Animals have an innate perception about what humans need, and a special ability to provide for that need, or to lead humans in the direction they need to go to acquire that need.  Horses especially have perceptional attitudes of empathy, kindness, perception and connectedness.

Marie Sherwood was born in Québec City. She moved to Prince Edward Island as a teenager where her love affair with horses began. Growing up in a turbulent home she found solace in the horse she rode. Marie’s favorite mare was named Afterthought. Marie felt this name suited both of them. Afterthought never judged, always listened, and mirrored a lot of what Marie was feeling. If Marie was having a good day, so was Afterthought. If Marie was having a bad day, so was Afterthought.

As an adult Marie continued to seek out horses. While finishing her undergraduate degree in Psychology Marie felt that putting the two together would one day be part of her profession. She remembered how horses had helped her get through some of the harder times of her teenage years.

In 2005 Marie, her husband Peter, and their four children moved to Saskatchewan with the dream of opening up Shalom Ranch; a ranch where people could get counseling with the horse as co-therapist. Saskatchewan was their pick as Marie feels it is Canada’s best kept secret. Finding lots of land, cheaper prices, and friendly people was what the vision needed to take flight. The vision also included helping emotionally children. Marie started Radical Attachment Camp in 2007.

Nancy Thomas of Families by Design is the co-Director of the family camp. Ms. Thomas is known all over the work for her work with severely emotionally disturbed children. Her adopted daughter Beth Thomas was the subject of an HBO special called “Child of Rage.” This documentary showed how trauma, violence, and sexual abuse can damage a child. The hope lay in the therapeutic parenting she found while living with the Thomas’ in the mountains of Colorado.

Marie offers both riding lessons and Equine assisted counselling services in Saskatchewan. She is a gifted speaker, teacher and communicator, and I am pleased to have met her!

Looking for something different for your behaviorally challenged child? A summer plan that includes some productivity and learning along with fun? Check out the pamphlet for RADical Attachment Camp!