Into the Unknown
Starting New Adventures in the Midst of a Pandemic
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Its no secret at this point that I’ve opened my own training space. I stumbled upon this beautiful working horse farm on Facebook marketplace, and as soon as I saw the property I knew this would be the future home of Hounds of Heck. The grand entrance to the barn, flanked by wrought iron lights and adorned with a custom chandelier, makes a stunning first impression. The interior is a bright and welcoming 80 x 140’ space that provides ample room for big courses with big spacing, allowing the dogs to stretch their striding and run. The meticulously maintained GeoTex footing is light and fluffy, providing ample cushion from the high impact aspects of our sport, balanced with excellent traction for handlers and dogs alike. And don’t even get me started on the equipment! The quality and ingenuity of the Galican equipment is unlike anything else I’ve seen; plus it’s pink (what more could you want?)!
Needless to say, this is a project that has been in the works since long before COVID. Having my own training space is a dream that I’ve returned to again and again; occasionally picking it up, dusting it off, re-running my numbers, re-evaluating my models, and ultimately determining I just couldn’t make it work. To have finally found a way to make this dream a reality, and in the midst of a global pandemic no less, is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. It’s joyous to have the ability to build and run International courses from the top judges in the world; to set the direction for my own training and for that of my students, aspiring to introduce them to a whole new type of Agility course, one with smooth fast lines for the dogs and plenty of challenges for the handler. It’s terrifying to embark on building a successful business, especially one where my brand is closely tied not only to my abilities as a dog trainer, coach, and competitor, but to who I am as a person. Self-doubt and impostor syndrome are real things that continue to keep me up at night.
I've been lucky in my career to have found some incredible mentors. People who have showed me that excellence in customer service is more than just a “yes ma’am”, and who have pushed me to think about the value of a business as more than just black or red. People who are incredible coaches, co-competitors, and ultimately friends, who have embarked on International adventures with me, and who push me to train better, be faster, and expand my learning. People who have been there to celebrate PACH earnings, Westminster competitions, and training successes; and who have commiserated injuries, health scares, and running dog walk trainings. I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without all these people in my life, and I have to believe that those experiences, combined with my own strengths (the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly, a passion for finding speed in any team) will ultimately lead me down a path to success.
So with that, allow me to formally welcome you as an athlete, competitor, student, and friend to the Hounds of Heck Barn.