Meet our Humans
The Equi Evolution staff bring a wide variety of unique backgrounds in wellness, education, coaching, yoga, mindfulness, energy healing, and of course...horses! Learn more about their unique backgrounds below.
Sam Thorpe
Owner
Sam has always had a deep love for horses. She grew up riding and helping care for the horses on her family's farms and her neighborhood. As a teen she struggled with her own mental health and found peace in the barn. Her empathy and compassion for those struggling to find their own place in this world are what drove her to start these equine-inspired wellness programs.
As a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, she holds special interests in neurodiversity, mental health, and the connections that lie in the benefits horses offer us in these spaces. She has involvement in multiple research projects in these areas and is open to collaborations that will fuel more access to these important services for populations in need.
Sam lives in Cumberland, RI with her husband, 3 children, and many fur babies. She has a BSBA from Bryant University, where she studied Business and Psychology and has taken coursework in Equine Studies at Johnson & Wales University. She is a MA certified riding instructor and has extensive experience in EAAT (Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies) including therapeutic riding, Hippotherapy, and EFL (Equine-Facilitated Learning).
She is a certified EFL Practitioner through The HERD Institute and has over 25 years of experience coaching and helping build the confidence and self-esteem of those in her community, and around the world, through both in-person and online mentorship. In addition to running the programs at Equi Evolution she also offers business mentoring for those interested in pursuing a career in EAAT industries. She is also a Reiki III Master Practitioner who is passionate about holistic wellness and the power of self-love.
Lia Catanzaro
Equine-Inspired Learning Practitioner
Lia is a RI native with a BS in Psychology from Rhode Island College. During her time spent in Honolulu teaching yoga, she soon realized that the most important lessons for leading a happy and balanced life were found in the meditation and mindfulness aspects of the practice. Since then, she made it a goal to pass on those teachings in her classes and began creating and hosting workshops to give more people access to them.
Lia has always been an animal lover, but had never had the chance to be up close to horses until several years ago, when she moved back to RI. After being around them and realizing how grounding their presence was, she knew she needed to spend more time with them and explore that connection. Luckily that was when she found Equi Evolution!
Through her own personal experience with mental health, chronic illness, and grief, she knows how healing both mindfulness and working with the herd through the EFL program can be. Lia is a certified EFL Practitioner through The HERD Institute as well as a Certified Yoga Instructor and Reiki III Master Practitioner. She facilitates private and group wellness programs, teaches compassionate horsemanship, leads yoga and grounding classes, and offers Reiki healing sessions. Phew! There is nothing this woman can't do. She is also Mama to our sweet girl, Rosie, who passed away in October 2024 after a long a heroic battle with major hoof problems. Rest in Peace sweet Rosie.
Christopher Botelho
Equine-Inspired Learning Practitioner
Another RI native, Christopher has loved horses since as early as he can remember, incessantly asking his parents for a pony. His journey at the farm began in horsemanship class, which was also the start of his journey back to horses. The love and excitement was instant, and he knew he only wanted more. This soon led to volunteering at the farm, and now becoming a wellness practitioner.
Christopher has a BA in Community Health from Brown University. He spent several years working in HIV-focused public health programs in both state government and non-profit sectors. The impact of his own healing journey led him to help facilitate this process for others, his true calling. Practicing professionally for 3 years, Christopher is a holistic healing practitioner with knowledge/interest in energy healing, sound healing, herbalism, astrology, etc. He is a Reiki Master and certified in Integrated Energy Therapy®.
Christopher is overjoyed to be a part of the Equi Evolution team, bringing together his passion for horses and healing. His time at the farm has also helped rekindle his childhood love for reading, writing, and other forms of creative expression. He hopes to inspire others to live as their authentic self and work towards collective liberation.
Christine DiLuglio
Assistant Instructor
Christine also began her journey at the farm as an Evolution program participant. Bonding over horses with her father growing up, she was excited by the opportunity to have more hands-on experience as she too transitioned into a volunteer position.
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She is the Owner of The Woods Yoga, a top rated studio in Rhode Island, and is passionate about both physical and mental health and wellness. This year she finally made a dream come true and bought her first horse, an adorable bay gelding named Ranger! She loves cooking new meals with her husband, playing Pickle Ball, horseback riding, mucking (don't knock it till you try it), and working on building her relationship with Ranger. After immersing herself in the world of horses and compassionate horsemanship over these past 2 years, she is now an integral member of our team; assisting in our horsemanship classes, snapping photos during fun events, and sharing her excitement for the power of the equine connection.
Ruthanne Hawkins
Reiki Master
An executive assistant, Reiki practitioner, animal communicator, and horse lover extreme, Ruthanne began her journey with Equi Evolution back in 2019. She found significant peace from her work with the horses and has fully immersed herself into the world of equine-inspired learning and animal advocacy and welfare.
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Committed to supporting equine and human wellness efforts, she is dedicated to helping improve access to equine-centered wellness programs and improving welfare efforts around the world. Her passion and love for this work and the horses is evident from the moment you meet her. She is also a Reiki III Master Practitioner and offers healing sessions at the farm. She is also trained in Animal Reiki and is completing her teacher training in this modality. Stay tuned for future offerings and learning opportunities with Ruthanne.
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“I never imagined the connections between horses and humans would be so intense and fulfilling. That connection is the drive that has led me to where I am today.”
Jamie Thorpe
Farm Owner/Handyman/General Support
Jamie is Sam's husband and together they own the Equi Evolution farm. By day he works as a Lineman, but his nights and weekends are spent fixing things around the farm and making Sam's crazy ideas come to life.
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He has minimal horse experience but is a natural magnet for these furry animals. His mental health experience comes mostly from being married to Sam (so I guess that's kind of a lot lol), but don't worry, he won't be teaching mindfulness anytime soon. Instead, you'll find him out on the tractor or working around the property. He is the "silent" partner behind the scenes helping us make all the magic happen.
Meet our Animals
Our horses all come from some type of rescue or retirement background. Like us, they have had previous careers and life experiences that have shaped their personalities into the animals they are today. Despite being unable to perform in the same ways they used to, all of our equine partners have value and so much teaching to offer.
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(It's no secret horses are expensive to care for. If you have been touched by these animals and would like to alleviate some of our care expenses follow the link below to sponsor your favorite pals for just $10/month. We are grateful for all your support!)
Chase
Quarter Horse
Chase is the OG of Equi Evolution and the oldest horse in our herd at around 30 years old. He spent the majority of his life working as a therapeutic riding horse and in early 2019 he retired from his former career to start these wellness programs with Sam. With a lifetime of experience under his belt is wisdom never ceases to amaze.
Drifter
Standardbred
Drifter is an ex-harness racer turned police horse. After budget cuts in the department he found himself in need of a new home and we found each other at exactly the right time. He is a big boy, but don't let his size fool you...one look into those puppy dog eyes and you'll see exactly why he's the perfect support when you're feeling down.
Jackie
Quarter Horse Cross
Pulled from a kill pen with her foal, Jackie found sanctuary at The Santana Center. Her baby was quickly adopted but it took a while for Jackie to find the perfect home, and boy are we glad it gets to be us! This little mare takes her maternal role very seriously and is always ready to offer a gentle nuzzle or a guiding nudge in the right direction.
Teddy
Haflinger
Having been rescued from neglect by a wonderful family in NH, Teddy spent a year being rehabbed back into health. Unfortunately, the family was unable to continue meeting his care needs and at 27 years old, he was high risk for ending up in a kill pen, so of course we were happy to offer him a safe home where he can live out the rest of his days surrounded by peace and love.
Penny
Golden Retriever
Penny might not be a rescue case, but she sure knows how to heal the hearts of everyone who comes to the farm. She's never not happy to see you. Her sweet disposition and love for snuggles help make the environment warm and welcoming and you'll often find her bouncing around the barn yard.
Walnut
King of the World
If you're wondering who this farm really belongs to, it's this guys right here. Walnut is our trusty barn cat who loves to join in on classes and share his opinions, sometimes very loudly. While he loves being around people, he is also really excellent at setting boundaries and speaking his mind (qualities we could probably all improve on).
Rosie (Rest in Peace 2024)
Belgian Draft
Before us, Rosie had spent her entire life at one farm. When tragedy struck the family she was living with, she was sent to a rescue in Pennsylvania to be rehomed. Having never moved before, the transition to our farm wasn't easy. But with the incredible patience of Lia, and the love you all showed herd, she found peace and has taught us so much about patience, compassion, and the fact that scars don't always show on the outside. Rosie passed in October of 2024 after a tough battle with hoof keratomas. Her spirit will forever be an integral part of the learning and patience you will find at the farm.
Vinnie (Rest in Peace 2023)
Mini-Donkey
Vinnie and Chase were close pals since the very start of Equi Evolution in early 2019. Since then he snuggled his way into the hearts of thousands and became a mini mascot of the farm. His sweet demeanor and love of attention and butt scratches made him a lovable member of the herd. He passed in December 2023 but his legacy will live on in our programs and our mission.
