Why "Firebelly" ?

I had a realization when I was in my late twenties. Without getting into the gore - because these realizations tend to happen when the #*%! has hit the fan, yes? - I realized I needed to be around passion, conviction, and boldness. Someone with fire in their belly. Why? Because this is how I want to do life.

The #!*& and heartbreak of that time ultimately helped me get focused.

I love horses and riding and apparently this is not a phase! Now in my forties, I grapple with the immense importance of horses in my life and the irony of how their presence makes everything else harder - because horses are high-cost, high-responsibility. Like kids, haha.

Horses continue to be my outlet, my spark, and my achilles' heel.

The only way I can proceed without throwing in the towel one way or another is to be driven by the fire in my belly.

I always thought I might change my business, "Foundation Equestrian" to "Firebelly Equestrian" at some point. However working in the Equestrian sphere is no longer my primary livelihood nor motivation. As I learn parenting "on the job" - as we all do - and as I adjust my goals and priorities for this next phase of my life, and my kids' lives - it struck me that right now I am Firebelly Mama.

I am grateful of the many privileges we have, like owning our home, and having healthy children. I am driven to continue to ride and learn as my outlet and my personal passion. I am driven to work smarter to save up for a piece of land where one day my kids and our animals can coexist.

I have a lot of balls in the air, and that's okay and certainly familiar. As a mom, I also have "all the things" - including temper, impatience, selfishness. Sometimes - or often - I need to apologize for my fire.

Friends of mine who also juggle their horse passions and mom responsibilities have reminded me that it's good for our kids to see our passions, and to see us hustle to realize them.

Time for this mama to put my fire to work.