Nikki Jeans Happy Horse Ranch

I grew up on a large ranch in Washington State where my passion for horses all began. My love for horses is what got me through many challenging years in life and that is what has led me to want to share the joy with others through equestrian lessons. I fondly remember when my father passed away unexpectantly at age 11 sleeping in the stall with my horse Chipper at night curled up alongside him feeling a connection I cannot explain. Throughout my middle school and high school years I competed extensively in Western Pleasure and with our local 4h group.... (read more) My mother and I also operated a boarding facility during this time where I helped tend to 30 head of horses. In college while attending the University of Washington I trained along a well-known reining trainer and started my own beginner horsemanship lessons at another nearby barn. After building my client portfolio it opened my eyes to realize there is so much reward in helping others gain trust and security through horses to me purely "gentle giants." Upon graduating college I created my own coffee chain called Nikki Jeans, which during this time I decided to get into the cutting horse world. I absolutely loved the discipline of the cutting world! There is so much detail on utilizing your legs, bodyweight distribution and reading cattle. I competed in many larger and smaller cutting shows for over a 5 year span. Once my businesses were running more effortlessly I began to get back into instructing both adults and children through beginner horsemanship lessons. The ability to help others with what I am most passionate about because that was therapy in itself for me while operating many stressful business ventures. Later I decided to really step up my entrepreneurial game and purchase the Dunkin Donut Franchise in Northern Nevada. After 3 years of absolute stress and 300 employees I realized I was not doing what God had created me to do. Shortly after selling my franchise Chipper my beloved horse whom I had for 26 years passed away and it hit me hard that he would want me to help others feel the joy horses bring. Over the last 3 years I applied my cutting knowledge and cutting horse to the Ranch Sorting discipline because it was much less stress and a family friendly event. All these life experiences have led me to the very beginning of this exciting journey known as Nikki Jeans Happy Horse Ranch where I will be applying my entrepreneurial skills to a skill that I am so passionate about in the equestrian world. They say if you do what you love you never work a day in your life!