As President of Equine Eyes, I am truly honored to be able to lead such an incredible organization that is passionate about restoring independence and freedom to people who are blind or visually impaired. My aunt, Ola, was visually impaired throughout her entire life, but she was extremely independent. She lived on a farm with my uncle as well as my cousins and was always surrounded by animals. She had a deep respect and love for horses, and she always encouraged me to ride and form a connection with them. Some of my most cherished memories are the times spent on Aunt Ola’s farm, riding horses and simply being. Those early moments sparked a lifelong passion for horses and a deep belief that independence should never be out of reach for anyone.Throughout my career in nonprofit leadership and creative entrepreneurship, I’ve always been committed to helping others strengthen their independence while creating positive change through purpose-driven work.My relationship with Equine Eyes, and my own mini horses, Mickey and Pokey, has shown me how magnificent mini horses are. They possess a quiet strength, are gentle, intuitive, and incredibly capable of connecting on a deep, heart-level. They have the innate ability to provide calmness, clarity, healing, and lots of laughter during stressful or difficult days.