Losira Okelo

I was born in New York City to Ugandan parents, grew up in Belgium and Kenya, and lived in Canada for over 10 years. In between all that, I’ve had lots of long stays, visits and work assignments around the world. I feel at home connecting with people from different backgrounds and walks of life. These experiences have shaped how I listen, build relationships and approach the world.

Two decades of facilitating learning and professional growth across five continents have further developed these qualities, enriching my ability to include the many different ways people experience and process life, and that’s what I love to do.

Horses have been part of my life since childhood, but it was returning to them as an adult that changed the direction of my work. Being with horses on the ground deepened how I understand presence, biological responses, connection, and what can happen without words.

Today, these threads come together in Bocheval. I offer somatic support online and through non-riding experiences with horses, creating space for people to explore what is difficult, what is emerging and what they wish to develop in their lives.

I am based in New Rochelle, New York, on the ancestral lands of the Munsee Lenape people.

Qualifications:

  • M.A. Adult Education: Columbia University
  • Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning: PATH International
  • Horse-Human Trauma Recovery, Graduate Levels I and II: Equusoma®
  • Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies, Certificate: Linda Thai, Trauma Therapist
  • Trauma and Addictions, Certificate: Polyvagal Institute
  • Credentialled Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counsellor (in progress): Alfred State College

Our Mission

Bocheval’s mission comes from a horse named Bo.

I met Bo at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding. With me, he was gentle yet strong, wise, calm, attentive, and reassuring. In 2021, Bo was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. The day before he died, many people came to say goodbye and thank him for what he’d meant to them.

As each person had their time with Bo, some of us stood aside chatting. I asked them what Bo meant to them. Each person shared that Bo had helped them be stronger, more capable, kinder, feel secure, more loving, more confident, calmer. It was always something more and positive.

That touched me profoundly. Bo gave his best qualities equally to all.

In keeping with our global influences, while I met Bo in New York. The name for this company came while through embodied presence with horses I worked with in Quebec, Canada.

So with the essence of Bo we, Bocheval, give you the best of who we are.

Bocheval exists to restore connection between humans and the natural world through the grounded presence of horses and body-based awareness.

We offer equine-assisted learning and virtual embodied/somatic coaching and support sessions that help you live with greater connection and capacity.

Rooted in Equusoma®, Somatic Experiencing®, Polyvagal-informed practice, and Indigenous wisdoms from around the world, Bocheval supports healing that is relational and compassionate — honouring the wisdom of the body and the innate spirit of the horse.

We believe all animals have unique gifts. Our practice is founded in consent with horses.

Bocheval honours their souls, personalities, and experiences. We value their conditions, well-being, and ability to express themselves.

In our virtual sessions, we listen into the wisdom of the body, your unique nervous system, through the calming energy of co-regulation, knowing that being seen and understood through genuine connection and trust can support us through the hardships of life.

We welcome everyone to these ways of restoring, unlearning and getting on with life!