Our very first student of the month is Erin Schulte! Of course, I had to make Erin first because she actually hasn’t ridden with me for at least six months now that she is so busy in her new endeavors! But she still comes out to visit when she can and almost everyone in my barn knows Erin as she was at the barn every day for two years and even lived there for a full summer!
Erin and her mom Jaz came to me with their Arabian mares when I first moved my business to Scottsdale. The property we rented to work out of was right across the street from them! We started with lessons twice a week but even when Erin wasn’t riding, she came to see her horse every day. Michael and I would look out our window and see her just sitting on the fence next to her mare. She’s always enjoyed the peace and quiet around the horses.
As many people know, Erin had a habit of falling off her horse quite often! She was always so laid back about things, falling never seemed to bother her. But it bothered me! So her mom and I agreed they needed to sell Erin’s Arabian, though she was a great mare she just was too fast for Erin who had a much more easy going personality. So they bought Diesel, a big, slow moving solid paint that she bought from another client of mine. Diesel has a heart of gold, slow legs and the sweetest in your pocket personality. He was perfect for Erin, and the two of them worked together at their own pace. Her and Diesel learned from each other and were able to show and win at many shows for almost two years.
Some random things about Erin that I know everyone will remember is how she was too sweet most of the time to tell the kids at camp pretending to be cowboys not to tie her up like a cow. She always moved the bugs for me in the barn because I hate bugs and Erin did not like killing anything. She wanted to make a leash and costumes for our chickens we once had and walk them down the street. And she makes the best dessert ever!
Now Erin has really made a name for herself in only her second year of college at ASU Barrett. She is Vice-President of the Barrett Honors College Council. She co-founded an organization called All-Walks Project which works to spread awareness of human sex trafficking in our own state. She’s represented her entrepreneurship at large conferences such as the Clinton Global Initiative University conference in Florida where she met former President Bill Clinton and informed him of their All-Walks work. She also volunteered her time at the International Rescue Committee, helping to empower refugees and survivors of trafficking so that they might build another life for themselves.
Erin is a true example of a strong leader, and I know horses helped give her that confidence. Erin has always been a very hard worker with a heart of gold; no matter where she went in life she would have done well. But her strong work ethic combined with her self-assurance to stand up for what she believes in led her to take action. She has become an amazing woman and the whole barn family here is proud of Erin Schulte! Erin has just arrived in Washington D.C. for her internship with the McCain Institute, where she will be all summer. Good luck in all your future endeavors Erin, thank you for being such a great role model for so many young women!
