The Woman Who Lets Horses Lead the Healing: Erin Cain of Grace Reins

Erin Cain lost her brother on September 11, 2001. He was a New York City firefighter. In the days that followed, she went to be with her horses… not because she planned to, but because she couldn't think of anywhere else to go.

That moment became the defining one in her understanding of what horses can offer people. Twenty-five years later, she and her partner Joe Crilly run Grace Reins: an 85-acre sanctuary in Colorado where rescued wild mustangs, eight of them formerly wild, work alongside veterans, trauma survivors, couples and children in equine therapy sessions that involve no riding and no scripts. Just presence, silence and whatever happens next.

I spoke to Erin about grief, forgiveness and why slowing down might be the most powerful thing an ambitious woman can do.

Can you tell me the story of how you first connected with horses - not just the timeline, but the emotional pull?

ERIN: My love for horses began when I was very young. It started from a distance - we didn’t have horses in my life at that time - but something about them spoke to my heart. They were a magical refuge for my mind to wander. It felt as if we had been waiting for each other to love.

Before discovering equine therapy, what was your life like? What were you searching for?

ERIN: It’s hard to pinpoint the exact “before” and “after.” I think when you find something that truly fills a void, the relief can make you forget what the emptiness felt like. For me, equine therapy has been the most grounding force in my life. Aside from a few very special people, the horses and the healing they provide are integral to my existence.

Was there a specific moment when you realised horses could offer something deeply healing?

ERIN: Yes. When my brother was killed on September 11, 2001, while serving as a NYC firefighter, I knew I needed to be with my horses. I no longer felt anchored in my world, and they became my survival space. While I’d experienced their healing before, this was the defining moment that showed me just how profound that connection could be.

What did “success” look like to you then, and how has it shifted?

ERIN: Back then, success was survival. Today it’s layered. It can be as visible as rescuing a horse or as quiet as the unspoken connection between a person and a horse in a session. It’s the love and honesty that sustain our mission, the growth in my own belief, and the privilege of witnessing humanity and nature collide in ways I’d only dreamed of. Success now is as much about integrity as it is about impact.

When did you feel called to create a sanctuary like Grace Reins?

ERIN: After moving to Telluride in 2013, I began looking for equine therapy work. I learned about the plight of wild mustangs and immersed myself in their world. That’s when I met Joe, and together we rescued eight mustangs. In 2020, we found the piece of land that would become Grace Reins - a space that has since grown into a thriving programme and sanctuary.

For those unfamiliar, what happens in an equine therapy session?

ERIN: No two sessions are identical because each horse and person brings unique qualities. Most sessions start in a paddock or round pen, providing a safe, contained environment to meet the horse. You might begin with observation, such as noticing the horse’s breathing, posture, or movements, before engaging in activities like grooming, leading, or simply standing quietly together. There’s no riding involved; all work occurs on the ground.

Horses have an extraordinary ability to sense subtle changes in our energy and nervous system. If you’re anxious, distracted, or tense, they will often reflect this through their behaviour, such as moving away, pausing, or watching attentively. If you slow your breathing, they often soften too. These live responses can reveal patterns in how you appear in relationships, stressful moments, or even in how you set boundaries.

Sessions are guided but not scripted. Sometimes, the most powerful breakthroughs happen in silence, simply sharing space until a shift occurs - in you, in the horse, or in your connection.

Can you share a story of transformation from your work?

ERIN:“One female Wounded Warrior was grooming a horse in the paddock and said,

‘This is the most peace I have felt since returning from Iraq.’

Simple, but powerful. I see moments like this often - lightness returning to someone’s face, a softening in their body.

Why are horses such powerful mirrors for our emotions?

ERIN: They live in the present. They read our nervous systems without judgment. That honesty helps people see themselves clearly, sometimes for the first time in years.

You work with wild mustangs. What have they taught you?

ERIN: Forgiveness - the way they come to trust humans again is extraordinary. They’ve taught me patience, simplicity, and to trust my instincts. We’re born with everything we need to survive. We’re all tiny miracles. Life can be that simple.

What role does nature play in the healing process?

ERIN: It’s the stage for everything. Nature lowers our heart rate without us noticing. I’ll often invite people to close their eyes - to feel the sun, the wind, the smell of the horses, the sound of their breath. Standing on the earth like that opens parts of us we may have forgotten or never known.

What would you say to an ambitious woman running on empty?

Erin: “Don’t tell yourself you’re “doing it wrong.” Instead, explore alternative approaches that spark curiosity. Real change comes from within, not from being told to stop.”

How can readers bring “Grace Reins energy” into their lives without access to horses?

ERIN: Use your imagination. Slow down. Practice gratitude. Let yourself dream. Even if it’s only in your mind, that’s a powerful place to visit.

What does it mean to help someone come home to themselves?

ERIN: It’s one of the greatest privileges. When walls come down and someone steps into their authenticity - often with the horse as their guide - everything shifts.

If there’s one message you want every woman to take away, what is it?

ERIN: You are worthy. It is never too late. You are never broken beyond repair. Vulnerability is power.

Grace Reins is currently raising $50,000 to expand access to equine therapy, care for their rescued herd, and build sustainable infrastructure for the future.
Learn more or donate on *spotfund.