Meet the founder | Erin Cain

“The horses do the healing—we just hold the space.”

Erin Cain, an Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning with over 25 years of experience, has spent a lifetime forging quiet but powerful connections—between horses and humans, healing and presence, land and longing. A dedicated practitioner and guide, Erin’s work is rooted in a deep respect for the intuitive wisdom of horses and the belief that transformation often begins in stillness. Her approach is both professional and profoundly personal. Certified and trained in equine-assisted therapy, Erin brings a wealth of clinical knowledge to her practice. But it’s her lived experience—her resilience, her reverence, her listening—that sets her apart. With every session, she artfully integrates therapeutic techniques with the healing presence of horses, fostering spaces where people can explore, feel, and remember who they are beneath the noise.

Erin’s journey here wasn’t linear. Born on the East Coast, her life unfolded in unexpected chapters—from single motherhood to the mountains of Telluride, each step guided by an inner compass pointing toward purpose. A transformative experience at a Colorado ranch in 1995 marked the beginning of a deeper calling—one that would eventually reshape her life around the intersection of mental health, learning, and the healing power of equine connection.

When she met Joe, a photographer who had spent years documenting wild mustangs, something clicked. Their shared reverence for these misunderstood animals sparked a new path—one rooted in rescue, restoration, and the quiet, sacred work of bearing witness. Together, they began adopting wild mustangs—horses discarded by a system that didn’t see their worth—and watched as these beings helped unlock buried emotion and insight in the humans who came to be with them.

And then, just as the world was shutting down, a door opened.

A piece of land became available. Unplanned, but perfectly timed. Raw, open, and ready to become a sanctuary. From that patch of earth, Grace Reins was born—not from ambition, but from devotion. A space where people and horses alike could come to feel safe, seen, and whole again.

Today, Erin continues to steward Grace Reins with quiet strength and deep intention. Her unique ability to harness the wisdom of horses allows her to guide individuals on a journey of self-discovery and renewal. What she offers is more than therapy—it’s a return to wholeness, facilitated by the most honest of teachers.