Christina Landry is quietly redefining what healing can look like through Unbridled Therapeutics, a nonprofit co-located with Missouri Forget Me Not Horse Rescue and Sanctuary (MFMN). A licensed mental health professional with deep roots in the equine world, Landry has built a practice where traditional counseling and animal-assisted therapy work side by side—creating space for meaningful, often life-changing breakthroughs.
A former international equestrian competitor, Landry’s professional path shifted after the tragic loss of her husband. She returned to school to complete her graduate studies and began a career in mental health counseling. “You can’t take the horse out of the horse girl,” she jokes, explaining how she soon felt drawn back to the barn. Believing her animals could support her patients’ healing, Landry sought a formal, ethical way to integrate them into therapy. That search led her to EAGALA, the internationally recognized gold standard for equine-assisted psychotherapy.
One of the earliest experiences confirming the power of equine therapy involved an 8-year-old girl whose greatest joy in life was horses. Born without several body parts, the child endured multiple surgeries that caused chronic pain and led her to mentally shut down parts of her 
body, including developing an intense fear of using the bathroom. Through gentle interaction with one of Christina’s ponies—grooming, bathing, and spending quiet time together—the child observed the pony naturally urinating and defecating. That moment became cathartic. Seeing the animal she loved safely perform a function her body feared allowed her to release that anxiety. She went on to attend public school and ultimately grew into a healthy, productive adult.
Today, Landry spends half her week seeing patients through Unbridled Therapeutics, providing individual, family, and animal-assisted therapy. Clients include children who have experienced bullying, veterans coping with trauma, individuals with autism or Down syndrome, and those navigating anxiety or depression. The remaining half of her week is dedicated to her role as CEO of MFMN, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as both the umbrella and foundation for Unbridled Therapeutics.
Unbridled Therapeutics currently has two credentialed EAGALA professionals and a diverse team of therapy animals, including twelve equines, five certified therapy dogs, three therapy cats, four therapy goats, and even a therapy chicken. All are rescued animals that undergo rehabilitation and extensive temperament testing, including obstacle courses, community exposure, and noise desensitization. “The St. Patrick’s Day parade on the 
Bagnell Dam Strip is a real test,” Landry notes. “We actually take horses there each year as part of their evaluation.”
When asked how she balances the emotional demands of therapy and rescue work, Landry credits her faith. “I turn to GOD,” she says. “I pray, ask for guidance, and let things go to HIM.”
Above all, Landry believes horses teach the power of unity. “We are better as a team,” she says—a philosophy that shapes both her therapeutic approach and leadership at MFMN. Together, Unbridled Therapeutics and Missouri Forget Me Not demonstrate that healing is strongest when compassion, connection, and community move as one.