I have not always been a horse person. As a child, I went on a few trail rides, played with Breyer horses, and generally thought horses were beautiful creatures, but if you had asked me if I would rather have a horse or a tiger, I would have said tiger.

My daughter was born with horses in her blood. I honestly don’t know how it happens, but some people just love horses from the time they are born, in a way that I can’t explain. Wanting to be a supportive mother to a child with an unwavering passion, I got her on a horse any time I could. But I assumed that being able to ride regularly or own a horse were outside the realm of possibility for us. I thought that maybe when she grew up she could find a way to make it happen.

Then we found a coach who really took us under her wing (our fairy horse mother). India was finally riding on a weekly basis, instead of sporadically, and her riding was improving steadily. Still, I was just a mom taking her child to learn how to ride. But the more I showed up ringside, the more interested I became in what was actually happening during the lessons. Learning how to ride a horse isn’t just a matter of learning a new skill. It’s a matter of learning how to communicate, trust, and grow together as horse and rider. India’s lessons quickly became lessons for me too, as her coach would show me what to watch for, how to read a horse, and the fundamentals of riding and horsemanship.

I soon realized that I was happiest on the days I got to be around horses. I loved the calm I felt in their presence, and how much joy I found in seeing them learn and excel alongside my daughter. Eventually, I got on a horse too. And I was hooked.

We now own four horses (two minis and two full-sized), and our lives have been transformed in ways I never could have imagined. What began as supporting my daughter’s passion has become our shared journey. While it’s had its challenges, it brings us so much joy and we hope to be able to help others experience the world of horses too.