In Flemish, there is a quote “hoop doet leven,” which loosely translates to “hope makes you want to live.”

I was born and raised in Belgium. In 2001, my husband and I uprooted with our two sons, ages seven and two, and moved to Alberta, Canada. It took us awhile to adjust, but we found a community to belong to and sports helped smooth the way for our boys. I continued working in international business and administrative roles related to my educational background.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer and my life dramatically changed. My sole mission became health and wellness. Read a short story about my cancer experience.

As a child, I was always drawn to horses but I never had the opportunity to pursue any horse-related activities. During my cancer journey and treatments, I felt a strong desire to connect with horses, whether it was through riding lessons, equine therapy, or even chance encounters on the side of the road.

Horses grounded me … just watching them, petting them, talking to them lifted my spirits.

When I finished treatment, I knew I wanted to pursue a path that included horses. I did extensive research and discovered Equine Assisted Learning – a horse and human interactive process that paves the way for profound learning and growing. Training to become a facilitator at Cartier Farms in Saskatchewan was a life-changing experience for me. What began as an exercise in personal development opened a door to extraordinary connection, hope and healing.

Today, as I live my mission of health and wellness, I look forward to sharing Equine Assisted Learning with others. I know in my heart that this experience is transformational, and those who choose to come along will be deeply moved by the gentle abiding wisdom of our horse guides.