Like many people during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself working from home, stuck at my desk, staring at a computer screen for 8 hours a day. I could feel myself slowly going mad! To balance my mental health, I started volunteering with horses. It wasn't long until I realized I would literally rather muck stalls all day than format one more report. 

Horses have been a huge part of my life since nearly before I can remember. From the time I was small, I spent most weekends at my mentors’ farms preparing for saddle seat competitions. Before I headed off to attend college in Santa Cruz, California, I was a Pacific Coast Horse Shows Circuit Champion, American Saddlebred Horse Association California State Champion in multiple divisions, and defeated a World Champion equitation rider to win the California United Professional Horsemen’s Association Equitation Challenge Cup.

My life after college followed a typical pattern, get a job, pay rent, and keep my head above water. It wasn’t until recently that I felt stable (pun intended) enough to think about what I might want to do with my life, rather than what needed doing. During these considerations, my thoughts continually returned to horses. 

This is when I discovered liberty horsemanship, the art of communicating with horses without tack, based on their natural instincts and behaviors. The more I learned about it, the more I felt this was what I’d been looking for. It incorporates so many things I love, natural sciences, mindfulness, and of course, connecting with horses! Eventually, I stumbled upon the Resnick Method of liberty horsemanship online. At the time, there happened to be a Resnick Method trainer living down the road from me in Santa Cruz. I could practically hear the universe telling me, “This is the path for you!” After over 2 years of studying directly with Carolyn Resnick and her teaching partner Nancy Zintsmaster, I’m proud to be an officially certified instructor of Carolyn Resnick’s method of Liberty Horsemanship.

Through the Resnick Method community, I met Terry Newton and Kindred Spirits offering yoga with horses. As a long-time yoga enthusiast, the idea of combining these two passions seemed like a dream come true! I undertook a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and traveled to Costa Rica to study with Terry and her beautiful herd. I’m excited to be an officially certified Yoga & Equine Yoga Instructor and am now offering Equine Yoga Classes to the public.

I officially quit my office job in February 2021, and have spent every “workday” since with the best four-legged colleagues a person could wish for. I am so glad to be here, sharing this free-spirited journey with you.

🖤 Hannah