About Us

Andre Leclipteux

Andre Leclipteux is a facilitator and director at Horse Spirit Connections. Andre manages the day-to-day farm activities being owner and caretaker of the land, the horses and the other animals on the property.

In 1994 Andre was (re) introduced to horses, which opened a childhood curiosity, admiration, and appreciation for these four-legged creatures. In 1996 he got hooked on Polo, and quickly expanded from being a one-horse person to having a herd of twelve. Whether in the saddle or on the ground, Andre is quite comfortable relating to horse energy.

A graduate of the Epona Partners Program at the Epona Center in Arizona, Andre continues to work with horses on the ground helping others achieve self-empowerment and emotional growth.

His passion for the outdoors and love of nature has led him into exploring many geographical regions on land and water. “To open yourself to so many experiences and places is to seek the discovery of your true self.”

While exploring North and Central American native cultures, Andre found his spiritual path to be shamanism, which encourages the healing of self and others. He’s attained the position of Pipe Carrier and Fire Chief while on the Sweet Medicine SunDance path. He is a shamanic coach having graduated from the Institute of Shamanic Medicine, helping individuals discover their inner wisdom. He also leads men’s group in exploring and defining the ‘masculine’ in today’s world, incorporating native ceremonies with horse wisdom and interaction.

A graduate of Sheridan College, his first endeavors were in film, audio visual projects and photography. This led him into advertising, marketing and promotions. Andre has been involved with the communications field for over 25 years in various capacities, working in small and large agencies while servicing local, regional and national clients. His portfolio covers the gamut of Federal and Provincial Government to Canadian and International brands like Dr Pepper, Xerox, Microsoft and Lotus.

Andre has always had business and entrepreneurial flair – having started his first company while still in college. He left the agency business in 1986 to start his own consulting business – which gave him experience on the client side. Later in 1994, he started Wings & Ink, a successful marketing communications firm with Wendy. The company grew steadily into a multi million-dollar corporation with clients on both sides of the border, and received national and international recognition for its creative work.

Andre retired from corporate life in 2010 after the successful sale of Wings & ink to an international corporation looking to expand their stake in the Canadian marketplace. “There was a tremendous satisfaction in knowing what you dreamed and birthed had evolved and reached independence.” He now devotes his time to the growth of Horse Spirit Connections.

Andre has a passion for horses, sound business acumen, and a desire to see people heal and lead heart-filled lives.

Janis Mirynech

Janis is a certified Advanced FEEL Practitioner and a director of Horse Spirit Connections, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping horses and humans heal. She is one of the FEEL Training facilitators and loves seeing the tremendous growth and transformations that occur during the program. She also co-facilitates workshops both at Horse Spirit Connections and at other farms. As a member of the FEEL Alumni, Janis belongs to a group that is dedicated to promoting how this work heals not only humans but horses as well.

Janis has a tremendous love and appreciation for all that nature has to offer. As a student of shamanism for many years, she sees the interconnectedness of all living things and has experienced the powerful healing medicine of the horse in ceremonies and vision quests.

In her professional career, Janis was a marketing manager with some of Canada’s largest wineries. Today she brings those skills to the consulting she does both with Horse Spirit Connections and other FEEL practitioners developing their businesses. She devotes her time to the FEEL work, shamanic studies, consulting, yoga and jewelry design.

It is through her work and experiences with the horses that Janis believes she has come to be comfortable in her own skin, open to the ever-changing opportunities that cross her path. Life has truly become an adventure worth sharing! For more information, or just to chat, Janis can be reached by email at sunstone@bell.net.

Victoria Poe

B. Ed, MSW, RSW

Recognizing the power of horses to help heal and educate beyond riding, Victoria (Tori) began her journey in the field of Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Facilitated Counselling, creating her business, 2 Lead Change.  As a lifelong learner, she completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) specializing in wholistic healing practices. She works part time at Seneca College with the Therapeutic Recreation Degree Program.

Tori supports people, in groups or one-on-one, in their healing, with their career path, or with interpersonal relationships and welcomes innovative approaches to learning and change. She has supported persons to develop leadership skills or facilitate decision making and manage stress, anxiety, and addictive behaviours.

As an accomplished educator, she has honed her skills with extensive experience in Project Management and Employment Training, including international experience. Tori has over 25 years’ experience developing and implementing employment and personal development training programs for immigrants, youth, college students and woman while managing client intake, assessment, and career planning. A strategist as well as a teacher, Tori has worked with the Agribusiness and Trade Unit of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Emerging Markets providing support in project/proposal administration, marketing, and recruiting for international development projects.  She is effective in client service relations, strategic planning, and staff/project management.

Currently, Tori sits on the advisory board of Horse Spirit Connections and has co-facilitated with other Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning (FEEL) practitioners. As facilitator, peer support, program developer, and FEEL trainer, Tori brings her education and training expertise as well as her diverse experience working with horses. She has learned from her horse Querica, and gleaned much from EPONA instructors, Klaus Hempfling, Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, Equine Guided Education Association and many herds of horses.