Horse Trainer | Riding Instructor | Teenage Girl
Miss Erin Collins…
How did this happen?
This is not a story that she has been in the saddle since 5 years old or that she grew up on a horse ranch and has been around horses since she could walk. It’s a story that you are probably going to relate to. A mom and dad giving their daughter a Christmas present of a one Winter Camp riding program at Grit and Grace Ranch to see if she likes horses. And just like a teenage she said “It was fine” and nothing else happened…. So how do we get to the picture on the right, a confident girl galloping around an arena, hanging off the side of a horse to stick a flag in a bucket, how did that transformation happen?
Erin’s Journey and Transformation
December 2019 – Winter Camp
That’s the first ever picture of Erin on a horse, who turned out to be Saphira. This was a series of Winter Camps that Grit and Grace was holding to let girls have a fun day with horses, games, crafts and more. In true teenage style, when she came home and her parents asked how it went, she said it was fine. She wasn’t begging to go back, or even talking about it. Teenagers can be so mysterious! Parents, keep that in mind, sometimes with teens things just aren’t obvious. P.S. Be sure to click that blue button to the left!!!
Winter into Spring of 2020
Winter slowly turned into Spring, Erin was involved with her church’s youth group, American Heritage Girls, painting, along with outdoor life and the beginning of covid. It was probably around March when the Facebook post popped up on Erin’s mom phone that Grit and Grace was looking for the next round of Dream Makers. To her parents surprise, she said “Yes, I would like to do that!”. It was an application process and the it was going to take 3-4 weeks to know if she got into the program, which became a nail biting wait! So she spent time being active in so many other ways.
…and then it happened! Summer 2020
Late spring she got the call from Grit and Grace that she had been accepted into the Dream Maker program. Life at the ranch started. She like and other girl, doing her DM shift, mucking stalls, feeding horses, everything that a DM does today. It was as this point she began falling in love with horses and wanted to be around them all the time. When the older girls went to a horse show, Erin was there. Even though she was not able to ride in the show yet, she was there participating, having fun, learning the ropes and even helping out as a show hand. This became the foundation for some of the requirements in the GaitWay Dream Maker program, to show up, learn the ropes and be part of the program, even if at times it means you’re not riding a horse. P.S Be sure to check out the last photo to the left for an inspirational message.
More to come!
We are going to take you though her journey, check back for more stories from the last couple of years.
The Dream Maker Program is rooted
In Our Core Values
In November of 2023, we gather our current dream makers together. These girls ranged from 14-17 and had been in the program from anywhere between 12 months to 4 years. We asked them, at the core, aside from learning and growing about ranch life, what’s most important to you? After some thought provoking conversations, they came up with a list of values they felt everyone involved in GaitWay should have, and we agree! Our COURE VALUES are Kindness, Caring, Honesty, Patience, Positivity, Respect, Dedication, Discipline, Work Ethic, and of course Fun 🙂
Our Core Values
Kindness
Caring
Honesty
For us, honesty is not simply about telling the truth (although that is very important), it’s about being true to who you are. Being honest with yourself and others about what you want, how you feel, and what you need to be the best version of yourself.
Patience
Positivity
Respect
Dedication
Discipline
Work Ethic
Fun
While we very much believe in working hard, we also believe you can work hard AND have fun. You can create a fun atmosphere regardless of the work you are doing, and cultivating fun as a skill will help you get through the most mundane and difficult things with grace.
Check out “A Horse’s Tale”. Our Adventures and stories from the ranch and more.
Bri Riding Honey at the Midwest Horse Show on 3.16.24
Midwest Horse Show 03.16.2024 Bri on Honey Not just looking the part of a cowgirl! Bri continues to impress everyone while surpassing her own personal records with new times in her speed [...]
GaitWay Girls ride at the March 2nd Midwest Horse Show
Midwest Horse Show 03.02.2024 A Fantastic Time! The weather was perfect and the trailers were full of horses for the March 2nd Horse Show at Midwest. Six girls rode that day, some [...]
Erin Rides at the March 2nd Midwest Horse Show
Midwest Horse Show 03.02.2024 Erin on Freyja Not the first show for Erin, but a first for Freyja! Erin has been working with Freyja to get her acclimated to get her trained [...]
Megan Rides at the March 2nd Midwest Horse Show
Midwest Horse Show 03.02.2024 Megan on Shorty Every time Megan and Shorty step into the arena we know that they are thinking "I am speed". It was another fantastic run by this [...]
Stay in the Loop
Thank you for your interest and support in GaitWay. 2024 is looking to be a year of growth and new things for girls, the program and the staff. Connect with us so you can stay in the loop with all the amazing and fun things that are going to happen!