It’s not exactly controversial to say gratitude is a good thing, right? Especially as the holidays really get rolling, we start seeing a whole lot of messages about how important it is to be thankful. To be grateful for what we have. To be sure to count our blessings. We hear it so often that the message can get a little eye-rolly. (Is that a word? Let’s make it a word.) It starts to sound a little like “you look prettier when you smile.” Yuck.

For me, gratitude is not just a good thing, it’s the thing. It’s the thing that quite literally keeps me going. Since I can’t be the only one who finds daily life a little overwhelming sometimes, I thought I’d share why practicing gratitude is so important to me. I hope it might help you, too.

Put simply, gratitude is important to me because it works. Gratitude works to keep my mind from getting on the hamster wheel, it helps me keep my psyche strong and it truly connects me spiritually to something greater than myself and whatever I’m feeling or experiencing in the moment.

For example, when I get scared riding (which I do more often than I’d care to admit) I literally say “thank you and I love you” — out loud — to Socorro. Look, I know this is cheesy. But it reminds me that being able to ride and to connect with this animal the way that I do is a great privilege. And that it’s something that lights me up inside. In some ways it would be easier to just freak out. (It takes less effort!) But this little practice of stopping and reminding myself of the blessing of being able to connect with my horse stops a freak out in its tracks. It keeps me focused and thankful.

Gratitude also works when I’m freaking out about my business, or the weather, or traffic or any number of things over which I have very little control. In those moments, I start listing — again out loud — all the things I’m thankful for. Sometimes I’ll write them down, too. I cannot stress enough how effective it is for putting the brakes on full-on panic. It gets my mind back to a better place.

I’ve shared with you previously about how a severe bout of childhood anxiety left me hospitalized. And how my horse Lovey was a huge part of my healing. I’ve accepted that anxiety will probably always be with me. And rather than denying anxious moments, I try to stop, listen to them and let them know I see them. Then, with gratitude, I send them on their way.

Like houseguests, negative emotions will stay as long as we give them space to feel comfortable. Gratitude helps me by stepping in, turning on the overhead lights, turning off the music, tidying up the dishes and sending a clear message: time to move on!

I think that about sums it up. The only thing I would do is expand it to say that gratitude functions like warmth: it doesn’t gloss over negative emotions but merely steps in to let them know they can move along now.

One final note: I’m grateful to you. For reading this, for being a part of my community, for being a customer or someone who follows me on social media. It’s really an honor to run a business I love and I’m grateful to all of you for being a part of it.

What about you? As we enter this season, what are you feeling grateful for? Drop me a line and let me know!

2021, what can I say? You sure were an interesting ride. You came out hot, with a lot of promise. But the truth is you just never really settled into all I had hoped for. If we’re being honest, 2021, you kind of wore me out. While I’m ready for 2022, I’m not getting the thrill and excitement I typically feel when facing down a new ride—er—year.

Anyone else feeling like this too?

One of the greatest lessons in riding is that you show up and ride what you have THAT DAY. Horses force us into the present moment better than any mindfulness app. They demand we show up to their reality. We may have all sorts of ideas and plans for our time with them but, ultimately, they will decide what’s on the agenda. What happened yesterday is done—for better or for worse. And what will happen is yet to unfold.

Riding horses is a constant reminder to be flexible, go with the flow and stay present with today’s challenges. What worked yesterday may not work today. And we always have to think creatively about how to get the task accomplished—whether that means trying something new, questioning ourselves, or getting uncomfortable.

Talk about a metaphor.

2021 taught me a few things in life and riding. Maybe you can take some of these with you as you ride into the new year.

More is not better, it’s just more.

When things are not going as planned, sometimes you have to take a step back. While the tendency (at least my tendency!) is just to press the gas and keep going forward, that’s not always the smartest plan. I don’t actually believe there are wrong decisions in life (aside from the obvious) but there are decisions that bring us closer to our goals. Decisions that get us there faster and with less suffering. I like those decisions. But I often don’t choose those decisions. Because I can be a little stubborn. So I’ll be working on that in 2022.

Don’t overthink it.

I’m a chronic ruminator. I waste valuable time caught up in the cycle of over-thinking, worrying and self-doubting. But sometimes people have to get out of their heads and into their gut. (It’s me — I’m “people.”) Sometimes we need to just go for it! Whether running cross country or your own business, you can’t control it all. At some point you have to trust yourself and your partner and take the leap!

Stay connected and balanced.

These times are challenging and there is no doubt about it. Staying connected to the things that bring you joy and make you come alive is so critical. Life is shorter than you think. The reason we’re here is to be with the people and animals we love and to make their lives just a little bit better. That’s what truly gives our lives meaning and fulfillment. I know I feel best when I’m partaking from that buffet versus bingeing on the buffet of grinding, burn-out and overwhelm (yuck).

So here we are, at the beginning of a fresh new year. However 2021 turned out for you, it’s over now. Before us, we have a new year full of hope and promise. I am grateful for the opportunity to start anew. To take the lessons from the past and apply them to the future. To spend more time doing the things I love with the people and horses I love. So cheers to a new start and more badassery in 2022!

PS: What are the big metaphors you get from riding? What have you learned from horses that you’ll take with you in the new year? Send me an email — I’d love to hear it!

It’s February so naturally love is on our minds here at Mare Goods HQ. The problem is, the love we celebrate in February is usually represented as romantic love. For us, it’s so much bigger than that. Sure, Valentine’s Day can be about our significant others. But it’s also about loving our friends, our families, our co-workers, our kids and – of course – our horses!

(I’m an unapologetic fan of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette series…but #theMareMare will always get my final rose)

This year, we wanted to find a way to show love to people who really need it. We know, we know: the pool of people who need love and support is ocean-sized right now.

When we heard about the tornadoes that devastated parts of Kentucky in December, we were heartbroken. All that loss and suffering. We knew we wanted to do something to support the people of Kentucky who’ve been so lovely to us over our many trips there for shows, expos and events over the years.

(Side note: if you’ve forgotten about those tornadoes, you’re not alone. There’s a lot to process these days!)

So we did what we do: made a thing!

We created this limited edition sticker for a couple of reasons.

We want you to show the badasses in your life how much you love them and we want you to celebrate your own badass self.

And we want to support the people of Kentucky – talk about some badasses! – as they rebuild from the kind of natural disaster that could happen to any of us.

When you buy a sticker for $8, all proceeds go to support The Kentucky Agriculture Relief Fund, a donation initiative managed by the Kentucky Farm Bureau Education Foundation. Donations will be used to support farmers and agribusinesses in the affected areas.

So this year, skip the oversized teddy bears, boxer shorts covered in huge hearts, and boxes of waxy chocolates. Share the love with a sticker!

There are so many little ways to make the world better. So many little kindnesses that lighten the weight a lot of us are feeling right now.

How are you celebrating love this month? We’d love to know – but please, keep it G-rated!

Sometimes people are surprised to find out I create all of the design, patterning, and illustration work here at Mare. And since it’s truly the thing that lights me up the most, I thought I’d share a little about my process with you.

Let’s get into it!

My designs almost always begin with a story. Someone in the equestrian community will share a story (more on this next month so stay tuned!) and my mind immediately starts looking for details or elements of the story that lend themselves to visual interpretation. This whole process of creating is a lot like life: it can get a little messy but it’s also a lot of fun.

Once I have the concept in mind, I start drawing. I still love working with a pen and pencil. Sometimes going directly to the computer slows down the process because the hand-brain connection gets interrupted. Also, I like to doodle and that’s just harder on a computer or tablet.

Sometimes I trace over certain images if I want them to be more accurate. But I tend toward looser, less literal illustrations. Some designs come to life in a very literal way and others are more abstract. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want the final piece to look like but it’s rare that the end result looks anything like what I imagined.

That’s the thing about creativity: if you try to control it too much, it disappears (sound familiar?)

That’s because the creative process is also like horsemanship. It’s a good idea to start with a plan. But you should also leave your mind open to alternatives. When you stay open to other routes, the process often guides you somewhere wonderful and unexpected.

Once I’ve got a clearer idea of where the design is going, I scan my drawings and/or digitize the artwork. The difference between how something looks in the sketchpad versus how it looks on the computer is kinda mind-blowing. And sometimes the thing I’m sure is going to be awesome ends up such a bust that I panic a little! Over time, I’ve learned that panicky “uh oh” moment – that moment that feels like you’re in a maze and you have no idea how you’re going to find your way through – is where I have to fight the urge to give up.

Sometimes the best choice is walking away for a bit to get a new perspective. (I know this is where my maze metaphor falls apart but stay with me!) Other times, I need to persist and keep going. I just have to be willing to continue calmly looking for ways to get to the end. The nice thing about undertaking this process over and over is that now I have a much better sense of when to bear down and when to walk away.

Again, it’s like horses. With experience, you learn to trust your instincts. You think less and sense more. It requires curiosity. And it requires a certain amount of courage and a willingness to take a chance. You may not know how it will turn out but you have to trust the process.

Once the design is laid out, it’s time for my favorite part: color. I love working with color and few things make me happier than opening up my Pantone books and piecing together a color story. My launches are seasonal so I try to keep my spring and summer colors a bit lighter. Inspired by the things we love about the season, I choose colors that remind me of sunshine, oceans, clover patches, fresh fruit, blue skies – you get the idea.

For fall and winter, my colors tend to be more rich, more saturated. I love to look at fashion trends and make sure I know what the runways are showing. Believe it or not, those things do trickle down to our industry.

Once I’ve settled on color palettes, I work the color elements into the designs so that each collection has its own look but also works well with the other collections. That consistency is an essential element to the brand’s look and feel.

I’ve been creating all my life. You’d think with this much experience I’ve figured out how to not get nervous when I share the designs with my collaborative partners. Nope. I really want my partners to love the designs. I want them to feel seen. I want them to feel that the design communicates something that is uniquely them. It’s hard to take that lightly!

Because my designs are not just cute or decorative. I love that each tells a story about a horse and rider, their special bond, how the horse changed their life, and other meaningful stories. This allows my brand to be a platform for a range of different people and their horses. It also connects me to the breath of a community I’m part of. I love hearing people’s stories and learning about their lives and how horses have been a part of their story. Every season when I launch a new collection, I fall in love with what I do all over again. This business is truly a labor of love.

Thanks, as always, for reading this and drop me a line if you’d like to know more about how the creative process! I always love talking shop!

Spring is one of my favorite seasons. The weather is warmer, flowers are blooming, days are getting longer. Everything seems just a bit more hopeful. And I don’t know about you but with everything going on in the world, I’ll take feeling hopeful every chance I get!

Spring is also when I launch new collections. People have asked how I choose partners for these seasonal collaborations and how the process comes together. So with springtime newness all around, this feels like the right time to tell you all about my first pattern, the Channing Collection .

When I got back into riding about 7 years ago, I was still working at a full-time job. It happened that my colleague Sarah had just purchased a horse. She was eventing with him and I asked if I could come see her ride sometime.

Well, that was the kiss of death. (Or was it life?) Because shortly thereafter, I started taking riding lessons, leasing different horses. I soon fell hook, line, and sinker for these animals in a way that far eclipsed my love for them as a child – which is saying something because I really loved them then, too!

But back to the Channing Collection. Channing’s owner, my coworker Sarah, is who I truly credit for leading me back to horses. She was so generous with Channing—she even let me take lessons on him! I was a total stranger she just worked with! (I mean, who does that?)

During the course of our working together, Sarah’s father died unexpectedly. He had been her rock. Her dad was also the person who introduced her to horses and nurtured her love of them. In the months after his death, Channing was the one thing that gave Sarah a sense of purpose and hope. As she so eloquently put it:

Sitting next to Sarah at the office, bearing witness to her pain, her strength and her faith during this time really stayed with me. When I started Mare, I knew her story was an important part of mine and had to be woven into the story of my brand.

And so it goes. Partnering on these seasonal collaborations is a very organic process. If I had to lay out step-by-step directions, I don’t think I could. And even though I don’t typically go looking for stories, they sure seem to find me! I think that’s why I love going to shows so much; I always meet someone who shares something about their experience with horses that moves, inspires, or surprises me. Every time, it reinforces the significance of these creatures in our lives.

If you have a story to share, I’d love to hear it. You never know what’s going to inspire the next season’s design. Just email me – I’m all ears!