Welcome to our story

I got my first horse nine years ago. I had just turned 10 and didn't really know much about anything. Nonetheless, one day this horse showed up at Eagle Feather (vickie’s ranch) because he was going to the slaughter. However, here at Eagle Feather, we can’t bear the thought of it, and we believe every horse deserves a second chance. So we took him in with the hope that Eagle Feather could be his new home.

The reason this horse was going to the slaughter was because he was deemed "untrainable". No trainer could control him; he was too wild, wouldn’t listen, and had too much spirit, they said. Well, that happened to be the one horse I absolutely fell in love with and felt a deep connection.

This horse's name is Shadow, and he is now my horse. However, getting to the stage where we are today wasn’t easy. For the first five months, I didn't ride him because he was terrified of people and the way they treated him. So what did we do? We played and played and played some more. We'd hang out at all hours of the day. I would bring him into the pasture, and we’d play with toys like bridges, teeter-totters, and all sorts of fun toys. Me running to a mounting block and him running after me.

Eventually, over time, we began to build that trust. However, it was a slow burn. First, he had to teach me about the dynamic of Predator and Prey. Then, I had to gain his trust by Engaging in Playfulness. Finally, as we became One In The Same, we learned to trust each other.

I believe that everyone has the potential to form a deep connection with horses, one that ignites your desire to be with them as well as their desire to be with you, and that is what I aim to do today.