An equine therapy business sprouted up just outside of Okotoks during the pandemic.

Eunoia Equine Assisted Learning and Wellness was created out of a need during the pandemic.

Three ladies, that knew each from their involvement with the Big Rock Singers, partnered up to make it happen.

Co-owner Alex Dunn says with her experience she's now able to help people in our community with a wide variety of issues.  And she's been involved in equine therapy for a long time.

"Almost 20 years' experience, and trauma informed with crisis and trauma and people managing and experiencing a change in their lives, anxiety, ADHD, grief."

They've also been working locally with schools and children too.

Another co-owner Pauline Hogan explains how the business came about.

"We were all in the Big Rock Singers, myself and Alex and another lady Cathy Robinson who owns the property where we run Eunoia. And we met for a socially distanced horse-riding lessons, and it ended up being the three of us and we started talking and I said, 'You know I've done equine assisted learning and always thought it would be so cool to have a place where people could come and just be with horses."

Dunn picks up the story from there. 

"And I said 'Hey, wait, that's what I'd like as well because I did that in the U.K. and that's what I've always wanted to do.' 

And Hogan finishes off the story.

"And then Cathy said, 'Well, I've always thought my place is way too special to just be for me so I think we should talk further.'

And they did and it all came together.

Co-owners Alex Dunn and Pauline Hogan (co-owner Cathy Robinson is missing)(L to R) Co-owners Alex Dunn and Pauline Hogan (co-owner Cathy Robinson is missing) holding one of their pamphlets.

They have 12 horses on the property that are all well-suited as therapy horses and the horses choose who they work with and not the other way around.

The business is also working with some non-profit group including working with 80 children.

They've also opened it up for summer camps for kids and they are also looking at two fundraisers, one in September and possibly one around Valentine's Day next year.

More details can be found on their website.

And one last note, they don't provide horse-riding lessons.