I was that suburban horse-crazy kid who loved all animals, cherished Sunday dinners on grandma’s farm, and begged my parents daily for a horse. Then for my 10th birthday, that wish was finally granted.

Enter Fannie, a 19-year-old Arabian mare who quickly became known for being a bucking runaway freight train (perfect for a beginner, right?!). Boy, did she teach me how to ride, well more like hold on. 

Fast forward 9 years and I had earned a college degree in natural horsemanship, was riding world champion horses on multi-million dollar ranches, and learning from the best trainers in the country. 

I had finally “made it” to that finish line I had worked so hard for, and then I panicked and let fear take the seat of now what?! So I did what most scared kids do, and I ran home. 

It was because I didn’t understand how life, goals, and psychology worked, that I caved so easily when I no longer had the structure of school deadlines to set goals. 

When things go wrong, they sure do snowball quickly, and boy did some hard hits come my way. From wrecked rigs, multiple blown diesel engines, losing a best friend in an accident, and a horse with a skull fracture to name a few. 

After a few hard knocks and being miserable living paycheck to paycheck at an 8-5 office job paying for a degree I wasn’t even using, living out of alignment with my soul’s purpose, that, to be honest, I didn’t even know what that was anymore, I knew something had to change.

I started studying personal development to pull me out of a dark, depressed, miserable hole. I went from that miserable co-worker to one who was always cheerful trying to add value. Before long I was back to trying to create side hustles more aligned with my heart and trying to learn how to dream again.

Once I became more stable, I knew it was time to take a break from horses and reset.  So I sold my good horse and started a family.

Fast forward a few years after my daughter was born, I had a good friend pull me aside and say enough is enough. I had my space and reset, and it was time to get back to horses. I had more horsemanship knowledge than most people in our area, and who was I to be holding that back? It was time to get back to one of my soul’s purposes, horses, and she was 100% right. 

So I gave in again, but this time in a good way, and started saying yes to giving a few lessons. Before I knew it opportunities were falling in my lap and that’s how I knew I was finally living in alignment with what the universe wanted for me. 

It has been such a blessing to see how my horsemanship and personal development experiences blended into a magical combination that I’ve been able to use to bless so many other people on their journeys. 

Now I can see why the universe had to break me into a million pieces to rebuild me back up to be the person I need to be to live this purpose out. And I’m so excited again for what the future holds.

And the best part... I fell back in love with horses.