I’ve been riding off and on my entire life. My mom was a horse training and riding instructor, so it was inevitable that I would grow up with muddy boots and dirty britches. I struggled with fear after a fall in my youth. It wasn’t until nearly 20 years later, when I came back to riding as an adult, that I was able to overcome that fear.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the journey I’ve been on with horses and the process of pushing past my fear. When was the moment I felt the fear slide away? What was the day when my old trigger no longer worked and I maintained my peace? What made that switch flip?
It wasn’t one thing, one moment. It was many, many days. Ups and downs. Successes and well, not necessarily failures, but it felt like that to me. But the biggest thing I realized that helped me with this was that I was not alone.
I had my mom, the bravest woman I know and a magnificent horsewoman. I could call her and say, “This is what happened…” and she would give me encouragement, insight, and guidance. She would spend hours at the barn with me working through an issue. Most importantly, she was able to tell me, “It is safe to push this now,” and I had the confidence to do it. She also gave me the space and the grace to say, “I’m not ready.”
She was my encouragement. My trainer. My partner.
That’s what I want to be for you.
The experience of finally moving past a fear I had felt most of my life and stepping into my power has been exhilarating and life changing, and it is now my goal to help others do the same. I love helping riders, adult amateurs and youth riders alike, overcome their fear and gain confidence and fun in the saddle.
I’ll be honest: I’m not the trainer that is going to get you to the highest heights of riding. I’m the trainer that’s going to help you get on the horse.
If you are battling anxiety every time you think about riding, but can’t stop daydreaming about galloping bareback through a field, I’m your gal. If the idea of taking a lesson makes you want to throw up in equal parts excitement and terror, I know the feeling. If you are ready to let go of the fear holding you back from something you love, I’m ready to empower you to leave it behind.
I believe in a holistic approach to riding, incorporating ground work, horsemanship, physical exercise, mindset and meditation, as well as under saddle exercises. My goal is to enable every person who wants to develop their equestrian skills to start from a solid foundation and overcome the emotional and fear-based roadblocks that get in your way.
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