Queer Connection: Equine-Assisted Workshop

We are excited to invite members of the LBGTQIA+ community (and close allies of) to join us at Laughing Buck Farm on August 30, 2025 for an Equine-Assisted Workshop, Limited to 10 participants (16+)

This intimate experience will offer participants an opportunity to:

• Connect with horses through engaging, ground-based activities. No riding experience is necessary, as all interactions will be from the ground.
• Cultivate connections with peers in a safe, supportive, creative, and calming environment.
• Deepen your relationship to self, nature, and animals; increasing a sense of well-being and belonging.

As prey animals, horses have evolved to attain a remarkable sense of awareness, perception, and attunement to their environment. They can accurately recognize and interpret micro-facial expressions and subtle changes to body language and behaviors. These are skills rooted in their biology and neurophysiology. Although, it could be said that this phenomenon extends beyond science. Often, horses serve as intuitive mirrors, helping us see ourselves and each other more clearly.

In our fast-paced, screen-driven world, authentic human connection tends to take a backseat. Creating genuine, meaningful relationships feels more vital than ever—especially within marginalized communities like LGBTQIA+. Many of us may feel isolated, searching for safe spaces where we can truly be ourselves.

This event is about just that—coming together as we are. No pretense, no expectations—simply arriving with an open heart, body, mind, and spirit.

About us:

Rachel Ann is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) instructor, with a Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) certification. She has learned from and worked with the neurodivergent, queer, disabled, and at risk youth communities for the last 25 years, and her favourite community to serve is LGBTQIA+ youth and adults. Rachel's passion is facilitating connection, understanding, and self- awareness through Horsemanship.

Christi Piker, MA LPC is a Mindfulness-based mental health therapist and the owner of Lotus Blooming Out LLC in Fort Collins. She attended Naropa University and graduated in 2020 with a Masters in Contemplative Psychotherapy and Buddhist studies. Beyond her formal training, she has been a practicing student of Vipassana-Insight Meditation for over 15 years. She has worked in hospitality and the helping fields in various capacties thoughout her life, always centering her work around compassion, empathy, and authenticity. Over the past few years, she has begun bridging and encorpoting her love for the natural world, animals, art, and spirituality into her work with clients. She is currenly working towards professional certification in Equine-Assisted Therapy though ARCH (Arenas for Change).

Together, Rachel and Christi are pleased to be growing thier partnership and expanding thier offerings, particularly into to communities that they hold intersecting idenities with. Please note, this is not a "therapy group" though we garuntee it will be therapeutic and fun!

Let’s create connections together in this one of a kind experince!

Host or Publisher Christi Piker, MA LPC & Laughing Buck Farm