MEET CALLA

"Frustration begins where knowledge ends." - Clinton Anderson

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Horses are a daily part of my life. I grew up with a barn full of Appaloosas and fell in love with the gentle giants. When I was old enough my parents took turns tucking me in the front of their saddles to tag along with all of the horse activities we did as a family. It didn't take long and I was cattle penning, doing gymkhana, and being involved with the young horses my parents were training. One day after watching a kids movie with a girl and her horse showjumping, I was convinced that I needed to try it. It was then that I started my equestrian career in showjumping. I fell in love. But it was during this time that I reached a frustration point with some horses; I couldn't understand their behaviours to the extent that I wanted to. I always had an innate ability to share empathy with horses, but I still couldn't understand why they sometimes acted they way they did. Deep down I knew it wasn't because they wanted to be mean or difficult; although a lot of traditional training theories said otherwise. I wanted to be more understanding of the horses I worked with. To know if their behaviours were triggered by mental or physical distress and be able to share my knowledge. 

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After completing an initial Diploma in Animal Science Technology, I moved to the United States, where I started an Equine Science Degree program at the University of Kentucky. While I was there I competed on the Western Equestrian Team at UK. I then transferred to Colorado State University in Fort Collins. I had the opportunity to work at multiple show barns with world-class horses in both Kentucky and Colorado. My move back to Alberta in 2015 brought me back to my roots; to create a community of equine education here in Western Canada. Through my pursuit to learn I found Equi-Bow.