Horses Without Humans: Changing the Narrative, One Horse at a Time By Jeweliana Curtis
If you have ever had the pleasure of interacting with a horse, you were likely met with kind eyes, a gentle demeanor and an incredible sense that this animal was strong and powerful. We would also venture to say that you may have left the interaction mesmerized after witnessing the beauty and magic that a horse exudes. This is all true for Yvonne Barteau, a horse enthusiast from a young age turned “unicorn” in the equine industry who has dedicated her life work to helping horses without humans. Yvonne Barteau grew up in Toronto, Canada, and has always described herself as an animal lover. Growing up, she had a fascination with dogs, leading her to become friends with all of the neighborhood dogs and reading every book she could find about them. When she eventually ran out of dog-related books to explore at her local library at the age of ten,
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she checked out Walter Farley’s Black Stallion. After completing the read in less than 24 hours, Yvonne read it again, the animal she had come to love. That’s really where her love of horses began, and she knew that she wanted to be a horse trainer. Because her family members were not interested in horses, and due to the fact that she lived in the bustling city of Toronto, Yvonne shares that everyone in her life did not take her decision to work with horses seriously. Everyone from her friends to the school guidance counselor thought it was not a real career path she should pursue, but despite the odds, Yvonne never lost sight of her dream. “I knew I would be a horse trainer,” Yvonne shares. “Of all the things that I have known or not known with unwavering certainty, the fact that I was going to be a horse trainer has never strayed from that moment on.”
