Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivian Thwaits.
Hi Vivian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Art and Soul Horses began long before I ever owned a horse. The real growth began when I was 6 years old, living in Santa Cruz, gathering all the neighborhood kids into my garage to create art together. Even then, I understood that art had the power to connect people. My father nurtured my love for horses by giving me every opportunity to visit and ride them, even though I didn’t have one of my own.
Fast forward to my 40s, when I reconnected with my creative self and my lifelong love of horses. Art Soul and Horses, Inc was born in the stall of a boarding barn in Poway, California, alongside my first horse, Yanni. This marked the beginning of my journey combining art and journaling to manifest my dreams and heal my heart.
My work deepened under the mentorship and certification training of Melisa Pearce, psychotherapist and creator of Touched by a Horse®. Her pioneering Equine Gestalt Coaching Method® profoundly influenced the foundation of Art Soul and Horses. The somatic nature of her work centered in the integration of body, emotion and energy through the presence of horses resonated deeply with me and helped shape how I guide others toward healing and self-discovery.
Now, 20 years later, I sit in my barn surrounded by my horses—each horse a teacher and healer in their own right. Over the past decade, I’ve shared the beauty and power of combining horses and art with others, first working with burned-out nurses and now with teens in behavioral health and the San Diego District Attorney’s Restorative Justice Program.
After 30 years as a nurse, I can honestly say I have never felt more aligned with my purpose. Through this work, I’ve witnessed profound transformation—people rediscovering their light, their hope, and their ability to create change. The real beauty lies in the power of the horses and I being there to witness and hold space for remembrance of the true self.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In any great story there will be ups and downs on the road to finding the soul’s purpose. The creation of Art Soul and Horses Inc was no exception. In the early days, I was still working full-time as a nurse,trying to build this dream while struggling with burn out and long hours in a demanding profession. My first horse, Yanni, was instrumental in helping me through those first four years — his presence kept me grounded and connected to my “why.”
When Yanni tragically passed away, I was left heartbroken and unsure of my path. It was one of the hardest seasons of my life. In July 2022, I found myself at a breaking point — the nurse in me was exhausted, and the dreamer in me was fading. During a month of medical leave, I finally allowed myself to pause, to nurture my creative and healing work with Art Soul and Horses, Inc. This was a turning point in my journey.
On the very day I chose early retirement from nursing, the universe met me halfway — I was awarded a behavioral health contract to work with teens through my program. It was a powerful reminder that even when the road feels uncertain or steep, staying connected to your vision and trusting your soul’s timing will always lead you where you’re meant to be.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
There are many equine-assisted programs in the world, but what sets Art Soul and Horses Inc. apart is the way it weaves together creativity, somatic healing, and the energetic wisdom of horses. My training and certification in the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method®, created by psychotherapist Melisa Pearce, has deeply influenced this work. My training allows me to show others the horse’s ability to tap into our energetic field, reading what lies beneath our emotions. The awareness that is gained through sharing space with horses allows clients to find their voice and reconnect to their own heart and wholeness.
This work is about gathering the beautiful, broken pieces of who we are and transforming them through creativity and awareness. Horses have an extraordinary gift: they move us from our heads into our hearts, and that’s where healing begins. That’s the space where new stories are born—stories of strength, hope, and self-belief.
I often tell the teens I work with, “This is about uncovering your light.” So many of us, children and adults alike, have been told that we’re not enough—not smart enough, not beautiful enough, not capable enough. The work we do here helps release those limiting beliefs, allowing each person to rebuild a vision for their life that aligns with their heart and their true essence.
One of my proudest moments ever came during a session with a young girl in a reformative justice program. As she sat creating her art piece, the horses quietly grazing behind her, she suddenly looked up and exclaimed, “This is the best day of my life!” From that moment on, I knew—no matter what challenges I might face—this work deserves to be shared with the world. People need to know the power of this connection and how horses, art, and compassion can truly transform lives.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We currently have limited availability for private one-on-one sessions at Art Soul and Horses Inc, but there are many beautiful ways to connect with this work. The most exciting news is that we’re in the process of creating a workbook series so that anyone—anywhere—can experience the healing power of horses and creativity. Each workbook includes guided art exercises, reflections, and rituals that can be done independently or alongside horses, offering a pathway into self-discovery and transformation.
This project has been a true labor of love, born from the desire to make this heart centered art based approach to healing with horses more accessible to individuals, therapists, educators, and equine professionals who feel called to integrate horses and art into their own healing practices.
Looking ahead, I’ll be offering practitioner workshops in 2026, designed to help others learn how to facilitate this work within their own communities. Collaboration, partnership, and shared vision are at the heart of what we do—because healing truly happens when we come together in the spirit of connection, creativity, and compassion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artsoulandhorses.com
- Instagram: artsoulandhorses
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artsoulandhorses
Image Credits
Rebecca Kuritz
