|
I grew up a city girl with no interest in horses, despite the fact that my sisters owned horses at various times. However, after raising and teaching our five children at home, my life took an unexpected and wonderful turn. We moved to a rural area in southeastern Wisconsin, and our daughter bought a beautiful black and white Paint. She learned to care for and ride Moonbeam, and before I knew what was happening, her dream of helping horses became mine as well.
Our journey was painfully interrupted when Moonbeam colicked and we had to put him down. If I had known then what I know now, that likely would not have happened. Two months later a friend was in need of a place to rehab two horses she had rescued. They were severely malnourished, and the other horses on the property had starved to death. My daughter and I adopted them, and our lives have never been the same!
I began to read everything I could find pertaining to natural horse care, but I had no foundation and was easily confused by all of the conflicting ideas and opinions. Then our barefoot trimmer stopped coming, and we never heard from her again. I realized that it was up to me to learn to trim our horses’ hooves. I was determined to learn how best to provide for all of their needs. I enrolled in ESA and attended a clinic for horse owners presented by Chad Bembenek. Chad covered much more than trimming, and I began to realize just how much I had to learn!
I completed my Equine Sciences degree earlier this summer. This program has given me the knowledge, information, and critical thinking skills I needed to have in order to provide as natural a lifestyle as possible for the horses in my care. I am very excited to be the Student Liaison for ESA, and I look forward to encouraging and helping students in any way I can.
| 
