Dr. Hallie Sheade shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hallie, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with some quiet time with my daughter before taking her to school. Once I get to the ranch, I check in on our schedule and review staff, client, and equine tasks for the day. After that, no two days look the same—which is one of the things I love about this work. Some days I’m seeing clients as a counselor, other days I’m supervising instructors in training, schooling our horses, writing grant applications, or introducing visitors to the herd. As the leader of a small nonprofit, I truly wear all the hats—so you name it, I probably do it!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Dr. Hallie Sheade, and I wear a lot of hats, but at the heart of it all I’m someone who believes deeply in the healing power of horses. I’m the co-founder and Executive Director of STEPS With Horses, a nonprofit here in Fort Worth where people of all ages come to find hope, healing, and connection through working with our herd of 11 incredible equines.
What makes us special is our belief in the power of the human-horse connection and creating mutually-beneficial experiences for both human and equine. We give our horses the freedom to interact in their own way, which creates some truly powerful and authentic moments for our clients—whether that’s a child learning to trust again, a veteran finding peace, or a trauma survivor discovering their strength.
This work is personal for me. I’ve been around horses my whole life, and combining that with my counseling background has shown me again and again just how much horses have to teach us. Right now, we’re excited about growing our programs so that even more people can experience what it feels like to heal alongside horses. Every day, I get to witness those little moments of transformation, and it’s incredible.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful takes me back to when I was five years old, learning to ride and interact with horses. I was so small, and the horses seemed impossibly big to me, but I’ll never forget the moment I realized they were listening to me. With a gentle cue or a soft touch, this huge animal would respond, and suddenly I felt seen and capable in a way I hadn’t before. It wasn’t about control—it was about connection. That feeling of partnership, of being able to communicate with a creature so much larger than myself, was magical. Even as a little girl, I knew there was something life-changing in that moment.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me things that success never could—most importantly, empathy. When you’ve walked through your own challenges, you begin to understand what it feels like to carry pain, uncertainty, or fear. That experience has given me a deeper compassion for others and the ability to truly sit with them in their struggles. Success can be exciting and affirming, but it doesn’t invite you into the same depth of connection. Suffering has shaped me into someone who can walk alongside others on their journeys, not with quick fixes or easy answers, but with genuine understanding and presence.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe, even though I can’t prove it, that horses are profoundly sentient beings with abilities that go far beyond what research has been able to capture so far. Studies already show that horses can read human emotions, respond to our body language, and even detect emotions by scent. But in my work, I’ve seen things that research only begins to touch on—like our herd instinctively surrounding a client in the middle of processing deep trauma, or a horse with a reputation for being “difficult” gently approaching a young boy and allowing him to halter her as if she knew he needed that moment of success. These experiences tell me there’s something more—an intuitive, relational depth in horses that defies measurement. Science is starting to point the way, but I think their true capacity for connection goes well beyond what we’ve yet been able to explain.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I can honestly say I’m doing what I was born to do. I’ve felt a pull toward horses for as long as I can remember—they’ve always been a part of who I am. I was lucky that my parents didn’t just tolerate that passion, they encouraged it and supported me in pursuing it. My dad even made a dramatic career change when I was young, which showed me firsthand the importance of following your heart and living with purpose. That example gave me the courage to lean fully into this path with horses and counseling, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stepswithhorses.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepswithhorses
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/s-t-e-p-s-with-horses
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepswithhorses
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stepswithhorses2859
Image Credits
Elliot Mayén
