You must whip your horse Lee Ann!

"You must whip your horse Lee Ann!" I will never forget those words that the horseback riding instructor often shouted at middle-school aged me. On my horse, I was decked out in knit riding pants (with sugar cubes in the pocket), boots, a helmet, and of course, a whip. I was scolded so often with those accented words that even my family teased me about them and won’t ever forget them either. But this was an early experience I remember having with horses, and clearly, it didn’t sit well with me. I love animals, why on earth would I want to whip them? 

Next, high schooler me tried to find a socially acceptable way to hang out with animals all day, so I attempted to become a vet. I did all the things I needed to do – jobs at vet clinics, painstakingly good grades, and I even attended a vet camp at Texas A&M. It was there that I got to watch a surgery, and all I remember of it was waking up with everyone around me, as apparently, I had passed out and slid down the wall. The universe clearly let me know I would have to find another way to be with animals in my life because my stomach wasn’t cut out for that.

My inner child must have still had her hands on the reins, gently coaching throughout the years when my degree switched to psychology; I navigated getting a Marriage and Family Therapy license; and survived years in the non-profit counseling world, because I’ve finally ended up in a place that she loves, and one that still surprises 39-year-old me. In 2018 my husband and I moved from the suburbs of Houston to the country just an hour north of it with our adopted Pomeranian and two rescue cats. My grandfather grew up in the country, but neither of us had any experience, and frankly, we would have never made it in an earlier age. We are what I call “new country,” and have only survived thanks to angel neighbors, and lots of help from google.

At Braving Star Farms, we have a herd of three rescued equines, six adopted goats, and a flock of free-range chickens. As I write I’m supervising the goats graze outside their area on a finally cooler fall morning, and the youngest, Radish, was just on my lap a moment ago. I’ve just returned from presenting at The HERD Institute® conference, so I’m taking some much-needed introvert recharging time. I collaborated with The HERD Institute® on creating a program called The Daring HERD®. These retreats utilize The HERD Model™ and are influenced by Brené Brown's research on shame and vulnerability. I lead these retreats, which are groundwork only (meaning we don’t ride the equines), along with retreats in writing, creativity, self-compassion, and seasonal living.

Farm life is not for the weak-hearted, and there have been countless losses of life, along with emotional, physical, and financial hardships, but I love it here. I also love sharing this nurturing sanctuary with those brave enough to come step in shit. I hope you will be daring and adventurous with your life, and find a way to always follow your heart, regardless of how anyone else may tell you it needs to be done.
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