My childhood consisted of endless hours on horseback. My sister and I rode from dawn till dusk nearly every day that we weren’t in school. Riding horses brought a sense of partnership, exploration, and adventure with it. In middle school I became the “Rodeo Princess” at the local rodeo, carrying sponsor flags around the arena after each event on my quarter horse. This introduction to rodeos led me to discover my passion for barrel racing, where I traveled and competed in multiple circuits around the west. Throughout college I competed on the Colorado State University Rodeo Team and dipped my toes into reining competitions as well. This love for horses has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so I was thrilled when I learned about the transformative potential of integrating horses into the therapeutic journey. In tandem with my equine pursuits, I have worked in healthcare as an EMT for the past six years. My roles working in the emergency room and on Breckenridge

Ski Patrol as a first responder have given me a holistic perspective on individual well-being and enriched my understanding of overall health. In the spring of 2023, I began interning at Horse Sense of the Carolinas and was hired on as a mental health professional soon after graduating. I truly believe that equine therapy can serve people in a way that traditional talk therapy can not. When I am not working, I spend my free time outdoors with my husband and daughter where we enjoy mountain biking, hiking, fly fishing, and skiing.