I was a Police Officer/Investigator for 13 years for the City of St. Cloud. After being diagnosed with PTSD by 3 different doctors (I didn't want to believe what they were saying), I voluntarily retired from a job that I absolutely loved. Being a police officer was my identity. It was all I knew and this crushed me. The embarrassment, the shame, the guilt.  I had horses growing up and after leaving law enforcement I bought my daughter a horse and then myself a horse.  I took one look at Bella and bought her. There was no “trying” her out. I put her in my trailer and brought her home. It was the way she looked at me while standing in the stall. A couple of months after I purchased Bella I found out that she had a lot of trauma either from abuse or harsh reprimand and had been bought and sold several times. We healed together. It took many years and partnering with my Bella to get to where I am today. I always say that Bella and I saved each other. She is my heart horse and I give a lot of thanks to her for helping me move forward. I eventually went back looking for work in what I love to do - help people. I worked for Sherburne County as a child protection investigator for 3 years, but I had this feeling that there was something more that I was meant to do.  After several years of planning, my husband and I opened a horse boarding facility in 2019 named H.O.P.E. Stables, with the plan for me to become an Equine Assisted Coach. My hope is to help others heal while partnering with horses. It works if you allow it to...I know firsthand.