Unbridled Retreats is committed to offering exceptional retreat experiences for horse-loving women like you. Our vision remains strong, and our retreats will continue to transform lives and offer connection long into the future. With the unpredictable changes surrounding COVID-19, we’ve adjusted our cancellation policies to allow you more time and flexibility to determine what works […]
Since moving to the ranchette, I’ve softened. My energy has softened, my voice has softened and my body has softened. I’ve started living in alignment with who I truly am. When I’m on the phone, my friends tell me that my voice is less intense. I’m not trying so hard and pushing to make things […]
Awhile back something happened that really rocked me. I received my first scathing email from someone who attended a retreat I led. As I opened the email and read the first sentence, I stopped breathing and braced myself for the blow that was coming. My eyes raced through the first paragraph, trying to avoid the […]
While scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed this morning, I stopped mid scroll when I came across Dr. Christiane Northrup’s post. (Side note, if you haven’t read her book “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom”, I suggest you do so immediately.) She posted: “What did you love when you were between nine and eleven years old? Is that […]
I learned just how powerful my intuition is when I packed up my life, left a six year real estate career, cashed my last commission check, and moved from a Denver townhouse to the Larkspur ranch. Well-intentioned friends, family and colleagues advised me to keep my real estate license “just in case” and “as a […]
A life of riding became my life’s mission to help others experience the transformative power of horses. I was blessed to grow up with horses, although at the time I didn’t realize just how lucky I was. Both of my parents are horse people. Every Sunday we would go to the pasture across from my […]
The Best Way to Start Your Day The #1 habit I began to change my disorganized mess into tidy success was making my bed every day. Now, it’s a non-negotiable for me that starts every morning off right. It’s amazing how a daily 60-second act has changed my self-perception. Achieving this simple task each day […]
Most of us aren’t raised to think about our breathing. We assume breathing just comes naturally. Some cultures and religions along with scientific studies, however, show us the significant benefits of bringing awareness to your breath. In every women’s equine retreat I lead, I remind my clients to breathe. I do this repeatedly, and intentionally. […]
“Music is the universal language of mankind.” – Henry Wadsworth Music is healing balm and can help us process and release our emotions. Connecting through music enables us to communicate with people and confront thoughts and fears that are hidden below the surface. Music to Inspire: “Music has real health benefits. It boosts dopamine, lowers […]
As a coach, one of the most common things I hear from people is “I have a dream but I’m stuck on HOW to make it happen.” I’ve been there too, and here’s what I’ve learned… Check out the 5 steps for HOW to make your dream happen: 1. Ignore your Inner Critic The more […]
I’m getting better at communicating my needs. Last week I was with my family on a vacation in Mexico – my first family trip in 2 years. I’m used to traveling alone, living alone, and being on my own most of the time. I love my family AND my introverted self was worried about being […]
When I have too much routine, I go crazy. I crave adventure, I need adventure, especially in nature. Adventure is food for my soul. One of the beauties of working from home is creating my own schedule. I go on mid-week adventures and spontaneously pick places to explore. This week I chose Kenosha Pass, a […]
“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu Horses live in the present moment. They aren’t worried about the fight they had with their spouse yesterday, or what the […]
I just busted myself in a familiar pattern – avoiding my creative impulse. I got up early, couldn’t go back to sleep, and “Charley,” my cat, was walking all over me – a sign from the Universe to wake up and write. I walked downstairs, fed Charley, started typing on my laptop. Ten minutes in, […]
Recently I’ve been reading my old journals. The #1 difference I notice between my past and present is the way I talk to myself. Self-talk. Old journals have scribbled, “Why do you keep doing this?” to current journals reading, “You’ve got this, Dev.” My relationship with myself has changed drastically over the years and I […]
Are you overworked, overscheduled, feeling contained, and wanting to break free? It’s time to become Unbridled. You’ve been holding onto the reins of life so tightly that your “sense of security” is robbing you of joy. Time to gently let go, trust more and worry less, ease up on yourself and everyone around you. Life […]
Are you going through a rough time, feeling out of whack, or just want some tools to feel better in general? Check out my TOP 5 TIPS FOR WELL-BEING… BE IN NATURE “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir Being in nature is an efficient healing source and a […]
Do you know the biggest difference between people who are living their dreams and those who aren’t? It’s TAKING ACTION AND GOING FOR IT IN SPITE OF FEAR, plus the ability to tolerate risk, uncertainty and feeling uncomfortable for a while. There are no guarantees in life and none of us know what the trail […]
This picture of Detail and I was taken 3 years ago. I keep posting it to remember the good old days before lameness took over. Detail’s been off for over a year now. We’ve tried changing vets, changing farriers, ultrasounds, Platelet Rich Plasma injections, arthritis medications, corrective shoeing, chiropractic adjustments, Reiki, the list goes on… […]
This is Lobo, a ranch horse, who was at liberty (loose) in a large riding arena at the Unbridled Retreat. He walked right over to a woman in our group who was sharing her pain of being in an abusive marriage. Lobo promptly nudged his way to her heart and acknowledged, honored, and validated how […]
Giving your fears the boot is a skill and a practice. Your fears have most likely have been with you for a long time, but they DO NOT have to control your life. Here are 7 solutions to help you confront and overcome your fears… 1. WRITE A LETTER TO YOURSELF FROM YOUR FEAR Acknowledge […]
The Unbridled Retreat was showcased in Horse Illustrated Magazine! Read the article below… Equine Wellness Retreats by Stacey McKenna As equestrians, we know that horses are good for us, and often head to the barn on the most stressful of days. In recent years, that intuition has been supported by a bevy of scientific evidence. […]
Last week, I did 2 things that were uncomfortable. First, I went to a fitness center I’d never been, Orange Theory, and worked out with 20 strangers for one hour. I felt uncomfortable not knowing the workout routine, or how to use the machines. The instructor walked me though the gym and described the […]
COWGIRL LIFE: Cowgirl Rising When a woman’s attempt to live the cowgirl dream is derailed by a series of personal tragedies, she explores beyond the arena in hopes of getting back in the saddle. By Deborah Donohue Photography by Lori Faith The sun was setting in a pool of pink, crimson and gold behind the […]
Recently, a friend mentioned she eats avocado toast for breakfast. I was intrigued for a number of reasons… 1. It sounded healthy and delicious. 2. I’m tired of Kashi cereal and almond milk every morning. 3. My theme word for 2019 is E X P A N S I O N and my focus is […]
Happy New Years! On New Year’s Eve I stayed in and burned a Duraflame log in the fireplace, sipped some bubbly, watched “Big Little Lies,” got in bed, thanked the Universe aloud for lessons learned in 2018, and turned out the light at 12:04am. The older I get, the less I’m concerned with FOMO (Fear […]
Imagine standing in front of a room of people for three minutes and saying absolutely nothing. Just standing there. Making eye contact. Breathing. Connecting. No words. This is what I signed up to do, yes, paid for, in a class I attended called Soul Speaks. Throughout the class, each person has three individual turns to stand […]
I was going to write about the beautiful snow this morning but something else is on the forefront. What’s going on is I like a guy. His name is “J” and he has big muscles and writes poetry. Yesterday he shared some of his poetry with me and it was deep. Thoughtful. Spoke right to […]
I recently read a poem aloud at the Montana Retreat and I got chills because IT’S THAT GOOD. The poem strikes a deep chord for me, and I have a feeling it may resonate for you too. It’s called “You Have Permission” by Leonie Dawson… “Today, and everyday, you have permission. You have permission. You have permission to say no […]
Last Saturday night I called my friends to go out dancing and nobody was available. I was bummed because I really wanted to go out, and my intuition was nudging me to dance. I couldn’t bear staying in another night, zoning out to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I had a choice: take myself out […]
Chronic people-pleasing is a crime. It’s a crime against your soul, who you are, your unique gifts, purpose and message to share with the world. By the time I was 21 years old, I was addicted to people-pleasing and external validation. I didn’t believe that I was good enough. Or smart enough. Or cool enough. […]
At 7:06am I hear the clanking of heavy machinery outside my loft balcony and I know construction has begun. When I hear the “beep, beep, beep” of bulldozers, I think of my ex-boyfriend Monte. Monte was a construction foreman and a cattle rancher, but it was construction that gave him a steady paycheck and health […]
I checked an item off my bucket list. I jumped out of a plane that was 12,000 feet in the air. I went skydiving. It was terrifying and exhilarating. As I turned on the dirt road toward Out of the Blue Skydiving in Calhan, CO, I peered up from my car windshield and spotted a […]
With a heavy heart I need to share that Playboy, my incredible equine partner, is no longer with us, in physical form. Due to health complications, he made his transition while I stroked his forelock and sobbed goodbye. He was an integral part of my life and a beloved member of Beyond the Arena. Playboy was […]
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” Thanks, Henry David Thoreau, but what if I don’t have the confidence yet? Here’s what I propose, “Go in the direction of your dreams….one shaky step at a time.” “I’ve been afraid every single day of my life, but I’ve gone ahead and done it anyway.” – […]
Recently I stayed at Canyon Ranch…a world renowned healing and wellness resort in Tucson, Arizona. I got my boots shined at the airport, then flew down to meet about a position to create and run their equine retreats for 2018. It was a dream come true. During my meeting, I sat at the head of a […]
Being present allows us to enjoy and experience our lives more fully. It relives stress, brings peace of mind, and deep contentment. As I type this blog, I’m listening to the click-clack of computer keys and smiling because it reminds me of a horse’s hooves on pavement; click-clack, click-clack. It’s my first time noticing this […]
Yesterday I drove through the sprawling New Mexico desert headed south to the Unbridled Arizona Retreat. Two hours past Albuquerque, I got a hit of inspiration to share my manifesto after singing along to Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” and listening to a Podcast about lifestyle manifestoes. Listen to my manifesto by clicking below: What’s […]
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” –Vicki Harrison I woke up this morning feeling sad. I had a tear streaming down my face before I got out of bed. The busy-ness of […]
I met a guy when I wasn’t looking to meet a guy. I was innocently walking around Cheyenne Frontier Days when I got roped, literally, by a 3-year-old kid walking behind me. I felt the rope come over my boot-clad ankle, then heard a giggle. I turned around and saw a cute kid in a […]
It’s been a month since I began boarding Detail and Playboy at a beautiful new barn and it’s freed up my time immensely. Detail is fed twice a day, Playboy is fed 3 times a day, and that’s 90 times someone else has fed my horses this past month. 90 times I didn’t have to […]
Growing up, my mom used to tell me that quote and I’d roll my eyes. Now, I realize how true it is. Earlier this week, I was supposed to meet a blind date for coffee. This was a blind date I was excited about. His profile pictures looked great, his online messaging banter was witty […]
Recently, my life has been in flux with lots of uncertainty. I gave my 30 days notice at the ranch where I live and work and I don’t know where I’m moving yet. It’s the right decision, to move on. My intuition had been telling me to do it for months yet I was paralyzed […]
You know what feels good? Decluttering. Last night I cleared out 4 large drawers under my Ikea bed and here’s the result (Charley supervises while Namo sleeps peacefully in the background)… In the pile are 46 items I’m giving away and that does NOT include the tattered clothes I’m throwing out. 46 items I haven’t used […]
I’m a 33 year old woman. I live in a commercial-sized chicken coop turned cozy cottage (see pics below). I have two horses named Detail and Playboy, one dog named Namo, and one cat named Charley. I love to ride horses and help people. I like open spaces and feeling free. I like being myself. […]
It’s Arizona or bust. Today, I’m embarking on one of my favorite trips…a road trip to Tucson, Arizona where my ultimate destination is White Stallion Ranch where I’m leading the UNBRIDLED Retreat. I love a good road trip. Do you like road trips too? There’s something about being on the open road with the windows down blasting Steppenwolf, Taylor Swift […]
Today is my 33rd birthday. I like the sound of “3-3″…I think those are lucky numbers so I’m going to go with it. One thing I want to do this year is to write more, and I’m beginning today. Kind of like making a commitment to go to the gym except I don’t need to […]
I currently have my laptop on my right and The Right to Write by Julia Cameron, on my left. I also have my phone playing Tim Wheater’s flute music which the book suggests. I know two things for sure in this moment: number one, I feel called to write and number two, I’m stuck on what […]
Look! The UNBRIDLED Retreat was featured in COWGIRL Magazine’s 2016 June edition. Step into the boots of COWGIRL editor, Deborah Donohue, and read about her life-changing UNBRIDLED experience and how she overcame her fears, once and for all. “When a woman’s attempt to live the cowgirl dream is derailed by a series of personal tragedies, […]
Chronic people-pleasing is a crime. It’s a crime against your soul, who you are, your unique gifts, purpose and message to share with the world. By the time I was 21 years old, I was addicted to people-pleasing and external validation. I didn’t believe that I was good enough. Or smart enough. Or cool enough. […]
I always appreciate when people are real with me. Genuine straight talk. Tell me the down and dirty of how they got started in pursuing their dreams and what worked for them and what didn’t. Not just “Rah, rah, you can do it!” but the actual reality of how they did it. Recently, a fellow […]
My relationships have changed drastically in the past ten years. First, is my relationship with horses. Second, is my relationship with my body. Both of these relationships are now based on a two-way street of communication, mutual respect, trust and compassion. I grew up in the ego-dominated world of showing horses competitively where it was strictly […]
Everyone has a calling; a path to follow. It’s our job to follow that calling in whichever direction it leads. It means trusting your intuition and having faith, letting go of who you think you “should be” and embracing who you are. When you follow what you love, you find what you’ve been looking for. […]
I just did something I haven’t done in a long time. I went for a run. Laced up my sneakers and bolted out the door before my familiar excuses could sneak up on me. I took off down the dirt ranch road and hit the street pavement running. It felt foreign and liberating to move my […]
Twelve years ago I was in Tucson, Arizona as a patient at a holistic eating disorder treatment center called Mirasol. I had hit rock bottom and was in the throes of self-loathing, addiction, and numbness. Recently I returned to Tucson, Arizona and it was for a different reason…to lead UNBRIDLED, a holistic healing retreat at […]
You’ve seen the commercial…. Scenes of a couple holding hands while horseback riding into the sunset, snuggling by the campfire together and staring up at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck. These picturesque scenarios spoke right to my heart and said, “You too, can have all this…at FarmersOnly.com.” So, being single in […]
I’m not usually one to fall when it comes to horses or men…it takes a lot to jolt me out of the saddle or jolt my romantic heart. However, I crossed trails with a cowboy and I was swept off my feet. I had an instant connection with this man, a soul connection. He understood my […]
I write this in honor of our beloved paint horse, friend and herd member, Sadie. She was laid to rest in the green grass by her favorite west pasture, the one with the hill where she liked to stand and overlook the ranch. My heart aches and the tears come in waves. Sadie told us, […]
Sometimes a woman needs a change of scenery. As much as I love the Colorado ranch, I needed to go beyond the arena for a few days. On an adventure to Big Sky Country for a Wildheart Retreat. I decided to drive there. My gut told me I needed a solo road trip. I didn’t […]
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams…” Thanks, Henry David Thoreau, but what if I don’t have the confidence yet? Here’s what I propose, “Go in the direction of your dreams…one shaky step at a time.” “I’ve been afraid every single day of my life, but I’ve gone ahead and done it anyway.” ~Georgia […]
GRATITUDE. This morning I was tossing and turning and got up at 3:12am and could not go back to sleep. It was because of a couple of things. I was focused on feeling alone and not having a special someone to share my life with (a “lack of” thought). I also believe and have experienced […]
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about L.O.V.E. and questioning my old defiant attitude toward staying single. Maybe it’s because it’s summer and everywhere I look I see couples outside, holding hands. Maybe it’s because my friends are bringing along their boyfriends, fiances and husbands on our former “girls only” happy hours. Maybe it’s because […]
The last few days have been weird. A flashback into my past. I stayed at my parents house for a few nights taking care of their dogs, koi fish and bullfrog (I clearly hail from a family of animal fanatics) while they are out of town. It felt strange being in the childhood home I […]
The last few weeks have been tough for my family. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The news was a shock to all of us. It felt like someone hit me with a stun gun. I couldn’t react. I couldn’t believe it. Yet the tests were in and it was confirmed. My family huddled […]
Yesterday I got a horrible text. It was from the morning feed crew at the ranch. It came at 7:27am and it read “I know you had a lot on your mind last night, but you left Archer in the stall.” My heart stopped momentarily and my upbeat morning coffee buzz came to an abrupt halt. […]
Earlier this week I received a private Facebook message that stopped me in my tracks. A Facebook “former” fan of Beyond the Arena, someone whom I do not know and have never met, wrote me this: “I liked your page because it was about getting conscious and going inward with the power of horses. Comparing a […]
I recently had an intervention from an obsession that crept up on me so fast, it hit me like a ton of bricks when I finally felt the reality of it. Being single for a while, and frankly, just curious, I joined the online dating site, Match.com. I took my time, finding the “best” pictures […]
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Beyond the Arena’s story was published in Speaking Your
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