Healing Through Connections

About

I dreamed of helping people facing medical challenges through horses more than 20 years ago, when I began reflecting on my life and what I loved most: horses and children. Life happened, and I put that dream out of my mind.

I had lived my entire life in Ocala and Central Florida until I bought a home with a beautiful barn in Tennessee and moved to a state that was completely unfamiliar to me. My life was suddenly full of challenges: adjusting to empty nest syndrome, navigating career pressures in the economic industry where I work, settling into a new area, and having no personal connections.

I decided to ask myself, “What do I want?” The answer was horses, so I purchased two rescue horses. Watching them, loving them, and learning their behaviors took me down a very different path from the childhood I spent around working horses. The connection went much deeper and began to heal my emotional trauma. For the most part, I walked through my battles internally and on my own. I have an amazing life partner who has been very supportive, but ultimately, God was clearing my past to prepare me for my future. I came to understand this through many conversations with my 83-year-old aunt, who earned her Doctorate in Ministry this year.

Then I discovered Hope Reins through a Facebook article about Kim and the book Joey. I ordered the book, and after reading it, I knew I had to share my own healing journey through connection with horses. I enrolled in the courses and loved them. They were well organized, and each one touched my heart more and more. Hilary was beyond helpful and understanding as I found my path. I would recommend the courses—especially Horsemanship 1—to anyone who loves horses, whether they are in business or not, because they deepen the understanding of connection.

I took a lot of time to decide whether this was truly a leap I was ready to take at 60 years old. We welcomed a few test clients, and the results were amazing. Our clients encouraged us to offer these services to others in need. So, this summer, we began moving forward with licensing and branding for our nonprofit.