Horsewoman • Mustang Trainer • Wildlife Rescuer • Former Firefighter • Former Alligator Wrestler • Proud Mama • Forever Learning from Horses

Some people say they were born horse crazy. I think I probably was.

By the age of nine, I was spending every spare minute at the barn—cleaning stalls, grooming horses, tacking up, filling water buckets, and doing whatever needed to be done just to spend a little more time around horses. That’s where I learned that some of the best lessons don’t happen in the saddle—they happen while earning a horse’s trust.

My first horse was a wild Chincoteague pony that I gentled and trained myself. My next partner was a seven-year-old Devil’s Garden Mustang mare with enough boss-mare attitude to keep me humble. Between the two of them—and the many horses that have followed—they taught me more than decades of competing ever could. Every ribbon, trophy, buckle, and jackpot has been special, but the greatest rewards have always been the lessons the horses themselves have taught me.

Horses have taken me on adventures I never could have imagined—from dressage arenas and three-day event courses to hunter/jumper, rodeos, NBHA barrel racing, Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA), mounted shooting, ranch work, working cattle, trail riding, obstacle challenges, guiding trail rides, and teaching riders of all ages. But if there’s one thing that’s shaped me most, it’s spending more than a decade learning from, training, and advocating for America’s wild mustangs. They continue to remind me that trust can’t be forced, confidence can’t be rushed, and every horse has something to teach us if we’re willing to listen.

When I’m not riding, life has been just as adventurous. I’ve rescued and rehabilitated wildlife, worked as an environmental educator, been a firefighter, even wrestled alligators, and worked as a journalist. Along the way, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology while studying psychology, animal behavior, and pre-veterinary science. Every one of those experiences has shaped the way I teach horses—and people.

Real World Horsemanship is my way of sharing everything horses have taught me. Whether we’re catching a horse in the pasture, grooming in the barn, heading out on the trail, working cattle, navigating obstacles, preparing for competition, or simply spending time getting to know a horse, my goal is always the same: to help you build confidence, develop practical skills, and create a genuine partnership with your horse that will last a lifetime.

Around here, it’s almost never just me. You’ll usually find Phoenix and Mako right by my side. Phoenix, my nine-year-old daughter, is already an accomplished mustang trainer, having gentled and trained five adopted wild mustangs into trusted partners before helping them find wonderful new homes. Mako, my three-year-old little cowboy, has just started gentling his very first wild pony. Watching my kids grow up alongside horses—and seeing them develop their own confidence, compassion, and respect for animals—has become one of the greatest adventures of my life. And wherever we go, Bristol, our Shetland Sheepdog, and Monkey- my blue heeler are never far behind.

No matter where you are on your horse journey—whether you’re stepping into the saddle for the very first time, chasing big goals, or simply wanting to better understand horses—I’d be honored to be a small part of it.

Meet you in the tack room! 🤠❤️🐴