1. How did you first get into riding?

I saw my very first pony at the county fair when I was two, and I spent the rest of the day crying because I was too small to even ride the pony ride. From there, everyone knows it's a downhill slide. After that, my parents knew they were cooked. It started with a weekly summer camp for a couple of years beginning when I was 6, which went into a weekly riding lesson in the summer and upgraded into a full lease. I competed all across high school in the hunter-jumpers in Southern California. I went to Otterbein University and rode on their IHSA team there.

2.Tell us about the horses you ride. Is there one that has taught you the most — about riding, or even about yourself?

It's my current horse Freddie — who was my original junior horse. I sold him in 2010 when I went to college, and then I found him for sale on Facebook in 2019 and bought him back! He's now 28 and a very fat, retired pasture horse. We still go for walks occasionally. He was and still is fantastic — he's a true schoolmaster, but he does not give anything to you; you have to ask for it correctly. When I bought him back, we made our return together doing 3-ft Hunter Derbies and showing in the jumpers. I also showed primarily by myself with some help from friends. My riding grew astronomically as I focused on figuring out myself. Not having a trainer for the first time taught me a lot about horsemanship and responsibility. I was the one who had to keep Freddie fit, and I learned everything it takes to keep a horse fit, healthy, and sound.

3. What's been your proudest moment as a rider so far?

It was competing at a local 3-ft Hunter Derby on my own. I didn't have a trainer, and my friends helped me out. We ended up third out of 15 people and had a really incredible round. Getting to do that on my own was huge for my riding career.

4. You've built a career in marketing — what led you to More Leg Marketing, and what does your work focus on?

I began my career in marketing because I took a Marketing 101 class my senior year of college and immediately fell in love with it. It was a combination of creativity and an idea that used both sides of my brain. This passion developed into More Leg Marketing, where we work with small to medium-sized equine businesses. We look at the entirety of their marketing funnel — not just siloed marketing tactics. We make sure everything works together in one funnel, ultimately moving them toward their goal. This might entail a membership sign-up, a new client, or a product purchase.

5. What's something about the equine industry that has genuinely surprised you?

It's the amount of niches that exist within the equine industry. It's such an umbrella term. Even though I grew up riding, went to school for Equine Business, and worked at SmartPak for a few years after college, really coming back into it on my own, I recognized the sheer number of niches — not just disciplines, but jobs within the equine industry. I noticed the regionality of those jobs and the seasonality of them too. I saw how fluid and dynamic the equine world really is.

6.What do you think you do best — as a rider and as a professional?

What I do best as a rider also reflects how I am professionally. I am very calm and steady-Eddie, and I practice a lot of active listening. I ride the hunters and I'm a true hunter princess — I am soft and careful, and I wait for jumps. I don't like rushing anything. Everything I do professionally is also very prepped ahead of time. It is calculated. Nothing is ever reactionary; everything I do is very proactive.

7. What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone looking to get into the equestrian industry?

Don't just look for the most passionate people, because everyone in this industry is incredibly passionate. Look for the most successful people — including riders, trainers, and business people. Look for kind and supportive people. You want to make sure you're surrounding yourself with people who carry all of those attributes.

8. What are your dreams or goals for the future — in horses, in your business, or both?

My dreams and goals are riding-wise. I'd love to get back into the show ring and do an international hunter derby. Professionally, I'd really love to grow my business with more clients where we can share a more personal connection. I want to keep my marketing agency smaller in order to continue maintaining those types of relationships.

9. How do you give back to your equestrian community?

I give back to the equestrian community that I love so much by creating a group called "Women in Equine‍." It's a professional group for women working in the equine industry. It's turned into a fantastic community of women from all across the industry — from marketers like myself to people who work in show management. We have students, CEOs, vets, nutritionists — we have everyone. We have a Facebook group that has turned into a great community. People are finding jobs, podcast invites, help, and advice — everything and anything in between. I'm really excited to see where that goes.

10. Who's your all-time favorite heart horse, and what made them so special?

It's my current horse, Freddie! The fact that he's been with me throughout so many phases of my life is so special. We've grown up a lot together. The fact that he's 28 and still a feisty old man doing things his way proves he's still got it. He's enabled me to grow my riding and horsemanship, and I will forever be so grateful for that.