A person gently connecting with a horse at sunrise

Wellness Services · Barrie, ON

A grounded space to grow,
alongside horses.

Combining horses, wellness, and personal growth to create meaningful and impactful experiences.

Carley Davis, founder of Stride To Wellness

Meet Carley

Counselling psychology meets the wisdom of horses.

Hi, I'm Carley. I combine my background in counselling psychology with my lifelong experience around horses to create a space that feels supportive, grounded, and genuinely meaningful.

As an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator and a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, I bring together approaches grounded in evidence with the powerful learning that naturally happens when working alongside horses. Alongside this, I run Athlete Performance Mindset, a coaching program designed specifically for athletes looking to strengthen their mental game and perform at their best.

In my sessions, I focus on helping clients build confidence, strengthen emotional regulation, improve communication, deepen self awareness, and develop trust in themselves and others. For athletes, this translates into sharper focus, greater resilience under pressure, and a stronger mindset both in and out of competition. My approach is gentle, collaborative, and centred on the client, so you can explore your emotions, patterns, and strengths at a pace that feels right for you.

My goal is to provide a space where you feel safe, supported, and encouraged to move toward your best self, whether you're working through personal growth or chasing peak performance.

Approach
EAL + Counselling
Member of
CCPA
Based at
Mainstream Therapy

Services Offered

Find the experience that's right for you.

Every program is tailored to the individual, focusing on personal goals, growth, and overall well-being. No prior horse experience needed.

Equine Therapy

A counselling service at Freehand Farms. Connect with horses in a meaningful, therapeutic environment. Choose from 50 or 80 minute sessions, spent privately with a counsellor and the horses in a structured program.

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Team Building

Are you a sports team or workplace looking for an effective way to foster collaboration? Spend a few hours at Freehand Farms with our facilitators and the horses.

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Fitness Coaching for Equestrians

Are you an equestrian looking for ways to improve your riding outside of the saddle? If you're ready to start training like an athlete, we are here to help.

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Athlete Mental Performance

A counselling service for all athletes looking to strengthen the mental side of performance, including confidence, resilience, motivation, emotional regulation, and handling pressure.

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Why choose us

Four reasons clients keep coming back.

Unique Equine Assisted Experience

Combining horses, wellness, and personal growth to create meaningful and impactful experiences.

Certified & Knowledgeable Support

Led by a counsellor and personal trainer under the supervision of an RSW at Mainstream Therapy.

Supportive & Empowering Environment

A welcoming space focused on self growth, confidence building, connection, and helping clients become their best selves.

Centred on the Client

Every program is tailored to the individual, focusing on personal goals, growth, well being, and overall performance.

What clients explore

What you can work on in a session.

Confidence and self awareness

Notice your patterns, your strengths, and the quiet signals you've been carrying.

Emotional regulation

Find steadier ground in how you respond to stress, change, and big feelings.

Communication and trust

Practise honest, grounded connection with yourself, your people, and the horses.

FAQ

Good questions, honest answers.

Do I need experience with horses?+

No prior horse experience is needed. All of our horse programs are tailored to teach you basic horsemanship skills throughout the program.

Is there riding involved?+

While riding can be an option in our equine assisted counselling program, most activities are done on the ground with the horse. All group and team sessions take place on the ground.

Can I use my benefits?+

For counselling services, the cost may be covered by private insurance plans.

Get in touch

Ready to take your first stride?

Reach out to book a session, ask a question, or simply learn more. Carley personally responds to every message.

Our partners

Proudly working alongside Freehand Farms and Mainstream Therapy.