So much has changed

So much has changed the past year. The weeks turned into months and now it has almost been a year since I have written anything. I don't even know where to begin... for now, I will write a brief synopsis of what has happened, and hopefully continue with this blog in the near future.

As most of you know, my time at KD Trakehners came to an end in October. Although heartbreaking, I can look back on my experience there and know that I grew as a person and rider. While talking to Silvia, she expressed that I came to KD much like a little kid wanting to train horses, and I left as a respectable, talented horse trainer. She has been there with me from the very beginning, keeping me updated on the other people who were interviewing for my position, helping me grow and learn while riding, and sharing her unfathomable knowledge with me. Sarah has taught me a lot about working with the young ones, and on improving my position when jumping. I am honored to have worked with such wonderful, talented women and am proud to be such good friends with them. Before I left the farm,  I rode Hofherr in a 3 day event which secured his standing as a breeding stallion, and I also got to experience the Inspection of the Trakehner breed and the grueling process that it requires.

Hofherr was so brave!

While lunging a young mare in September, I broke my hand. Little did I know how much that incident would change my life! I was in pain and couldn't do much with my broken hand, and David allowed me to go on a vacation to Texas and Florida to see my friends and family. While in Florida with my parents, I received a call from David just as I was about to go on a morning walk on the beach. David told me I was no longer going to be an employee at KD. My world seemed to collapse in an instant. I was losing my dream job. I had moved all the way to Wisconsin and left everything I knew, and there was nothing I could do to change David's mind.

Gorgeous flowers

Luckily for me, I have such a supportive family, boyfriend, and group of friends who helped me get through the heartbreak of losing the job I loved so much. It didn't take long before realizing that there was nothing I could do to continue my time at KD, and I began looking for jobs in the Milwaukee area right away. I applied to several positions that dealt with areas of Psychology, and set up interviews at two different places within a few days of being back in Wisconsin. I was so fortunate to have job offers from both facilities, and as most of you know, I currently work at Oconomowoc Developmental Training Center (ODTC). I work with adolescents, most of them are on the Autism Spectrum with different developmental and behavioral problems. I have learned a lot about myself and have acquired so much patience and knowledge from working with these children, and I am truly thankful for this experience.

I have also found a new, beautiful barn to ride at! I have been extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue riding, and I owe it all to a young, talented trainer named Natalie for giving me a chance. After emailing, scouting, and going out to countless farms, I finally found one! I go out to Integrity Farm a few times a week, hack several horses, and also get a jumping lesson every now and then. I have been so lucky to have been able to continue my passion, words cannot express my gratitude.



I am also now living with my boyfriend Scott who has supported every decision I have made, pushed me to continue searching for the right barn, and has (for the most part) supported my love of traveling. As you all know from the exorbitant pictures posted, we also have a wonderful puppy named Madison who I truly adore; she is so intelligent and is teaching me to be a more patient person. I am growing to love Wisconsin more and more, and have made wonderful friendships that are continuing to grow.

In a few weeks I will be visiting my lovely parents who I miss so much in Florida, and I also have an upcoming trip to ITALY! I am going to be living one of my dreams and will be living with an Italian family for three weeks. I will be training horses and taking people out on tours around the beautiful Tuscan countryside! I leave in just over a month, and am counting down the days like no tomorrow.

I am so proud that I am following my dreams and making them come true... nothing beats that feeling.