More Than Just a Horse

The horses that have come and gone in my life have had a huge impact on me. They’re more than a hobby or even a career to me, they’re my lifestyle. They’ve given me a sense of purpose and have carried me through some of the hardest moments in my life. Looking back, I can see how each horse entered my life at the perfect time, teaching me something I needed and shaping the path I was meant to follow. Because of these horses, I’ve met incredible people who have become more than just clients and friends, they’ve become family.

I can’t quite remember what first drew me to horses, but I know the pull has always been there. I remember asking my mom for riding lessons when I was six years old. After that very first lesson, I was hooked. I took lessons on and off over the years, usually pausing them for soccer season, but my passion for horses only continued to grow. After years of asking my mom and my stepdad for my own horse, I finally got my first one at fifteen. Her name was Fancy and she was full of the fire that the red mares always have. I was going through a difficult time when she came into my life, and looking forward to going to the barn to see her everyday pulled me out of depression and brought happiness back in a way that nothing else could.

   At seventeen, I started giving beginner riding lessons, and in teaching I found a new sense of purpose. Not long after I began teaching, I realized I needed another horse, one I could use specifically for lessons. That’s when I got Retro, also known as Great Returns, the horse my barn is named after. Retro was a tobiano with a bay gelding personality. Through him, I fell in love not only with teaching lessons, but with sharing that passion with others. I discovered the purpose God placed on my life. It was then that I really understood horses were more than a hobby for me, they were becoming my career and the foundation of my lifestyle.

I knew that if I wanted to keep growing my career, I needed to further my education. So Retro and I packed up and headed to Black Hawk College to study equestrian science. At the time, I didn’t fully realize it, but looking back, it’s clear that our bond grew as strong as it did because I had moved five hours away from home, and he was the only familiar thing I had. Retro passed away from squamous cell carcinoma in May of 2022. Losing him was devastating to me and it left a hole in my heart that only other horses have helped me begin to heal.

While attending Black Hawk College, I took a colt starting class. I wanted to bring my own colt rather than lease a college horse, so I acquired Wrangler, a dun as wide as he is tall. He was the first horse I ever started under saddle. This experience sparked my passion for colt starting, which is still my biggest focus in the equine industry today. Wrangler has taught me invaluable lessons about training that I apply with every horse I work with, and he continues to teach the students in my lesson program as well.

In 2024, while scrolling on Facebook, I came across a cute little bay filly named Bea. She was related to Retro and even had nearly the same facial markings as him. I felt an instant connection. When I brought her home at five months old, she would run up to the pasture gate to greet me, just like Retro used to. I’ve recently started her under saddle and during a particularly difficult season of my life, the bond I’ve been creating with her has been what kept me moving forward.

All of the horses that have come into my life have shaped me not only into the trainer that I am, but also the person that I’ve become. They’ve taught me resilience, given me purpose, and taught me lessons that have carried me through life. For me, horse training always has been, and always will be, about the horse. The horse comes first, with the sport and competition second. So when your daughter asks, get her the riding lessons- and buy her the pony.

Fancy 2016

Retro 2020

Wrangler 2020

Bea 2026