The room is filled with horse-themed memorabilia including show outfits, spurs, tack, horseshoes, and photos of horses. It includes the names of all Kiley’s horses on faux stall fronts and incorporates her favorite color, purple. A large plaque that hangs above the doorway shows a quote from John Wayne that says, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Along the back wall, there is a life-size mural of a horse show taking place with horses and riders competing in various disciplines in a covered arena. On the floor, graphics of Trail obstacles like cones and poles allow patients to “walk through” their own course.

Whether the distance that separates you has to do with work, school, or family commitments, it can be hard to create a lasting bond that is essential, not only to your relationship as horse/rider team, but also to show ring success. It goes without saying that the most successful partnerships are the result of a concerted effort to know your horse inside and out, their strengths and weaknesses, their quirks and habits.

“I’ve always had a servant-leader’s heart, just not in the political spectrum… We just don’t have enough people connected to the agricultural industry in politics any more. They’re making decisions in the best way they know how, but they may not have analyzed the repercussions that things like the ELD mandate will have on an industry.”

If your horse trainer were to tell you that you need to keep your heels down, you would probably do it; but, how long would that last? Two minutes? Five, perhaps? The problem is that there is no plan in place to help you succeed.