Horses, Healing, and the Land:
Cheri Trousil’s Journey
At the crossroads of mind-body movement and land connection stands Cheri Trousil, a trailblazer in equine therapy. Through her work, Cheri offers women ranchers an extraordinary opportunity to reconnect with themselves and their land in profoundly meaningful ways.
Cheri’s journey is marked by diverse experiences and a deep-rooted love for nature. After growing up in a small rural town with no background in ranching or agriculture, she joined the military at 18. Eventually, she was drawn out west, where she pursued an education and career in physical therapy.
“It was a tough time for women in the military post-Vietnam, but I did it for the advancement in education. I had to push through, learned a lot, but ultimately, that decision and experience got me out west, where I began to actualize my belief that true healing happens outdoors,” Cheri reflects.
After completing her education, Cheri spent most of the year working indoors within hospital walls, but as soon as summer arrived, she took healing outside, working at youth camps.
After getting married and having children, life led her and her family to settle in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There, she played a pivotal role in saving an 11,000-acre ranch from development in 1999. This two-year preservation effort laid the foundation for a non-profit called the Humble Ranch Education and Therapy Center, where Cheri’s vision of integrating physical therapy with land stewardship came to life.
Additionally, for more than a decade, Cheri has been involved in the Chinese cultural practice of Qigong, a comprehensive system that teaches individuals methods to preserve their vital energy, cultivate it through specific practices, and consciously direct this energy within the body to maintain health, balance, and vitality (source: National Qigong Association).
For seventeen years, Cheri partnered with hospitals, schools, and other women to bring the mission of Humble Ranch to life, pairing children with varied abilities with horses for equine therapy. Soon after, it became clear that PTSD could also be well-served by equine therapy. Cheri’s operation expanded rapidly, and she was faced with the strategic decision to partner with another organization, prompting her to redesign what it meant to continue partnering with horses in her work.
“I use my background in physical therapy to help individuals connect with their bodies and the land, fostering a holistic sense of well-being,” Cheri explains.
That’s when Women In Ranching (WIR) came into focus. After being introduced to the Women In Ranching community, Cheri quickly connected with its members and integrated her leadership skills into facilitating transformative experiences.
Cheri was introduced to WIR through mutual friends and personal relationships. Her introduction to a facilitator role came when she was invited to partner with her friend and colleague.
“I was immediately drawn to the idea of women coming together to be on the land and find their place in the land and what it meant to them. This felt familiar to my own work and journey, so I was like, ‘I’m in.’”
Cheri’s commitment to supporting women’s leadership is equally passionate. She began facilitating circles, and shortly after, was asked to join the board of directors for the newly formed Women In Ranching nonprofit. She served as a board member for two years before transitioning into a full facilitator role. “Gathering with women on the land is my first love,” she says.
“When a woman feels that she belongs and trusts herself, the depth and breadth of her impact on her community and the natural world around her are immeasurable,” she notes.
Her goal is to create a space where women feel a deep sense of physical and mental presence in each moment—connected to themselves in a place of trust and authenticity. In that present moment, women can feel how they are in relationship with the land, with animals, and with others. “But to achieve that, you first need to feel what it’s like to be connected and in relationship with yourself.” she says.
By weaving physical therapy, equine partnerships, and land stewardship, Cheri creates meaningful connections that enable women and communities to flourish. Her workshops offer practical strategies that can be implemented into daily routines and have lasting effects that continue well beyond the sessions.
“At the Yellowstone Circle Gathering, I hope the women gathered experience what it feels like to be truly present—connected to themselves, the land, animals, and others,” she says.
Don’t miss the chance to join Cheri at our upcoming Yellowstone Circle Gathering!