Shannon’s Testimony

Born into a multigenerational rodeo family in North Dakota, Shannon Heine has been in the saddle since before she could walk. Barrel racing, roping, and the raw grit of the ranch and rodeo arena shaped her childhood — and later, her marriage, as her husband, Kyle also grew up competing and continues to ride today. Horses have always been more than a passion for her; they’ve been woven into every chapter of her life, as naturally as faith.

For the past 25 years, Shannon has served as a dedicated nurse, walking alongside patients facing the realities of chronic illness. She has seen firsthand how the weight of trauma — physical, emotional, or both — can take root in a person’s body and spirit. But her understanding of trauma became deeply personal in 2013, when a riding accident left her paralyzed with a broken neck. Doctors weren’t sure she would ever walk again.

What followed was not only a physical battle, but a spiritual one — and it was in that wilderness that Shannon’s relationship with the Lord became the foundation of everything. She clung to His promises when her body couldn’t move, and found that His presence met her in ways nothing else could. Through surgery, countless prayers from a faithful community, and a fierce determination she believes was Spirit-given, she walked out of that hospital. A miracle. One that still humbles and moves her today.

The road back to riding was long and painful — and profoundly transformative. As Shannon healed, she discovered something unexpected: even the smell of a horse brought calm to her nervous system and steadiness to her soul. Being with them felt like coming home. She came to understand that this was no coincidence. Just as the Holy Spirit moves gently, quietly, and powerfully in the hidden places of our hearts, horses have a unique ability to do the same — bypassing our walls, meeting us in our wounds, and leading us toward wholeness.

That revelation opened a door she hadn’t anticipated. Determined to turn her own healing into a vessel for others, Shannon pursued and completed her equine facilitation certification through Touched by a Horse. There, she deepened her understanding of how horses — as prey animals attuned to body language, energy, and emotional congruence — can mirror back what a person is carrying, often before a single word is spoken. It was the training ground that allowed her personal testimony to become a structured, professional offering for others.

Now living in West Texas with her husband and their three beautiful children, Shannon offers intimate Equine Experiences for individuals and groups. Her sessions are rooted in her belief that God designed horses with a remarkable gift — the ability to sense what we carry and meet us exactly where we are, without judgment. She holds a special place in her heart for those who have endured trauma or life-altering events, people who often feel unseen, misunderstood, or simply exhausted by the weight of their story.

Beyond individual healing work, Shannon also leads workshops for teams, organizations, and groups seeking to grow together. Because horses respond instantly and honestly to leadership, presence, and trust, they make powerful teachers in areas that are difficult to develop through conversation alone. Her workshops are designed to build:

— Leadership — learning to lead with clarity, calm authority, and self-awareness, since horses will only follow a leader who is congruent and present

— Confidence — developing trust in one’s own instincts and decisions through real-time, judgment-free feedback from the horse

— Team Building — strengthening communication, trust, and collaborative problem-solving as groups work together around shared equine-facilitated challenges

In Shannon’s care, guests and teams alike encounter a safe, gentle space where the pace slows, defenses soften, and growth becomes possible. Whether through quiet one-on-one time with her equine partners, prayer, or a hands-on group workshop, Shannon believes the Holy Spirit works through every moment — drawing people back to themselves, back to one another, and back to the One who made them.

She has lived the miracle. And now, she holds space for yours