A Year of Refinement, Growth & Staying True

This year asked more of me than I expected.

Between deployment, motherhood, running a business, and stewarding the responsibility that comes with working with horses, I quickly realized this wouldn’t be a year of shortcuts or surface-level progress. It would be a year of refinement. Of learning how to stay steady. Of choosing depth over noise and purpose over pressure.

And honestly? I’m grateful for that.

Finding the Right Support at the Right Time

I started this year by signing up for EquiPro Academy, and I can confidently say it was the business support I had been searching for for months—down to a T. Marissa came into my world at a time when I needed clarity, structure, and encouragement without being pushed into something that didn’t align with who I am or how I work with horses.

She helped kickstart a season of stepping fully into my purpose, even while navigating deployment and the realities of motherhood. Instead of feeling like I had to choose between growth and survival, I learned how to build something sustainable—something that supported my life instead of competing with it.

That mattered more than I can put into words.

Rebuilding the Foundation

One of the biggest ongoing projects this year has been my website. I’ve added to it, reworked it, and continue rebuilding it to better reflect the best of me and what I offer.

Not trends.

Not buzzwords.

Not what’s loud in the horse world.

But what’s solid.

My website is becoming a clearer reflection of my values, my horsemanship philosophy, and the kind of clients and horses I serve best. It doesn’t need to be flashy—it needs to be honest. And this year gave me the confidence to stand behind that.

The Work That Truly Matters

This year also brought new clients and deeper, more rewarding relationships. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside people who value learning, integrity, and the long game—clients who stayed through growth, schedule changes, refinement, and real conversations.

That kind of relationship doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on trust, communication, and shared respect for the horse.

In a season of change, those relationships sustained me more than numbers ever could.

Embracing Who I Am in the Horse World

One of the most important shifts this year was internal.

I stopped trying to explain myself to everyone.

I stopped softening my standards to be more palatable.

I stopped second-guessing the solidity of true horsemanship.

I embraced who I am, what I offer, and the responsibility that comes with working with horses in a way that honors their bodies, minds, and longevity. I chose biomechanics, partnership, ethics, and thoughtful progression—even when it’s slower and less trendy.

Not everyone is my client.

And that clarity is a gift.

One peaceful confirmation this year has been watching my horses remain steady in their health and performance, even while the horse world continues to chase noise, shortcuts, and constant change. There’s no secret there—just consistency, thoughtful training, species-appropriate care, and listening when a horse says “not yet.” Soundness, willingness, and longevity don’t come from trends. They come from doing the right things well, over time.

Lessons This Year Gave Me

This year taught me a lot, but a few lessons stand out:

• Slow growth is still growth.

• Integrity always compounds.

• Horses tell the truth—whether we’re ready or not.

• The right people stay.

• And purpose carries you through hard seasons.

Gratitude for the Quiet Wins

I’m deeply grateful—for my clients, my students, my horses, my family, and the unseen provision that carried us through this year. For steadiness when things felt heavy. For clarity when I needed direction. For the reminder that growth doesn’t always look loud.

Sometimes it looks faithful.

Looking Ahead: Refined, Not Rushed

As I look toward the year ahead, I’m not chasing more for the sake of more. I’m carrying forward refinement, deeper education, stronger partnerships, and work that serves both horse and human well.

I remain committed to doing things the right way—even when it takes longer.

Because that’s how trust is built.

That’s how horses stay sound.

And that’s how something lasting is created.

This year, I learned how to rein it in—on purpose.

And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.