Stable Connections, winner of the Fosse aux lions 2022

Stable Connections, located in Lorette, Manitoba, has won the 2022 edition of entrepreneurial contest, the Fosse aux lions. 

One-of-a-kind business in Manitoba 

Owner Sarah-Michelle Senécal, a licensed occupational therapist, describes her business: “We offer occupational therapy services using the help and presence of horses. The goal is to use equine movement to provide a mind-body approach to our clients, which can help in the resolution of trauma in both adults and children.  

“Our team consists of an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist, a physiotherapist, a consellor and a maintenance manager. We also hire a contractor who takes care of teaching good practices to our eight horses. “ 

Sarah-Michelle Senécal’s participation in the Fosse aux lions was unexpected: “The initiative came from a friend of mine. They told me about this pitch competition and convinced me to fill out the registration forms. 

“A week later, the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), which was organizing this entrepreneurship competition, contacted me to let me know that I was a finalist with three other companies. I was then invited to present my company during the grand finale at the Théâtre Cercle Molière, on April 27, 2022. 

La Fosse aux lions, a major turning point for Stable Connections 

On that day, the four finalist candidates presented their company with a video that preceded a question-and-answer session with the three members of the jury. After several minutes of deliberation, Stable Connections won the contest and the $15,000 prize.  

“I really didn’t expect to win. I started crying and when I saw my team in the audience, I was starting to really realize that we had won the competition. » 

The sum won will allow the company to install two new specialized equipment: “We will buy a mechanical lift to ensure safe client transfers and help people in wheelchairs to get on our horses. 

“The second equipment will be an equine simulator. This will allow us to prepare people to interact with horses, but also to offer immediate services for people who suffer from epileptic seizures, explains Sarah-Michelle Senécal. We also have plans to build a new building offering multiple treatment rooms for therapy. Part of the sum will be devoted to it. “ 

But more than the prize won, the competition allows the winning company to benefit from free consultations with entrepreneurship professionals. “For a year, we will be accompanied and helped in the realization of our marketing plans and for our administrative procedures,” says Sarah-Michelle Senécal. 

The continued support of CDEM 

“La Fosse aux lions will allow us to develop our skills in entrepreneurship, business planning and accounting, while offering real publicity to the company. Since the result of the grand finale, we have already received several partnership proposals with organizations that wish to share our program. “ 

Sarah-Michelle Sénecal, whose native language is French, would like to thank the CDEM: “I did not know that an organization offered services like this in Manitoba. I really want to thank them, because it is important to highlight and help Francophone projects in the province. “ 

Stable Connections website: https://www.stableconnections.ca/  

Check out the official photos from the 2022 Fosse aux lions event