Are You Ready for an Evolution?
Classes
Wellness with Horses
Experience the transformative power of equine-inspired wellness with our herd. Dedicated to nurturing mind, body, and spirit. Our regularly scheduled open group sessions offer a unique opportunity to explore the profound connection between humans and horses while fostering personal growth and well-being. Whether you're seeking relaxation, personal development, or a deeper understanding of yourself, our Wellness with Horses group is the perfect place to embark on your journey. ​
'Barefoot at the Barn' Yoga
Our Barefoot at the Barn program runs the 3rd Sunday of the month from April - November and offers the unique opportunity to practice gentle yoga and grounding at a horse farm. Yoga is suitable for beginners through intermediate with a focus on connection to self and the natural world around us. Following yoga, participants are invited to visit with the horses and soak in the peaceful environment. If a full farm membership isn’t for you check out our Annual Yoga Pass.
Mindfulness with Horses
Mindfulness is a crucial step towards developing emotional intelligence and improving regulation. Horses are naturally mindful animals who have so much to teach us about being present in the moment. This class focuses specifically on connecting with your body and nervous system through mindfulness exercises to develop present moment awareness.
Wellness with Horses
Experience the transformative power of equine-inspired wellness with our herd. Dedicated to nurturing mind, body, and spirit.
Our regularly scheduled open group sessions offer a unique opportunity to explore the profound connection between humans and horses while fostering personal growth and well-being.
Whether you're seeking relaxation, personal development, or a deeper understanding of yourself, our Wellness with Horses group is the perfect place to embark on your journey. ​
Farm Membership
Includes unlimited access to ALL classes,
plus discounts, photo opportunities & more!
Learning & Personal Development
Realtionship-Based Horsemanship
Because there's more to horses than riding
As we learn more and more about horses, their brains, bodies, and how they exist in the world, we are understanding just how detrimental many of our traditional management and training practices have been. Come explore all the sides of equine care from grooming, nutrition, and first aid to building connection through trust and communication.
We offer multiple 6-week series, How to Catch a Horse and Deepening Connection, that offer incredible insight into the world of horses as well as addressing the real elephant in the room...us...and the impact our actions have on our horses and their willingness to work with us.
Equine-Inspired Wellness Coaching
The EVOLUTION
This 12- week program provides a personalized series of Equine-Inspired Coaching sessions to help you meet your unique goals. Participants in this program often focus on: managing anxiety and/or depression, moving through trauma and grief, improving communication skills and relationship development, boosting self-esteem and confidence, learning to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, and more.
This unmounted approach to working with horses offers a unique opportunity to experience our equine partners in a way many are unfamiliar with. Previous equine experience is NOT required to participate in this program. Whether you've been around horses your whole life or have never stepped foot on a farm, The Evolution will change your life for the better.
Meet the Horses
Theodore (Teddy)
Haflinger
Having been rescued from neglect by a wonderful family in NH, Teddy spent a year being rehabbed back into health. Unfortunately, the family was unable to continue meeting his care needs and at 29 years old, he was high risk for ending up in a kill pen, so of course we were happy to offer him a safe home where he can live out the rest of his days surrounded by peace and love.
Rosie
Belgian
Rosie spent her entire life at one farm. When tragedy struck the family she was living with, she was sent to a rescue in Pennsylvania to be rehomed. Having never moved before, the transition to her new home at our farm hasn't been easy. But she is teaching us so much about patience, compassion, and the fact that scars don't always show on the outside.
Jackie
Quarter Horse
Pulled from a kill pen with her foal, Jackie found sanctuary at The Santana Center. Her baby was quickly adopted but it took a while for Jackie to find the perfect home, and boy are we glad it gets to be us! This little mare takes her maternal role very seriously and is always ready to offer a gentle nuzzle or a guiding nudge in the right direction.
Meet the Humans
Sam Thorpe
Founder & Director
Sam has always had a deep love for horses. She grew up riding and helping care for the horses on her family's farms. As a teen she struggled with her own mental health and found peace in the barn. Her empathy and compassion for those struggling to find their own place in this world are what drove her to start these equine-inspired wellness programs.
Sam lives on the Equi Evolution farm in Cumberland, RI with her husband, 3 children, and many fur babies. She has a BSBA from Bryant University, where she studied Business and Psychology and has taken coursework in Equine Studies at Johnson & Wales University. She is a MA certified riding instructor and has extensive experience in EAAT (Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies) including therapeutic riding, Hippotherapy, and EFL (Equine-Facilitated Learning).
She is a certified EFL Practitioner through The HERD Institute and has over 25 years of experience coaching and helping build the confidence and self-esteem of those in her community, and around the world, through both in-person and online mentorship. In addition to running the programs at Equi Evolution she also offers business mentoring for those interested in pursuing a career in EAAT industries. She is also a Reiki III Master Practitioner who is passionate about holistic wellness and the power of self-love.
​Sam has always had a deep love for horses. She grew up riding and helping care for the horses on her family's farms. As a teen she struggled with her own mental health and found peace in the barn. Her empathy and compassion for those struggling to find their own place in this world are what drove her to start these equine-inspired wellness programs. Sam lives on the Equi Evolution farm in Cumberland, RI with her husband, 3 children, and many fur babies. She has a BSBA from Bryant University, where she studied Business and Psychology and has taken coursework in Equine Studies at Johnson & Wales University. She is a MA certified riding instructor and has extensive experience in EAAT (Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies) including therapeutic riding, Hippotherapy, and EFL (Equine-Facilitated Learning). She is a certified EFL Practitioner through The HERD Institute and has over 25 years of experience coaching and helping build the confidence and self-esteem of those in her community, and around the world, through both in-person and online mentorship. In addition to running the programs at Equi Evolution she also offers business mentoring for those interested in pursuing a career in EAAT industries. She is also a Reiki III Master Practitioner who is passionate about holistic wellness and the power of self-love.
Lia Catanzaro
Wellness Practitioner/Sam's right-hand woman
Lia is a RI native with a BS in Psychology from Rhode Island College. During her time spent in Honolulu teaching yoga, she soon realized that the most important lessons for leading a happy and balanced life were found in the meditation and mindfulness aspects of the practice. Since then, she made it a goal to pass on those teachings in her classes and began creating and hosting workshops to give more people access to them.
Lia has always been an animal lover, but had never had the chance to be up close to horses until a few years ago when she moved back to RI. After being around them and realizing how grounding their presence was, she knew she needed to spend more time with them and explore that connection. Luckily that was when she found Equi Evolution!
Through her own personal experience with mental health, chronic illness, and grief, she knows how healing both mindfulness and working with the herd through the EFL program can be. Lia is a certified EFL Practitioner through The HERD Institute as well as a Certified Yoga Instructor and Reiki III Master Practitioner. She facilitates private and group wellness programs, teaches compassionate horsemanship, leads yoga and grounding classes, and offers Reiki healing sessions. Phew! There is nothing this woman can't do. (She is also Mama to our sweet girl, Rosie.)
Lia is a RI native with a BS in Psychology from Rhode Island College. During her time spent in Honolulu teaching yoga, she soon realized that the most important lessons for leading a happy and balanced life were found in the meditation and mindfulness aspects of the practice. Since then, she made it a goal to pass on those teachings in her classes and began creating and hosting workshops to give more people access to them. Lia has always been an animal lover, but had never had the chance to be up close to horses until a few years ago when she moved back to RI. After being around them and realizing how grounding their presence was, she knew she needed to spend more time with them and explore that connection. Luckily that was when she found Equi Evolution! Through her own personal experience with mental health, chronic illness, and grief, she knows how healing both mindfulness and working with the herd through the EFL program can be. Lia is a certified EFL Practitioner through The HERD Institute as well as a Certified Yoga Instructor and Reiki III Master Practitioner. She facilitates private and group wellness programs, teaches compassionate horsemanship, leads yoga and grounding classes, and offers Reiki healing sessions. Phew! There is nothing this woman can't do. (She is also Mama to our sweet girl, Rosie.)
Jamie Thorpe
Farm Owner/Handyman/Emotional Support
Jamie is Sam's husband and together they own the Equi Evolution farm. By day he works as a Lineman, but his nights and weekends are spent fixing things around the farm and making Sam's crazy project ideas come to life.
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He has practically no horse experience and his mental health experience comes mostly from being married to Sam (so I guess that's kind of a lot lol), but don't worry, he won't be teaching programs anytime soon. Instead you'll find him out on the tractor or working around the property. He is the "silent" partner behind the scenes helping us make all the magic happen.
Jamie is Sam's husband and together they own the Equi Evolution farm. By day he works as a Lineman, but his nights and weekends are spent fixing things around the farm and making Sam's crazy project ideas come to life. ​ He has practically no horse experience and his mental health experience comes mostly from being married to Sam (so I guess that's kind of a lot lol), but don't worry, he won't be teaching programs anytime soon. Instead you'll find him out on the tractor or working around the property. He is the "silent" partner behind the scenes helping us make all the magic happen.
Community Voices
Discover the genuine feedback from those who have experienced our offerings.
Our clients graciously share their insights, allowing you to explore the authentic testimonials they've chosen to impart.
Skip ahead to 41:15 to see our Farm on PBS!
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