About the Founder: Emily May, MACP, RCC

Emily May's own horse-assisted personal growth started at a young age. Little did she yet know, it would be the time she spent with horses on the ground that would really allow their wisdom to help her fully reach her true potential. Starting riding lessons at age seven, she often found that her lessons taught her as much about her need for emotional agility as they taught her about riding. Experiences demanding patience and perseverance showed her early on the valuable teachings horses had to offer.

From a young age, Emily also had a passionate interest in psychology and the power of counselling to heal the mind and at times even the body. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology she knew her Masters would be the next step in allowing her to use a growing affinity for helping those in need. While completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology and obtaining her RCC status, years as a student saw her time with horses dwindle, and including them in her career seemed like an incompatible path. However, her life took a serendipitous turn when she was offered a job at Victoria Carriage Tours.

Emily started falling in love with the carriage horses one by one. These gentle giants were stealing her heart and redirecting the trajectory of her life. Emily casually partnered with the owners of the carriage company to provide a small therapeutic riding program for children with behavioural challenges at a group home she had approached. She was amazed at how the horses commanded the respect and admiration of the children that came to the farm during this program. Inspired by this, she also started volunteering with the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association and soon found herself volunteering as an assistant instructor there.

Researching a variety of Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy certification programs, Emily came across the FEEL® program offered by Horse Spirit Connections and Mystic Waters Ranch. The program’s focus on honouring the horses as equal teachers spoke to her, and reminded her of the dynamic she had with the carriage horses that she so enjoyed. Entering the FEEL® program she was amazed at the change and growth she saw not just in testimonials and research supporting FEEL® work, but also in herself and her classmates as they progressed through the program. Emily was pleased to find her perfect fusion of psychology and horse teachings.

After graduating from the FEEL® program in May 2018, Emily partnered with the owners of Victoria Carriage Tours to use their land and work with their retired draft horses. The dream she had been visualizing and putting energy into making a reality for so long had finally come to fruition. Today, through Horse Wisdom Farm, Emily offers both Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Therapy sharing the FEEL® teachings with as many people as she can. At this time Emily is on maternity leave, and we have added a wonderful new facilitator named Trista to continue our Horse Wisdom Farm Work. We hope you will reach out to her for more information!

Contact Trista:

Email: trista@horsewisdomfarm.com

Phone Emily: 250-208-4874