Winning For Horses

I learned how to listen long before I learned how to lead, and I learned it from horses. What I retained from my experiences with ponies and horses from a young age wasn't competition or ribbons, it was the quiet understanding that forms when you're sharing trust with a 1000 pound animal. Horses taught me patience, humility, and accountability in ways nothing else ever could. They gave me purpose before I had language for it and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in this sport and with these partners.

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​As I grew older, I began to see the contrast between the care I was able to give and the reality many horses face beyond the barn. That awareness became impossible to ignore during a trip to Turks and Caicos, where I encountered wild horses living on the edges of human development. Some were strong and free, others bore the marks of scarcity and neglect. There were no stables, no trainers, no safety nets, only survival shaped by circumstance.

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​Standing there, I realized how deeply unequal the world can be for animals. The difference between protection and suffering often comes down to geography, resources, and whether someone chooses to care. That moment changed how I saw my role as a rider. Looking back on all that horses have given me over the years, I knew I needed to use the power I have to make an impact.

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​I have always been a competitive rider. I thrive on challenge, pushing myself to be better, and the satisfaction that comes from earning something through discipline and effort. Competing taught me how to work hard, how to lose with grace, and how to demand more from myself than anyone else ever could. But over time, I realized that the ribbons felt temporary unless they stood for something bigger than the moment. This realization led me to see each win not just as a personal achievement, but as an opportunity, a chance to turn success into something meaningful. I wanted my accomplishments to carry purpose. Donating my winnings became a way to give back to the animals that have given me more than I could ever describe.

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There are horses in the world who work just as hard, endure far more, and will never know the care or safety that my horses have been fortunate enough to experience. When I think about them, it becomes impossible to see my success as mine alone. This is my form of accountability and my way of honoring the horses who give everything, even when the world gives them nothing in return.