written my story in a shared anthology, spoke at various events sharing my journey thus far, and finally began hosting my own events! It’s been a whirlwind in the best sense.
What started as a dream—literally—blossomed into a year of magic, growth, and purpose. Through horses, I found my true calling.
And now, I’m ready to help others along their paths, one Soulful Stride at a time.
Where do I dream from here?
BUTTERFLY RANCH.
My dream is to have a ranch of our own, where Soulful Strides remains at the heart of it all. Butterfly Ranch will focus more on being the healing hearth for all in the community (incorporating more healing modalities), as well as a place of seasonal fun activities.
It’s a powerful practice to make a vision board that supports your dreams.
ARE YOU READY FOR A SHIFT?