Born into a military family; Lori Thompson is comfortable with her place in the world.

Growing up in different cities didn't leave any feelings of displacement but instead reinforced her commitment to community service. She started her volunteer work as a candy striper, assisted in an senior's home and worked with down syndrome children at YMCA Camps.

Lori & Thunder

"I always have to be challenged". After high school, a legal secretary course would lead to a move with the RCMP to Ft. McMurray at the age of 19. Where Lori enrolled at Keyano College to study English and Psychology.

Returning to Calgary she worked for the Attorney General's office & was also a Fairweather's Christmas Elf. She made enough money to go to Mount Royal University and achieve both a Nursing Diploma and Mental Health Certificate. Today when not at her equine centre she works at the Rockyview Hospital as a Mental Health Nurse Therapist.

Seeing herself as "blessed" Lori designed and implemented an Equine Therapy Program where once a week the patients have an opportunity to go to the centre and work with the horses.

Lori & Billy

In 1999 she lost her first husband suddenly and tragically to a brain aneurysm. Left with a working farm and their horses she thought that she was coping except that the horses were telling her otherwise. Once easy to handle they were now skittish and one even lay on the ground when she tried to put his bridle on. Being the woman that she was, Lori realized that she was the problem not them. She knew that she won't being "real with them" and her sudden descent into being a widow.

A clinic with renowned horseman Chris Irwin would be the door that would open Lori to her grief, recognition of the help that she would need with the ranch and most importantly the role that horses were to play in her future.

Today Lori shares her life and work with 10 horses, her 'favourite' boy Billy is 31 years old. Active in horse rescue, Lori has to appraise each one with care as they will in time be part of her equine team. She does this 'on the ground' so that she can get a feel for the horse's body language, temperament and how they communicate.

Lori & Hercule

When the world community calls Lori also answers. A few weeks after 9/11 she was sent to New York as a member of a trauma team helping the police, firefighters and citizens to deal with the emotional trauma that had occurred. Being Lori in New York meant that she was often approached by strangers who saw her volunteer badge and just needed to just talk. Who was her confidant? A horse named 'Hercules' whom she befriended in Central Park. His owner gave her carrots to feed him and more importantly that connection with something that was untouched by the aftermath of recent events.

Three years later she was part of World Vision's Destination Life Change Program in Craiova, Romania. The children in the orphanages were all special needs and she taught the workers better methods for daily care, as well as play therapy. Time was also found to teach English to the children at a local elementary school.

Lori in Romania

And when Hurricane Katrina struck even though she couldn't travel down there she was the liaison at the Calgary Red Cross office for the team that was deployed to the US. Assisting with any problems in the field, conducting debriefing interviews upon their return and subsequent mental health check ups when necessary.

In time she would like to travel to Mozambique where her sister Linda works with the IRIS Ministries. For now though Inner Equine Journeys; her growing team (both human & equine) and list of clients keeps her busy. And it will come as no surprise that she is working on something new that she calls The Apache Program.

For me what started as a breakfast meeting to interview Lori Thompson stretched into three hours and somehow I felt that I only scratched the surface on what this remarkable woman has accomplished as she answers the call, one person and one horse at a time.

Here is more information on The Apache Program:

The Apache Program is born out of Lori Thompson's passion for horses and her experiences in horse rescue. She sees that good horses are going to slaughter because no one has the time to help them. There are also young people who want to work with horses. Why not put the two together?

The Apache Program teaches basic horse care, assessment of a horse, communication with horses, training and riding. There is no experience necessary just a willingness to learn and a love for horses. A 6 month commitment is required so that consistency is achieved and the participant and the horse can bond. Each week builds on the next. The goal is to have the horse for a season and work towards finding it a forever home.

The end result is for the horse to be happy and secure in a new home and the teen to be proud of their accomplishments and to feel a strong sense of self esteem.

There is a fee of $50.00 a month for the program. This fee covers maintenance. Any monies left over, remain in the Apache Program and will be used to rescue another horse the following year.

Inner Equine Journeys also offers Corporate Team Building and Communication Workshops.

To contact Lori at 1.403.988-0774 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.equines.ca