Horse Girl Chat: Fighting Obesity, Grief, and Life’s Challenges with Michelle Serna (@brokeasshorsegirl)

Summary

Pursuit of Wellness Podcast: Episode Summary
Title: Horse Girl Chat: Fighting Obesity, Grief, and Life’s Challenges with Michelle Serna (@brokeasshorsegirl)
Host: Mari Llewellyn
Guest: Michelle Serna (@brokeasshorsegirl)
Release Date: November 21, 2024

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of Pursuit of Wellness, host Mari Llewellyn welcomes Michelle Serna, widely known as @brokeasshorsegirl, a passionate equestrian with a substantial following on TikTok. Their conversation delves deep into Michelle’s journey battling obesity, coping with grief, and overcoming life’s myriad challenges—all while maintaining her dedication to horse riding and the equestrian community.

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Michelle’s Equestrian Background and Passion

Michelle’s friend introduces her by saying, "You are my go-to horse girl. If I have a single question, it's going to you" ([00:42]). Michelle elaborates on her extensive involvement with horses, highlighting her extensive knowledge and the chaos that comes with managing multiple animals and a busy household.

Key Points:

• Early Introduction to Horses: Michelle wasn’t born into the equestrian world, unlike her friend, who grew up with horses and had extensive family support.
• Passion Over Profession: Despite not growing up with horses, Michelle developed a deep obsession, leading her to pursue horse riding fervently.
• Challenges for Newcomers: Michelle discusses the steep learning curve and the overwhelming amount of information for those not born into the industry. Her friend advises beginners to start with lesson barns to build a solid foundation ([18:12]).

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend emphasizes the importance of lesson barns: “I truly believe... lesson barns truly are, like, the backbone of equestrian sport” ([18:34]).

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Navigating the Equestrian Industry

Michelle and her friend discuss the financial and social dynamics within the equestrian community. Despite the significant expenses involved, there's a noticeable decline in active participation, paralleling trends seen in other sports like surfing and BMX.

Key Points:

• Financial Strain: The cost of maintaining horses is substantial, often leading to “black hole” expenses ([71:07]).
• Declining Interest: While aesthetic interest in horses has surged due to media influence, actual participation in horse showing and related activities has decreased ([15:32]).
• Corporate Challenges: Companies find it difficult to penetrate the tightly-knit equestrian market, often facing resistance due to entrenched traditions and the high costs associated ([16:55]).

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend bluntly states, “It is not unusual for me to have an eight to ten thousand dollar month. That being said, that is diabolical behavior. That is insane” ([70:52]).

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Personal Health Journey: Fighting Obesity

Michelle candidly shares her struggle with obesity, detailing her weight loss journey which she attributes to consistent exercise and dietary changes. Her friend echoes similar sentiments, recounting her own experience of overcoming obesity through powerlifting and CrossFit.

Key Points:

• Michelle’s Approach: She stopped consuming soda and high-calorie lattes, integrated regular workouts, and emphasized consistency ([36:13]).
• Friend’s Transformation: After a debilitating injury in 2020, Michelle’s friend turned to powerlifting, eventually embracing CrossFit, leading to significant weight loss and improved physical health ([33:22]).

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend highlights the simplicity of weight loss: “I started moving more, consuming less calories, period” ([42:28]).

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Coping with Grief and Its Impact on Wellness

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Michelle’s friend opens up about the loss of her father at 59, attributing his untimely death to poor lifestyle choices. This loss became a catalyst for her renewed focus on health, fitness, and personal growth.

Key Points:

• Grieving Process: She describes her grief as a mixture of sorrow and motivation to improve her life, ensuring her daughter doesn’t experience similar loss ([44:10]).
• Emotional Resilience: Michelle’s friend emphasizes the importance of continuing to "keep on keeping on," finding gratitude amidst grief ([46:08]).
• Holistic Healing: Both Michelle and her friend advocate for addressing multiple facets of wellness—physical health, mental health, and healthy relationships—to achieve overall well-being ([45:27]).

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend reflects on her father's legacy: “He spent time with his family, he went on trips. He did the things he enjoyed. He was kind to others” ([48:31]).

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National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and Content Creation

Michelle and her friend discuss their upcoming attendance at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. They share excitement about the event, their outfits, and the content they plan to create around it.

Key Points:

• Event Overview: The NFR is described as "like New York Fashion Week meets the Super Bowl" ([51:06]), highlighting its significance and grandeur.
• Content Strategy: Michelle plans to document their experiences, focusing on fashion and equestrian activities, while navigating humorous mishaps and styling challenges ([53:00]).
• Community Engagement: They emphasize the supportive nature of the equestrian community, contrasting it with occasional negative interactions ([78:10]).

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend encourages inclusivity: “Normal people need to go to the NFR” ([53:29]).

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Advice for Aspiring Equestrians

Drawing from their experiences, Michelle and her friend offer valuable advice to those looking to enter the equestrian world.

Key Points:

• Start with Lessons: Begin at a lesson barn to build foundational skills and gain confidence.
• Choose the Right Horse: Opt for older, experienced horses that can provide valuable learning experiences without the high costs associated with younger, fancy horses.
• Build Independence: Learn to manage horse care, feeding, and health independently to foster a strong bond and self-reliance ([79:44]).
• Manage Finances Wisely: Be mindful of the high costs involved and plan accordingly to avoid financial strain ([80:28]).

Notable Quote:
Michelle emphasizes independence: “Knowledge is power. And I think in general you're just nice and trusting of people, which is honestly a great character trait to have” ([79:44]).

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The Therapeutic Connection Between Horses and Humans

The duo explores the profound emotional and psychological benefits that horses offer, emphasizing their non-judgmental nature and ability to foster deep connections.

Key Points:

• Emotional Support: Horses provide unconditional love and can sense and respond to human emotions, offering comfort and companionship.
• Character Building: Interacting with horses teaches honesty, trust, and personal responsibility.
• Healing Power: Spending time with horses can be a healing experience, helping individuals cope with trauma, stress, and grief.

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend beautifully encapsulates the bond: “I could sit in silence with my horses for a very, very long time. Nothing is said, but also everything is said” ([66:34]).

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Maintaining Horses: Costs and Responsibilities

A candid discussion on the financial and logistical responsibilities of horse ownership highlights the significant commitment required to care for these animals.

Key Points:

• Monthly Expenses: Costs can range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the setup, including feed, veterinary care, training, and equipment.
• Time Investment: Regular maintenance, training, and care require substantial time and effort.
• Emotional Commitment: Owning horses demands not just financial resources but also emotional dedication.

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend candidly shares, “It is not unusual for me to have an eight to ten thousand dollar month... That is insane” ([70:52]).

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Conclusion: Embracing Wellness Through Horses

The episode concludes with Michelle and her friend reaffirming their dedication to horses as a cornerstone of their wellness journeys. They advocate for leveraging their platforms to inspire and educate others about the transformative power of equestrian life.

Key Points:

• Future Goals: Michelle’s friend aspires to start a brand that gives back to the horse community, supporting young riders and promoting horse-related wellness.
• Community Support: Both emphasize the importance of a supportive community in achieving personal wellness and overcoming challenges.
• Continuous Growth: They stress the importance of ongoing personal development, learning, and maintaining a positive outlook despite setbacks.

Notable Quote:
Michelle’s friend passionately states, “My ultimate goal... is to start a brand in the horse space that gives back” ([80:57]).

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Pursuit of Wellness offers an inspiring narrative of resilience, passion, and the profound impact that horses can have on one’s physical and emotional well-being. Michelle Serna’s authentic storytelling, combined with her friend’s candid insights, provides valuable lessons for anyone striving to improve their health, navigate grief, or find purpose through their passions.

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Notable Quotes Reference:

• Michelle Llewellyn (Host):

  • [00:42] "You are my go-to horse girl. If I have a single question, it's going to you."
  • [02:03] "She keeps her horses at her house..."
  • [18:12] "Please don't stick around. It’s English lesson barns."
  • [36:13] "Three easy things. Stop drinking whole milk every day in your coffee..."
  • [42:28] "I started moving more, consuming less calories, period."

• Michelle's Friend (Guest):

  • [00:42] "I'm the horse encyclopedia."
  • [18:34] “I truly believe... lesson barns truly are, like, the backbone of equestrian sport.”
  • [44:10] "The things I have experienced, I could write a book..."
  • [66:34] “I could sit in silence with my horses for a very, very long time.”
  • [70:52] “It is not unusual for me to have an eight to ten thousand dollar month.”
  • [80:57] “My ultimate goal... is to start a brand in the horse space that gives back.”

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Connect with Michelle Serna (@brokeasshorsegirl):

• TikTok: @brokeasshorsegirl
• Instagram: @brokeasshorsegirl

Stay tuned for future episodes of Pursuit of Wellness for more inspiring conversations and wellness insights.

Transcript

[Mari Llewellyn]

This is the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, and I'm your host, Mari Llewellyn.

[Michelle]

Michelle, welcome to the Pursuit of Wellness.

[Michelle's Friend]

Hello.

[Michelle]

This is crazy. This is so crazy.

[Michelle's Friend]

Hi, everyone.

[Michelle]

Guys, I mean, just for context, like, you guys probably know Michelle as broke ass horse girl.

[Michelle's Friend]

Or not at all.

[Michelle]

Or not at all. So this is my friend Michelle. She is very important to me because I feel like we just have a lot in common.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

In general, you're like my go to horse girl. Like, you are. If I have a single question, it's going to you.

[Michelle's Friend]

I'm the horse encyclopedia.

[Michelle]

E. G. Every, like, five minutes, I'm texting you, like, why is his hoof like this? What's.

[Michelle's Friend]

Who do I call?

[Michelle]

I'm like, what kind of hay is this? And you're like, babe, you got to figure this out. Like, you can Google it. But, guys, Michelle has, like, a really big TikTok following. She posts all about horses, life, crossfit. I mean, you post about everything.

[Michelle's Friend]

Really? Yeah.

[Michelle]

Me, Just you?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And what I love about Michelle is that she's very candid. This is me giving you a speech. This is so funny. This is like, I'm getting emotional. It's the medication. No. I really have been crying a lot. Like, every time someone says something to me, I'm like, what did you say? Michelle's very candid, very real. And I really like that and appreciate that. I think especially in content, people want to see that. And I feel like you do not beat around the bush.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, I have. I'm not one for it. Feels like lying.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Like, to airbrush everything.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. It's like. And for what?

[Michelle]

I also. Okay, for context, guys, my horse Red stayed with Michelle for a week when I first tried him out. And I got to go stay with Michelle and really see, like, your life top to bottom. And you're like a very capable person.

[Michelle's Friend]

Thank you. Does not feel like that always.

[Michelle]

She keeps her horses at her house. She, like, has a massive trailer that she hooks up to her truck. Basically, you're living my dream life.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

So I would, like, wake up and be like, okay, what do we do now? She has, like, five dogs. It's like a whole thing.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's like chaos.

[Michelle]

It's chaos, but in the best way.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, it is. I have. I have a really good life.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, it's a lot like, I think. I think most people, the early emergence into my life would send them into a spiral. Like, they'd be like, I don't know what to do here. But it just flows Because I'm like, whatever.

[Michelle]

Tell people how you, like, got into horses to begin with and like, where did you learn everything that you know?

[Michelle's Friend]

So I'm one of the lucky ones. I was born into the industry. I had literally, I had ponies waiting for me when I was. When I was born. My dad had always wanted a daughter. And my dad, he started working in like, the livestock supply and feed store business when he was like 15 years old. My dad was like one of 15 kids, didn't come from two pennies to rub together. And he just loved horses. Like, loved horses. My grandfather loved horses. And I was just really fortunate that I was born into it. And my parents were in the industry professionally by way of owning a feed stor and a boarding facility was connected to our property. And I just always had a horse. Like, I always had a horse. And I was really lucky that my dad kind of let me discover it.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I just always had access. Like, it wasn't fancy access, but I had access to education and to knowledge. And I was really fortunate that I had a situation where my parents pushed me towards it. It never was drawing me back, which I think is a thing that a lot of kids experience is like, wanting to do it. And their parents are like, no. Whether it's for financial reasonings or just not wanting to get into it because it's a lifestyle, but I just, I got into horses and I say I never. I never got over it.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, it never got old.

[Michelle]

It really is an addiction.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, it is. It's just. It like there is no me that exists without horses. Like, I've always been Michelle that rides horses. And for me, there's no realm of reality where I don't do this. Like, and it's so simple. Like, to me, it's like, it's just. That's just what I do. That's just what I do.

[Michelle]

And I guess I'm coming at it from a different angle because I didn't grow up in it and now I'm so obsessed with it and I almost feel this, like, I don't know, I have a little bit of an obstacle to overcome because when you're not born into it, number one, it's like, hard to.

[Michelle's Friend]

Hard.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Like, you don't really know where to begin.

[Michelle's Friend]

Well, and there's just like, there's so, you know, there is so much information and it's really overwhelming. And the hard thing about horse people is that everyone is really set in their way. It's like, this is the way I do It. And you're like, but I learned it differently over there. And it's like, well, that's wrong. And it gets really overwhelming because you're like, oh, my God, I'm doing it wrong and I'm going to do something. And I learned a long time ago, and I learned that from my dad because I had such access to professionals and people, just horse people. My whole life has been horse people. And he would be like, you know, you can learn something from everyone. You don't have to necessarily take it with you. But there's a million ways to get. I tell you all the time, you're like, is this right? And I'm like, sure, sure. Like, try it. You know what I mean? What's the worst that's going to happen? Like, it's. It's simply a. It's a lifestyle of trial and error.

[Michelle]

But it's the same thing with wellness.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes, it is. It's. It's the same thing with life. There is a million ways to do everything. And. And you just kind of have to get confidence in doing it and. And also having confidence in doing it wrong, period.

[Michelle]

And just trying it. It's better to go and do it. And, like, I mean, remember the first time I went to ride Red by myself and you weren't there and I was like, tacking up the western saddle alone, watching your freaking video. You made me like, five times calling you like, oh, my God, this. The cinch is too. Whatever, whatever. But, like, if you make a mistake, it's fine. And honestly, it's probably better because you're going to learn never to do it again.

[Michelle's Friend]

Literally. Just fix it. And. And, dude. And the. That is such a thing. That was such a thing for me as a kid would be like, I would do something, it would lead to ultimate failure, and my dad would, like, look at me, and I'd be like, what the heck, dude? Like, why didn't you tell me? And he'd be like, had to figure it out.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, that is truly the only way you learn.

[Michelle]

If your saddle falls off sideways, you're never doing it again.

[Michelle's Friend]

Exactly. And I. I have experiences like that all the time. I did something like two weeks ago with my horse that I was like, okay, check. Never doing that one again. I think I almost just died.

[Michelle]

Wait, when the bird flipped over backwards?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

What do you mean? When you were at the barrel race?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I was at the bar race. And it was just like, chaos. It was like pure chaos.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I was in tears.

[Michelle]

Oh, yeah. And that lady was Mean to you?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I get taken back sometimes. And I was like, all right.

[Michelle]

That's the other thing that people don't realize crazy horse people are. And that's the reason I feel like you and I click. Because you're the first person, honestly, in the horse world that I'm like, oh, this girl's relatively normal.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. No, and I spend a lot of time doing that too. Like, I feel like I'm deeply, deeply rooted in reality and I spend a lot of time being like, what's going on? What is happening here? And I honestly think it's because I, I stepped away. I never stepped away from horses. But I went from like growing up rural life was all about rodeo to I'm going to move to San Francisco and work in tech now. And like, it, it just flipped a switch on me and like, life is not that serious.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Wait, talk about that.

[Michelle]

Because guys, Michelle was working at a tech company, if you don't mind me saying, like making like a really high salary, living a city life.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And then completely packed up and moved to Decatur, Texas. Like what? Talk about that.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. So I. Okay, so I grew up like really rural and. And honestly, I always wanted to live in a city. Like I would say that I was like, I want to live in a city. And you know, at the end of high school, I was burnt on like rodeo. I wasn't burnt on the animal, I've never been burnt on horses, but I was really burnt on the competitive nature of things. And I had had some really cool experiences in high school with like speaking at TEDx events and TED events and like normal side quests for me, but like, really cool experience. And I kind of decided that I wanted to work in the tech industry because I was like, there's a lot of money to be made there, like full transparency. I was like, that sounds like an avenue to buying a nice horse. Like, I'm going to go off and do that. And so I did that. After high school, I like moved to San Francisco and I worked in the tech industry in medtech actually and had like kind of this entire career. And I think ultimately it won. It solidified that the lifestyle that I enjoy is one is the one that I live now of just being with animals and being far away from town and having nothing but an all steps available to me in a Walmart 30 minutes away. But it was almost like I just needed to do it, to try it. Because what is life if you just live the same day over and over again? And that's kind of what rodeoing in college would have been for me is like. And not to speak down on anybody that did it, but like it was like I never would have met any new people. I never would have gotten like a better grip on reality and on and on what's important. And I think I would be just as insane as other horse people.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Because.

[Michelle]

Because your whole life is about.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's just the whole thing is like. And don't get me wrong, my whole life is horses. But also like they'll always be there. It's never going to go away if I take a week off to go gallivant somewhere. You know what I mean?

[Michelle]

And I also feel like you have a different mindset with everything I notice because you have this like business mentality. You almost with your content and your horse life, I feel like you have this like discipline and drive.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

That I don't see with other people.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. And I honestly like that for me, I think one, I've always been kind of like high achiever esque. Not something that I've achieved high. But you know, I've always kind of wanted to do something different. And I think, you know, with the horse industry, I don't, you know, there's certain individuals like Fallon Taylor. Right. Who have made this a business. She's business woman.

[Michelle]

Tell everyone who that is because they're not going to know.

[Michelle's Friend]

Fallon Taylor is a, she's a professional barrel racer. That's, that's her occupation. But she's also the like the founder and CEO of Tactical and Ranch Dressing, which are two companies. One is an apparel company and one's a tech company in the western world. And honestly she was kind of the first horse influencer. Like she really did walk so that the rest of us could run and she, she had to walk through like fire nails and broken glass. And she made it a business. And that is what a lot of people don't do. They never break that point of. It's not just about horses.

[Michelle]

It is.

[Michelle's Friend]

Everything about it is so monetizable, especially in today's day and age. Right. Everybody's. Everybody loves cowboys.

[Michelle]

Guys, the jeans that you are always asking me what brand they are. They're raunch dressing.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yep. Right.

[Michelle]

That's how you say it. They're like the low rise denim. I always ride in there.

[Michelle's Friend]

Super comfortable, really flattering. Don't rip obsessed. Yeah.

[Michelle]

And I order all my stuff from tac and accessible. This is, this is a plug.

[Michelle's Friend]

Is this sponsored and accessible? You know, Fallon's been an incredible friend to me. She's a lot of help to me with my horses and she's also like extremely supportive of me and the path which I'm going down, which is kind of hard for a lot of people to wrap their heads around. I think.

[Mari Llewellyn]

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[Michelle]

And also I think there's not a lot of money in horses which people don't realize.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Like it's, it's insane. I think like the. There's a lot of money circulating. There's not a lot of money profiting. It's not very. There's not a lot of liquidity happening in these parts. Me, myself and I. Liquidity low. Yeah. It's literally. It's in the name people. But you know, there's just like with anything. Horses right now actually reminds me of like what's surfing looked like 15 years ago? What, what? BMX and, and skateboarding and even tennis. Tennis has seen the same revolution, which ultimately is just the corporatization of the sport, which I think a lot of people are struggling with. But unfortunately, if anybody ever wants to make a dollar, we have. We have to begin to go far past the animal and, and at the end of the day, it's an entertainment sport.

[Michelle]

Do you think the amount of interest in horses is going down?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes.

[Michelle]

Like in Western and English.

[Michelle's Friend]

Just in general. It is literally. Research has shown that. Yes. While media interest is like the aesthetic of it skyrocketed.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

The actual performance data of horse showing and all those things is down. And that's one from an accessibility standpoint. Because who, who, who can afford. Right.

[Michelle]

Who can afford.

[Michelle's Friend]

Who can do the longevity of this game. And that is where I come back with. But from a media standpoint, from a cultural standpoint.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Massive uptick.

[Michelle]

I also feel like how you were saying, horse people can be really stuck in their ways. I feel that way about the marketing of it.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes.

[Michelle]

Because even me trying to find a barn to board red at was impossible.

[Michelle's Friend]

Everything is, is a handshake. Everything. Family. I mean, even from a corporate standpoint, you know, I have a. I have a big following. Right. I've got a big following. I've got really solid analytics. I can name 20 companies that would say they won't touch me with a 10 foot pole because of my username.

[Michelle]

Bloom works with you, babe.

[Michelle's Friend]

Dude. And, and that's how we know we're going in the right direction, period. It's. You know what I mean? That's, that's the problem. Right. Is companies like you are going to be able to come into our world and like have an impact and.

[Michelle]

But it's been tricky.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's hard.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

They don't make it easy. Nothing about this world is easy. You got to know somebody's cousin all the time.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And so it just, it flounders. Literally, it flounders. And it happens all the time. These projects pop up and it's going to be the next big thing. And somebody's father puts in $20 million for their son to start a company, and they print a bunch of T shirts and baseball caps and pass them out at rodeos. And then three years later, what happened? Nothing.

[Michelle]

This is, like, so funny to me because now that I'm so obsessed with it, I just am. Like, I want more. Yeah. Like, why are. Why aren't people where.

[Michelle's Friend]

Let's provide. And it's, It's. It's very interesting to me that. That an area inundated with such wealth.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Provided by people that have done great things is simultaneously inundated with a bunch of mediocrity. Like, and that's harsh for some people, but, like, facts don't lie.

[Michelle]

This is what I meant. I'm so excited about this episode. You're going to make people upset.

[Michelle's Friend]

Reality says the horse.

[Michelle]

People are going to listen to be like, oh, my God.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, no, wait.

[Michelle]

Okay, so back to people listening who maybe want to, like, get into writing. Where do they even begin?

[Michelle's Friend]

Okay, so I have opinions on this. Okay. I truly believe, and this is coming from a barrel racer, that the best foundation you can gather in a swift introduction to horses, but please don't stick around. Is that English lesson Barnes. I really do feel that way.

[Michelle]

That's what I did.

[Michelle's Friend]

I think that lesson barns truly are, like, the backbone of equestrian sport because, sorry, some poor woman out there needs to get all these children interested in it and needs to get them off on a good foot. A lot of adults, I think they're scared to, like, oh, I'm going to, like, go learn with a bunch of kids. Dude, everybody has to learn at some point. Like, it's just got to happen. And so I really do urge people to, like, take, like, dude, my dad was a lesson sky. Like, a lot of my philosophy on learning how to ride comes from my father, because I was really lucky that my father wanted everything, everyone to ride. Like, he was the kind of guy that was buying lessons for my friends to go get on a lesson horse because he knew that riding horses isn't about riding horses. That's not, like, that's not what this is. It's not. It's not about that. It's about everything else that encompasses it and what it teaches you and what it can provide you. And so I urge people, I'm like, go take lessons for two years. Like, figure out if this is something that you like. And, you know, it's hard to get educated. But I always tell people, the moment you Feel like you're being taken advantage of. Run. Like, you know, just because you don't know anything about horses doesn't mean you don't know anything about not getting taken advantage of. You know what it feels like to have your money stolen? Everybody does. You're like, wait a minute, am I being robbed? And I think also people are really afraid to establish relationships with people that have experience. I mean, that was kind of the foundation of our relationship was like, you just kind of asked me some questions and I'm like, yeah, I'll answer your questions. Like, I don't have a chip on my shoulder here. Like, at one point I didn't know anything.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, we're always learning. So I tell people, go, go find a lesson barn. Don't dump a bunch of money into it. Don't go buy a young horse. Don't. Don't go do crazy things. Take it, simmer. Make your mistakes. We're all going to do it. I bought horses I shouldn't have bought. And, you know, and then like, you hit your two year mark where I'm like, all right, you're western. Now do western, but time to do it by yourself.

[Michelle]

Totally. And I was so reliant on other people. That's the thing. So, like, for context, guys, I started writing two to three years ago now, and I kind of went off the deep end. I wasn't even at a lesson barn. I was at like a private showing facility.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, you went hardcore.

[Michelle]

I went hardcore. But, like, I'm kind of glad I did that, honestly, because I was riding so much.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes.

[Michelle]

I leased a horse named Coet. She hated me. I hated her. But she taught me a lot. Yeah, we did not vibe. She. She was kind of a. She was a Mayor May. Anyway, so I was learning on Coet and I would go down there, like, I mean, it was an hour away from me. Plus. And I would drive down there three, four times a week. I was obsessed. So within a couple months, I was like, I'm buying a horse.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And my mistake. Obsessed with what color it was.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, dude.

[Michelle]

Big beginner mistake.

[Michelle's Friend]

Big beginner, dude. Beginners. The other thing too is like, beginners are like, I want something, you know, cute and, like, pretty and, like, young. Because, like, I don't want it to get old. No. Okay. Here's what you need to do when you're a beginner. Go find the oldest. Been there, done that. Slowest. Like, I didn't have. Honestly, I didn't have a fancy horse until I was an adult.

[Michelle]

I think that's reasonable.

[Michelle's Friend]

I never had a fancy horse. Most of my horses, you know, were older. Had been there, done that. Like the best, the greatest horse I probably have ever owned in. In what they taught me was that maricoco.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

1200 pony. I mean, literally bought off the side of the road type of deal and was not fancy. She's a Welsh quarter horse pony. But she allowed me to gain education on my own time and I mean, I did have a lot of success on her. But all of the best horses I ever owned were kind of like older. Yeah, been there, done that. Not fancy to look at, but they taught me so much. Yeah, so much. And now that I'm in a position where I finally, for the first time in my life, I have nice horses.

[Michelle]

And I kind of wish. I mean, Beau was incredible and I was obsessed with him and we did a lot together. Like I won ribbons on him, which was like my childhood dream. And he was awesome. But like, in retrospect, I mean, I. I learned to jump on him. I think I learned a lot of the basics. He was probably too nice to begin with.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And then also very injured, which I didn't know happens.

[Michelle's Friend]

We all get a lemon.

[Michelle]

But I think you're right. I think lesson born just like look for local lessons near you get the basics down. And I would also, like, I reached a point where I got. And maybe we're going too far off the deep end with horses here, but for anyone who's still here, they're probably a horse person. So I probably went a little too. Like when I was doing English, like close to the end where I was calling you, like cryingly being gone. I was so obsessed with like being good and like, I need to get better. I need to. Like, I was just so obsessed with that that it's sucked the joy out of it for me. And I was like, wait, I'm doing this for fun and I hate it.

[Michelle's Friend]

Y.

[Michelle]

You know. And then it got sketchy cuz he was bucking and whatever. But like, besides the point, I was like, they. They make it feel like you have to show to even be riding.

[Michelle's Friend]

And it's like, no, literally not the case. I say all the time if. If I reached a crossroads where somebody was like, hey, listen, you may never show a horse again, I'd be like, okay, yeah. And I say that all the time with people on horses. And again, that was another thing that my dad deeply ingrained in me. He was like, you're not having fun? What are we doing here?

[Michelle]

Like, you have A really good attitude around it. I feel like it has to be fun. Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And what is the point? You know? And I always like. And I tell you the same thing, and I. And I tell myself the same thing. Sometimes I'll get a little bit like, you know, and it's like, dude, there are a million girls who literally would do anything to take one lesson a week.

[Michelle]

No, that makes me cry.

[Michelle's Friend]

Walking around on an old, broke down horse.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I've got to spend my entire life with the creature. I have nothing to complain about, ever.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, I could hit all three cans. And you're probably gonna see me laugh.

[Michelle]

About it because that's a barrel racing joke, guys.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, yeah. Sometimes when we're running around them, I have a. You're supposed to go around them. But I like to go through them oftentimes.

[Michelle]

You know what? I. Okay. Not that I'm. The one time I freaking barrel raced it. That. That whatever we were at, I hit my leg on one of them and I had a bruise for months.

[Michelle's Friend]

I literally have scars because I'm good at going through them. But. But it's like, for what? Yeah, Life's too short, guys.

[Michelle]

I. The horse I have now, I literally just go, great, and I go around the ring a few times and then I go on a trail ride, and I am ecstatic.

[Michelle's Friend]

He was a great purchase. And, like. And he is. He is the, like, personification of the tried and true horse that, like, every nervous Amy needs. Like. And you didn't need to go spend $3 million on him. He was like. He was accessible. And, you know, yeah, maybe you're not gonna go, like, win the 1D on him, but it's not about that. It's about graduating to the next. To the next level. Like, you can't get there until you're ready to get there.

[Michelle]

And he's just nice.

[Michelle's Friend]

He's just a nice guy. Like, nice dude. I was gonna keep him if you didn't want him. I was gonna be like, he's mine now.

[Michelle]

Okay. But question, like, when I'm super pregnant, should I send him to your house?

[Michelle's Friend]

Back in my house.

[Michelle]

Okay. Because I don't know what I'm.

[Michelle's Friend]

You can take a gander with me.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

You've seen how mine live.

[Michelle]

Yeah. He loved it up there.

[Michelle's Friend]

They got potions.

[Michelle]

Oh, my God. He's gonna see Bam. Bam.

[Michelle's Friend]

And be like, my girl.

[Michelle]

My girl. That was sad when she left.

[Michelle's Friend]

That was actually sad. It was kind of traumatizing. I was like, she has that impact on horses.

[Michelle]

I know. She's so stunning.

[Michelle's Friend]

They're obsessed with her. She's a narcissist.

[Michelle]

Yeah. She's blonde. She's depressed.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michelle]

She's all of us.

[Mari Llewellyn]

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[Michelle]

I feel like with the order I.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Take my supplements, I have certain ones that I need to take morning, lunch and night and this really helps me remember everything and take it at the right time. I feel like we're all taking different things for different reasons and SOPCO can be the perfect tool to help you sort through what you really should be taking, what you shouldn't, and the order you should be taking it. And I also feel like consistency is so key with this kind of thing, so it's really important to stay on top of it. You can also find the best possible products in any nutrient category with A filter, trust score, price, serving and pill type. It's like a kayak. Four supplements, which I think is so incredible. They will even send you reminders to take your supplements. You can stay on track and never miss a dose. Subco is currently in beta and users can get 100% free access by going to Sup Co Power. Sup Co Power. Podcast listeners will also get early access to SupCo's founding membership when it launches in early 2025.

[Michelle]

Okay, question. Also, people ask me all the time, like, how to get over a lot of horse. People ask how to get over a bad fall miles. Just get back on.

[Michelle's Friend]

Get back on. I, unfortunately, I got nothing else for people. People be like, I'm scared. I'm like, do it more.

[Michelle]

No, literally, do it more literally.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, I even had that, like, when I bought Bird, my maturity horse, who is a lot of. She's a lot of animal. She's a very, very nice animal and very fortunate to have her. She scares the hell out of me.

[Michelle]

She scares me.

[Michelle's Friend]

She scares everybody. She scares a lot of people. I would never get misunderstood.

[Michelle]

I could never.

[Michelle's Friend]

She's misunderstood and she has a good heart and she has a solid mind and luckily she's really good when you run her. But everywhere else, you. You better like, dude, I pucker. Like, I'm scared when I'm on that horse. And. And genuinely, it comes down to every week when I'm like, I'm getting nauseous on a Sunday thinking about the barrel races I'm going to. I'm like, I just gotta go.

[Michelle]

Good mentality. I mean, even with Red, who literally is never gonna do anything wrong, I get a little anxious if I. If I take a week off, I feel differently about riding. If I go every day, I'm sort of unfazed by it.

[Michelle's Friend]

No. And, like, that's one thing that Fallon has told me a lot about that mayor. Like, I'll send her a video and. And, you know, it'll be good. Like, it's coming together. And she's like, good, go again. Yeah, good, go again. And my dad had the same mentality. Like, yeah, he'd be like, oh, you're scared of that? Guess we should go do it 17 times.

[Michelle]

Dude, that's life, though, isn't it?

[Michelle's Friend]

It is. It's like, you literally, like. And like, this is so silly. But it was something that my dad used to always say, and it's not like he was saying anything, you know, divine, but he would always, like, he would go. He would just be like, rock and roll. Like any with anything in life. I would be scared or whatever and. And he'd be like, rock and roll. And like it was like, do it anyway. Do it anyway.

[Michelle]

That was my whole fitness journey every single day.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Do it anyway.

[Michelle]

Literally. Do it anyway.

[Michelle's Friend]

Tired. Do it anyway. Scared.

[Michelle]

Showing up.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. That's all you can do.

[Michelle]

So you do CrossFit?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Tell us about the CrossFit journey.

[Michelle's Friend]

So I was adamantly against CrossFit. I only got into CrossFit because I have a thing where I will not go to corporate gyms. I like to go like family owned.

[Michelle]

Okay.

[Michelle's Friend]

Establishments. I got a weird thing about it. I don't know why.

[Michelle]

I just like, I get that I.

[Michelle's Friend]

Got a weird thing and like the.

[Michelle]

Gym in my basement.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes, exactly. Family owned.

[Michelle]

Family owned.

[Michelle's Friend]

And so. Okay, so essentially how this all happened was like three years ago I had one. I've been heavy my entire life. Like jeans are not genin. My entire family is. Has issues with their weight. And I was. I always had a good manage on it. You know, I was pretty athletic and then got into my 20s and I kind of just kept getting heavier and heavy, heavier and heavier. And then in 2020, I. We're not going to get into the story, but I broke both my legs at the same time. Not. Yeah, it was not my best work. I was not riding a horse. It was crazy.

[Michelle]

Michelle, you've never told me that.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, I didn't.

[Michelle]

No, no, that's.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. No, dude, I broke both my legs in 2020. Rock climbing. Like side quest? Yeah, side quest.

[Michelle]

Major side quest.

[Michelle's Friend]

Side quest. And I like didn't walk for like eight months. And. Okay, end of the story. I got up to like like £250. Like that was my weight. Red dick, you're way taller than me.

[Michelle]

I'm 5 10.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Okay. I'm down 7 inches below. Like there we got different breezes.

[Michelle]

I would love to see a side by side photo of the difference.

[Michelle's Friend]

What's sad is sometimes I'm like. I'm like, dang it, I look the same, but I know I don't. But you know what?

[Michelle]

You don't.

[Michelle's Friend]

But anyway, so I got up to being way too heavy and ultimately it. It wasn't even like looking in the mirror that did me in. It was that I couldn't ride my horse worth a crap.

[Michelle]

Yeah, I couldn't ride.

[Michelle's Friend]

I mean this period point Blake, I couldn't ride the same. And I was like, you gotta do something. Like this is not cool, dude. Like you're not Doing your animal any justice, you're not doing yourself any justice. Like, you're a talented rider and simply put, you're not showing it. So I got into powerlifting because, like, straight up, I just found a gym on the street, walked in, and for the first time in my life, I enjoyed the environment. And also for the first time in my life, I was like, oh, I'm strong.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, I didn't have to be fast. I didn't have to be super, like agile. I didn't have to be super coordinated. I was just like, I started picking stuff up and people were like, oh, you're good at that.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

So I got into powerlifting and then I moved and I moved to this new town and I only had one powerlifting gym. And it was a like a non drug tested gym. And I was like, oh, like that. It was like, it was a lot of like, they like, were wearing shirts that said like cocaine, hookers and you know what I mean? Like, I was like, I got really nervous and so I look up like the next thing and I find a CrossFit gym. And I'm like, oh, no. And the thing lore, I'm from Aromas, California, which is where the first CrossFit gym was. So I was like, adamantly against CrossFit. I was like, I shall not. I shall not. I go to CrossFit. So embarrassing. I've been working out for a year at this point. I had lost like maybe 15 pounds that year. Not bad. But I was still heavy. I mean, I was. I walked into CrossFit weighing like 235 pounds. First day I got around 400 meters.

[Michelle]

Can't they make you run and CrossFit?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, like, you do a little sprint. It's like short term, you know? Yeah, it's short sprints. And I was like, ooh, I hate this place. I literally was like, this is horrendous. Like, I remember we used to have to. We would have to drive. Drive. We would have to run to this garbage can. And I. Damn, I couldn't do it. And I still, don't get me wrong, I'm. I'm too almost three years deep on CrossFit now and I still can't run for crap. But what I learned was I'm strong.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I can move under a barbell. And it was like empowering because finally, like, being short and stocky in nature was like, nice. That's super cool. And I could scale everything and I could yap and make friends and I just got really into it. And then I just started, like, losing weight and losing weight and losing weight and losing weight without making literally many changes that the changes I made to lose weight. Honestly, I stopped drinking soda. I stopped drinking lattes every day. And I started going to CrossFit sick.

[Michelle]

Advice. Three things.

[Michelle's Friend]

Three things.

[Michelle]

The lattes is tea.

[Michelle's Friend]

Three easy things. Stop drinking whole milk every day in your coffee. Stop drinking a Coca cola three days a week with dinner. Go run around for an hour with a bunch of big people, jacked up people in little shorts. And I'm just now getting into the little shorts.

[Michelle]

I see you in the little shorts.

[Michelle's Friend]

Well, you know, I came to Texas and I only had leggings because I've been adamantly against shorts my entire life. I'm not a shorts girl. Like a denim shorts in me.

[Michelle]

Yeah, But I feel like you have great legs, dude.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, people say that, and then I see and I'm like, I don't know how I feel about this, but it's too. It's too hot in Texas. I thought I was gonna die. And somebody said, you need to buy a pair of shorts. And I said, I will be. I will die before I buy shorts. And then I literally. I had to lay on the floor at the gym one day in the bathroom because I was like, oh, my. Like, this is it. This is it for me.

[Michelle]

I will die.

[Michelle's Friend]

I died at a CrossFit gym. Great local tick tock star dies at CrossFit gym. You know what I mean? And I bought shorts and. And now I'm a short. I'm. I got like eight pairs of those black Lululemon bike shorts.

[Michelle]

That's progress. I freaking love that.

[Michelle's Friend]

And now I'm like, you know what?

[Michelle]

Who cares?

[Michelle's Friend]

Who cares?

[Michelle]

But you've lost, like 50 plus pounds.

[Michelle's Friend]

I've lost 50 pounds. Like, 55.

[Michelle]

And how do you feel?

[Michelle's Friend]

Like I can walk up a hill.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Honestly, that was my thing, too.

[Michelle's Friend]

About it is like, the weight loss isn't even about, you know, aesthetics, aesthetic. Like. Like, you know, I still struggle with. I'm like, I look in the mirror and I'm like, I look the same as I did three years ago. You know what I mean? Like, I realize that's not the reality, but I also, I think I struggle with. Online, I get called fat, like, at least seven times a day.

[Michelle]

Really?

[Michelle's Friend]

You know what I mean? Oh, my God, dude. If they're not calling me fat because they don't like me, they're calling me fat in a, like, relatable way. But it hurts my feelings. You Know what I mean? Like, people will be like, you give me so much. Like, as a big girl, you give me so much confidence to go outside. And I'm like, don't tell me that. Should I be nervous? You know what I mean?

[Michelle]

Leave my house.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Oh, no.

[Michelle]

That was like, me with my acne.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, why do I need the confidence to exist? That's crazy. Nobody even care. Nobody even cares what I look like at the end of the day. You know what I mean? Yeah, but, dude, I, like, I'll catch myself. I don't even know. I'll, like, be. I was in Yosemite recently, and I was just, like, walking up a trail, and I was like, wait a minute.

[Michelle]

Here I am.

[Michelle's Friend]

Here I am. I'm enjoying the outside. I'm beating obesity. And, like, that's my favorite thing.

[Michelle]

Guys. Michelle does these vlogs where she does time stamps of a. Step by step of her day and 9am Fighting obesity is my favorite thing, but also, it keeps coming back every day, 6pm Fighting obesity.

[Michelle's Friend]

Fighting obesity. At any point of the day, I am fighting obesity.

[Michelle]

I guess. Me too.

[Michelle's Friend]

Every single day and everything that I do.

[Michelle]

Can I put that in my vlog?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. I'm not trademarking that.

[Michelle]

Are people gonna cancel me?

[Michelle's Friend]

People can have that. Fight obesity. People don't know that you would get canceled. I have set my career up to where I can get away with saying things because people know I don't care.

[Michelle]

You could literally say anything.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, and I tell that to people on social media all the time. They're like, I'm so afraid of getting canceled. I'm like, just make it known from the beginning that, like.

[Michelle]

Like, Tana Mongeau.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Like, what do you. Like, what am I saying that's that bad?

[Michelle]

No, you're not saying anything.

[Michelle's Friend]

I believe in many things and all good things. I also believe in fighting obesity, and I'm sorry if that hurts somebody's feelings, but I'm in the. I'm in the civil war against obesity.

[Michelle]

This is the clip.

[Michelle's Friend]

And even if it's just me there.

[Michelle]

This is me on. This is going to be the Instagram clip.

[Michelle's Friend]

You know what I mean? I'm wielding the sword against obesity. Well, join me if you want.

[Michelle]

First of all, you've made so much progress, and I, like, lived at your house, and you eat really clean, and it's, like, a big part of your life. And you're also lifting and throwing hay and trailering, and you're active all day long, so you've made so much progress. You look great, you're feeling great. But I also appreciate that you're down to talk about it because I think a lot of people like dance around the subject and don't want to be straight up about it and they don't want to be like, people don't want to say stop drinking soda because it's going to trigger someone.

[Michelle's Friend]

You know, I like recently put some stuff on my Instagram story and I'll say, you know this. I have been passionate about fitness for the last few years. I got more passionate on a very personal level this year because my dad died and he was 59 years old and I love him, but I'm extremely mad at him because at the end of the day, my dad died because he didn't eat well. He, he consumed too much alcohol and he didn't consult medical professionals enough and he died at 59 years old. And I'm sorry, but that's, that's a croc. Like, that's baloney. I'm sorry. I was robbed. He left me here all alone with all these people and nobody to call and he's not here and, and I was like, okay. You know, and here's the thing. I am all about body positivity. I. That was literally what started my career was talking about body positivity when I was 15 years old. And I love myself now. I appreciate who I was at £250. I'll appreciate who I am in another £30. It's not about that. It's about appreciating myself enough to know that I want to live a long time and that I don't want my 25 year old daughter to wake up one day in January and get a call, hey, yeah, your dad died. Oh, cool. That just ruined my life a little bit. Thanks, Manuel. For things that are simple changes. And you know, I made like this slide on my Instagram story recently because I get a lot of questions about weight loss because I post about it because it's part of my life, but I also don't try to like shove it down people's throats. And I don't talk a lot about what I eat and this and that. Because honestly, it's simple. I started eating less and shopping on the outside of the grocery store. I haven't gone down a cracker aisle in three years. You know what I like?

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And don't get me wrong, nobody loves a bag of talkies more than me. Like, I'll appreciate the little things in life at times. And me and Red die. 40 will get along, you know, once a month. But it's very simple what I did. And I made a story and I was just like, listen, I get a lot of questions about what I did. Here's what I did. I started moving more, consuming less calories, period.

[Michelle]

What did people say?

[Michelle's Friend]

Most of it was? Yes. That is science. That is science. You do that, you lose. And then there was a couple of people, because you know me, I'm extremely point blank period about stuff. Sorry, no ifs, ands, or buts. That's kind of how it's done. And trust me, it takes me a lot to lose a pound. I think if any of my friends worked out as much as I did, eat as well as I do, they would have lost a lot more weight than me by now. And I can gain a pound like that. I mean, I look at his snickers and it's like, okay, seven pounds, but that just means I have to be more rigid.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I got responses that were like, you know, lots of people, you know, I tried this and it didn't work. Well, how long did you try it for? Because I'm three years deep. I'm probably got another three years. I'm moving real slow with this. But I'll tell you what, I've never gained a pound back.

[Michelle]

No. I think that's so fair to say it. Do you know Dr. Tina Moore?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

She came on my show.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

She was talking about the genetic component of weight.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And how there's trauma tied into it. Genetics, hormones. Like, there's reasons that people. And I won't lie. When I lost weight, I mean, I lost weight naturally. I didn't have.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Big or whatever. And when it. When I first started hearing about it, I was super against it. And I also never understood, like, how could someone not. Because I lose weight relatively easily.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Like, if I decide I want to do it, it just kind of happens. And I. I don't have obesity in my family.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

So for me, it was difficult to understand. But now I've had so many experts on the show. I get like, there's people who physically, like, cannot.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Like Fee.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. I will say there was an aspect. And this is like the last £15 that I've lost. I had to, like, literally cut some crap in my life.

[Michelle]

Like, trauma.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Like, dude, I won't talk about it online ever. But, like, the things I have experienced, I could write a book, I could get a lot of views. But I respect myself. I respect myself more than airing out all of my dirty Laundry. But I cut out a lot of crap this year because I took a very deep dive. Look at my life, which is something I do every couple years. I'm like, okay, hold on, we gotta fix some stuff. I lost £15, and it simply was, like, crazy. Let me remove a few things from my life that are weighing me down. And so I do definitely think there's an aspect to that. And I think that's why, like, a wellness journey is all encompassing.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

You can't just do one thing and expect everything.

[Michelle]

You can't eat amazing and exercise every day, but have toxic relationships in your life and expect anything to happen.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes.

[Michelle]

100%.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's like, you gotta. But that's, like the. Whatever. That's like the evolution of being an individual. Right. You just gotta, like, constantly, constantly be working, constantly be changing. Right. This is everything that everybody knows.

[Michelle]

But I like that you brought. I mean, with your dad. Sounds like he was a super special guy from everything you said at the beginning.

[Michelle's Friend]

Fantastic person.

[Michelle]

And your wiener dog is named Manny.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes, I named my wiener dog after my dead father.

[Michelle]

We love Manny.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes. She's an icon.

[Michelle]

She. Sorry, did I call him he?

[Michelle's Friend]

No.

[Michelle]

Did I call her he?

[Michelle's Friend]

No.

[Michelle]

I tend to do that, though, because I think of her. I think of her as, like, my dad. Your dad?

[Michelle's Friend]

She is the personification of my father. Yes.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Reincarnated.

[Michelle]

She stayed at my house. She's amazing.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

But I love that you bring up the, like, your family history for anyone listening who maybe has had that in their family. Like, my family has diabetes, type 1. There's. Everyone has stuff.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes.

[Michelle]

That is such a good reason to take care of yourself.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Like, such a great. I mean, not great, awful. And a huge learning lesson. I know you've, like, put a lot of work into, like, grief and talking about it.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. It's just like, what am I to do but to get better? You know what I mean? Like, I. I said this a lot. Like, I. I felt really fortunate that, you know, I had a really good dad. Like, dude, I did. Like, I think the world would be such a better place if more fathers loved their daughters the way that my dad loved me. But, you know, when he died, there was, like, never really a moment for me where I was like, what am I gonna do? You know what I mean? Like, he died, and I was like, okay, this is horrific, and I hate him and I hate this, and everything's horrible. But it never was, like, what am I going to do without my dad? It was kind of like, okay, we Keep on keeping on. And, you know, there was, like, a moment and a lot of people talk about this in grief, where I was like, I'm never gonna laugh again. I'm never gonna this again. I'm never gonna. That's again. And then I was like, dude, you haven't even scratched the surface. And, like, what an absolute disappointment it would be if you, like, gave up now. And I do think it's funny. Literally, the day after my dad died, I was in the gym. No, dude, I went across it. Everybody was looking at me like, what are you doing here? And I was like, I gotta move.

[Michelle]

Were you crying?

[Michelle's Friend]

No, you know, I was pretty, you know, shell shocked. Dude. My grief has been me crying in the car and in the shower, you know, and writing and writing a lot and writing and writing things down. And, I mean, at the end of the day, I think I've really accepted it.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

You know, I think the way in which my father lived was a grand lesson on people to live because I. My dad died at 59. Totally unfair. I don't feel like my dad missed. Missed much because he lived well.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

You know, he. He spent time with his family, he went on trips. He did the things he enjoyed. He was kind to others. I mean, my dad's funeral was huge. Couldn't even fit everybody in the building. And so that allowed me to grieve in a way where it's like, you know, yeah, I'm sad for what my father will miss. But he lived well, and he had. He had a divine impact on his community. I mean, he's not world renowned and he never made a million dollars, but I think he had more impact than a lot of people that we know. Yeah. And so it was kind of like, okay, did that check. Had a great father, learned some lessons on health, and now I move forward. And I mean, what. What am I gonna do? And that's, you know, how that. That's why I feel about life in general.

[Michelle]

Yeah, no, it's.

[Michelle's Friend]

What am I gonna do?

[Michelle]

It's great advice. And also, like, I don't know personally, but I've had a few people on the show who have experienced similar things. And I know everyone grieves super differently, and it comes in waves and things change and whatever, but as long as you're, like, bettering yourself and showing up every day, I mean, from what I see, from what you do every day, you're, like, constantly just chipping away.

[Michelle's Friend]

Well, and I honestly think I've shown up more this year than I ever have because of losing my dad.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I keep saying, like, there's a lot of gratitude to be found in grief because I'm extremely happy with the point where my life is right now. I've got a beautiful home. I've got very nice horses. I have really good friends. Like, really, really good friends.

[Michelle]

Shout out, Gail.

[Michelle's Friend]

Shout out, Gail. Shout out to all my friends. Like, I have such a solid friend group because I think I'm pretty good at, like, with people. And I feel appreciated. And I just, like, I'm happy.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And none of it would have come to fruition if my dad hadn't died.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

I think I would be still living in a very unhappy revolving door.

[Michelle]

It almost, like, kickstarted you doing everything you've always wanted to do.

[Michelle's Friend]

Exactly. I was like, I gotta go.

[Michelle]

I mean, you just got back from Vegas doing a photo shoot for nfr. Can you tell everyone the NFR is, by the way.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh. So the National Finals Rodeo is the best 10 days of the year in Las Vegas. It's the second largest event for the city of Las Vegas. 200,000 cowboys and cowgirls and fans alike show up to watch the top 15 in the world in each event compete for the world title. It's nuts. It's like.

[Michelle]

It's.

[Michelle's Friend]

Dude, it's like New York Fashion Week meets the Super Bowl.

[Michelle]

We're going.

[Michelle's Friend]

Meets Cowboys. Dude, I live in Vegas for two weeks.

[Michelle]

Yeah. She's going to be there the whole time. I'm going. December 14th through 16th. Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Marathon. Not a sprint.

[Michelle]

Yeah, but you're going with Double D.

[Michelle's Friend]

Raunch and Resorts World and Bloom and Bloom Slay.

[Michelle]

So we're gonna go on. We're going on one of the finals, right?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. We're going the final night.

[Michelle]

And I got us pretty good.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, I'm excited.

[Michelle]

Yeah, we got pretty good seats. Like, I'm freaking out about my outfits because.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Okay.

[Michelle]

I know. You told me it's a big deal, and I believed you, like, a little bit.

[Michelle's Friend]

Then you looked.

[Michelle]

Then I started posting my freaking Rainbow fringe jacket on my story. All of my DMS were like, you need a stylist for the nfr.

[Michelle's Friend]

What did I say when you bought the jacket?

[Michelle]

You said you didn't like it.

[Michelle's Friend]

I didn't say I didn't like it. I said I like the other thing more. And it's. And we can work with it. But I got a bolo.

[Michelle]

I got turquoise.

[Michelle's Friend]

You're just.

[Michelle]

I got leather.

[Michelle's Friend]

You're running rogue, which is a thing that you do.

[Michelle]

I got leather pants.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, we're gonna figure it out. It's important.

[Michelle]

No, I know.

[Michelle's Friend]

I personally do believe, though, and this is just me having a big head for 15 seconds. It'll deflate again. I think I'm gonna be, like, the best dressed.

[Michelle]

No. Yeah. And I'm going with you. And I'm gonna look like an idiot.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, because you're tall. When you're tall, you can get away with so much.

[Michelle]

Not true, babe.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, it is. It is. As somebody that exists down there, but.

[Michelle]

You keep sending me links for things that are like $5,000, and I'm like, what budget do you think I have here?

[Michelle's Friend]

Sell more cans. I don't know. I don't know.

[Michelle]

Sell more cans. This cans are selling well. Thank you. I just can't spend $5,000 on a shirt. I know, but, guys, it's wild. So stay tuned for our NFR outfit.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, it's gonna go hard.

[Michelle]

It's gonna go hard, and we're gonna make a lot of content.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I.

[Michelle]

But I need to buy things. Okay, so there's something called Cowboy Christmas.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Dude. Dude, even normal people. I'm telling you, normal people need to go to the nfr. Like, you do not have to, like, rodeo to go to the nfr. It's free concerts all over Vegas. Free country concerts. Every country artist you could ever think of, free, Free. They're roaming around. There's cowboys, which for many people, exciting. And for me, no, so exciting. It's not my thing. I look at them and I go.

[Michelle]

Greg doesn't get jealous in general.

[Michelle's Friend]

Dude. It's not even about that. It's just about knowing the inner. You know, cowboys are not the people we believe that they are.

[Michelle]

But let us enjoy from afar.

[Michelle's Friend]

No. Look at them.

[Michelle]

Look.

[Michelle's Friend]

Look all day, dude. Ain't nothing standing between my eyes and a steer wrestler. You know what I mean? I love a big boy. I. You know, big, big.

[Michelle]

I want you to watch Greg's face when I'm there, because they're big.

[Michelle's Friend]

I mean, it's crazy.

[Michelle]

Remember when I. When I came to Weatherford and I met you there? And that was the one time that Greg was like. So, like, who's going? Like, are there cowboys there?

[Michelle's Friend]

Big men and.

[Michelle]

Guys, this is a freaking joke. Like, I'm obviously not gonna cheat on Greg with a cowboy. No.

[Michelle's Friend]

But, like, they're fun to look at.

[Michelle]

I want Greg to dress like a cowboy.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, we can figure it out.

[Michelle]

Like, you know, he couldn't even get off of red because his jeans were too tight. I had to I had to lift him off.

[Michelle's Friend]

Well, he's also just too big. He's too big, but, you know, he's solid.

[Michelle]

I told you he loved red so much that he wanted not to be a horse.

[Michelle's Friend]

I have a vision.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

You know, I see you riding off in the sunset.

[Michelle]

I found a palomino that's a good age. And I'll have to show you. I sent them a dm, but I forgot to check.

[Michelle's Friend]

Okay.

[Michelle]

You also need to help me register my horse.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I know.

[Michelle]

I don't know how to do it. It's so confusing.

[Michelle's Friend]

This is what I do.

[Michelle]

I have my little card, and I need. I need.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, we'll fill out the paperwork.

[Michelle]

Okay, fine.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's fine. They don't make anything easy. Nothing's digital these days anyway. The NFR is. It's crazy, dude.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like. And also just like, it. Even people, the staff of Las Vegas, like, I talked to them, and they're like, nfr is our favorite time of year because cowboys don't care.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, these people live in. In middle America. For most of the year, they show up to Las Vegas. What's $5,000? Absolutely nothing. I don't know why. I don't know what they do, but they're throwing things down on the table. They're spending money. There's fringe, there's sequins, there's blonde women. It's crazy.

[Michelle]

Wait, do I need sequins?

[Michelle's Friend]

No. I don't see you as a sequin person. I'm not a. Sequins are out. I'm saying it like, if they're sprinkled in, you know, lightly. Okay. I can't get behind a sequin, but when it's, like, pink and it's just too much. You know what I mean? But also, I'm not. I'm not Cowgirl Barbie.

[Michelle]

Yeah, you have your own style. I'm like, I'm going for Bella Hadid. You know that.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I know.

[Michelle]

Well, that's the one pod that I don't have.

[Michelle's Friend]

I do. I don't have that. She's iconic, though.

[Michelle]

Oh, iconic.

[Michelle's Friend]

Iconic.

[Michelle]

Do you think she's doing a lot for the Western world or no?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I do.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

People don't want to admit it, but. Yeah.

[Michelle]

Like, no one knew what cutting was before.

[Michelle's Friend]

Publicity is good publicity.

[Michelle]

I agree. And that's some big publicity.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, Big publicity. Big, big, big, big. But, I mean, you know, it's Taylor Sheridan effect. Yellowstone.

[Michelle]

Where's the freaking first episode? I can't find it.

[Michelle's Friend]

Of what?

[Michelle]

The new season.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, I've never seen Yellowstone.

[Michelle]

That's crazy.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. I've seen, like, clips on Tick Tock.

[Michelle]

Like, it's my life every day. I don't need to watch it.

[Michelle's Friend]

I don't really watch tv.

[Michelle]

Hot take. Do you watch? You watch Tick Tock?

[Michelle's Friend]

I watch Tick Tocks. People would be shocked by the content that I consume.

[Michelle]

Really?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. It's not horses.

[Michelle]

I just consume horses all day.

[Michelle's Friend]

I'm obsessed with women in New York.

[Michelle]

What?

[Michelle's Friend]

Why? With the, like, the clothes and I.

[Michelle]

Feel like it's because it's the cocktails. A completely different. I see. I have no interest in that.

[Michelle's Friend]

I always thought I would, like, live in New York for a year.

[Michelle]

You could still do that.

[Michelle's Friend]

I think I'm in deep on the lifestyle that I've chosen.

[Michelle]

But you could live in Connecticut.

[Michelle's Friend]

I also just get, like, obscure things, you know, I'm kind of, like, pretty weird.

[Michelle]

Oh, yeah, I would agree. We send each other some. Funny.

[Michelle's Friend]

I'm a little hard for people to digest.

[Michelle]

Oh, really?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I. Okay. Like, the thing with me is people either get me.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Or they're like, what's wrong with her?

[Michelle]

Oh, I feel like I get you.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Like, I think you see me. I think people sometimes struggle to see me. And I think I can be a bit abrasive for people, but it's not even necessarily abrasive. I just, like, I struggle to what I perceive as lying.

[Michelle]

Yeah. You have a hard time with that.

[Michelle's Friend]

And I don't get me wrong, I'm never going to use my honesty to be hurtful. But also, like, I just kind of. I say things that I then realize to others that's inappropriate. I'm crying, you know, and it's not even necessarily like saying the F word or the C. Everybody knows I love the C word.

[Michelle]

Yeah. We don't drop that here.

[Michelle's Friend]

I know, I know.

[Michelle]

We don't say cow here.

[Michelle's Friend]

I know, but I do love it.

[Michelle]

Cow. Did I just say cow? I was trying to say, like, I.

[Michelle's Friend]

Came up with a new acronym. Can you not talk?

[Michelle]

Can you not talk? That's good.

[Michelle's Friend]

That's good. But anyway, I think it's a great word that's hard for people. Some people, they write me out and I try not. I don't drop it in Tick tocks, but I do drop it in my stories a lot and in daily life, you know, and it's only offensive if you make it offensive. But I also just say other things that I think this whole footage is.

[Michelle]

Just gonna be me cracking open for an hour.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like when I'LL like, talk about, like, the dead dad. You know what I mean? Like, people are like, oh. And I'm like, you're good.

[Michelle]

They get uncomfortable because it's an uncomfortable topic. But I actually think it's really great that you talk about it.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. And then, you know, I think, like, sometimes conservative women struggle with me, and that's okay. I'm not for everyone.

[Michelle]

I also feel like you don't like a lot of people.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's not necessarily a. Not like for me. It's. I'm.

[Michelle]

Like, remember the event we went to in Weatherford? We can edit this out. We should probably edit it out.

[Michelle's Friend]

Probably. But no, I honestly. Leave it.

[Michelle]

Leave it in.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, I. I'm just. I'm just me, period.

[Michelle]

I want to do a Q A. Yeah. Pull out your phone.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yours are probably better than mine.

[Michelle]

Do you want me to just run it or do you want to go back and forth?

[Michelle's Friend]

Read yours.

[Michelle]

Bye.

[Michelle's Friend]

Bye. How do you have the confidence to go outside?

[Michelle]

That is such an unhinged question. Did she get dumped at the airport one time?

[Michelle's Friend]

Who asked that? That did happen. Oh, Cara.

[Michelle]

I didn't even read it. Oh, you're like, how did you know?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes, I did.

[Michelle]

Great. Who By Who? Like, dumped, as in someone left.

[Michelle's Friend]

Sad as. Yeah. He broke up with me, like, as we were getting on the plane. He was an iOS engineer at Apple.

[Michelle]

Wait, were you sitting together on the plane?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, we were, like, walking onto the plane, and he was like, I actually don't want to go to Hawaii. And I was like, okay, you want to go somewhere else? He was like, no, I'm breaking up with you. And then he left. And I never spoke to him ever.

[Michelle]

He didn't get on the plane.

[Michelle's Friend]

Neither of us got on the plane.

[Michelle]

Oh, that's a really crazy story. Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

It was kind of cool, though.

[Michelle]

Favorite horse supplements.

[Michelle's Friend]

Ooh. Right now I'm on. I'm on an equine elixirs kick. Same hard.

[Michelle]

Does she still have her rodeo queen crown?

[Michelle's Friend]

No, you don't get to keep it. You have to give it back.

[Michelle]

When were you a rodeo Queen?

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, gosh, 2012.

[Michelle]

How many kids has she let fall out of a horse trailer?

[Michelle's Friend]

1.

[Michelle]

What happened?

[Michelle's Friend]

Calgary was like, two years old. This is the thing with children. I didn't understand that they will just.

[Michelle]

I imagine you treating kids how you treat your dogs, which she treats her dogs. Amazing. Like, let's. Let's hold on before anyone's like, no.

[Michelle's Friend]

But I. I let them experience real life. And I'm looking at Calgary and this Kid is looking at me, I'm looking at him, he's two years old and all of a sudden he just falls out of this horse trailer. And she said, why'd you let him fall? I said, why did he jump?

[Michelle]

I'm never leaving my kid with you. Why do my knees hurt whenever I ride horses?

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, that's simple. Just athletics, period. Like, you just gotta do it more. Honestly, it's a, it's a. It's just a muscle and strength thing. It's. You don't use this. That. It is a. Not a normal action on.

[Michelle]

It's also like a weird position.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, it's just a weird. It's a weird position. Like, I don't think people realize how many like muscles that we don't use that you have to use for riding horses.

[Michelle]

Like adductors or unfortunately, you just have.

[Michelle's Friend]

To ride through it.

[Michelle]

Yeah. And it kind of messes your body up a little bit.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, a little bit.

[Michelle]

What's your stance on horse racing?

[Michelle's Friend]

Okay, I have a complicated stance on horse racing. And it's actually not that complicated because this is my stance on most things in life. There are. There are bad people and there are good people. I think that those who are following the rules, who take pride and care in their animals, similar to rodeo livestock. When you can see that behind the scenes, those animals are bred to do it. They're athletes. And as long as you can treat that animal with the respect that it deserves, I wouldn't say, I'm not going to sit here and I'm going to the Kentucky Derby.

[Michelle]

Not your vibe.

[Michelle's Friend]

I might wear a hat. I heard it's expensive, you know, but there's lots of things that I do with horses, barrel racing, that people go, that's abuse. It's not their bread to do it. They enjoy it.

[Michelle]

They do enjoy it, actually.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. I mean, these animals are bred for it.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Every time I bring the barrels out, red is like hype. I can tell.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. It's like when people get a Malinois and then don't let it do Malinois things and then they're like, well, why is this dog crazy? It's bred for sport.

[Michelle]

Yeah. It's not doing the job it wants to do.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

If she wasn't a broke ass horse girl, what else would she be? Broke ass blank girl.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, if I was not a horse girl, I would. If I was not a horse girl, I don't. Oh, gosh, I don't know.

[Michelle]

Tech girl.

[Michelle's Friend]

No. Because I'd probably have more money.

[Michelle]

Rich girl.

[Michelle's Friend]

At that point.

[Michelle]

Oh, right, right.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, I mean, honestly, gosh, what would I do if I wasn't riding horses? I'd be a. I honestly, I have to be completely honest. If I didn't have horses, I would not have the motivation that I do in life. And I probably would not be a high achiever.

[Michelle]

Oh, yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

I'm serious. They push me. They push me to be the best person that I can be. They've taught me everything that I know about living and working hard. I think, honestly, I probably would have just grown up and owned a feed store or something like that. I mean, really, I. I don't think I would be much of much of anything. Not in a depressing way.

[Michelle]

I mean, we love that.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Horses teach us a lot.

[Michelle's Friend]

A lot.

[Michelle]

I'm like, sad. I can't live with Red. Remember I told you I was like, we're getting there. I know. I want you to run my ranch. I found one.

[Michelle's Friend]

Okay, well, it's in Round Top. We'll discuss.

[Michelle]

It's in Round Top.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I know, but I have a house in North Texas.

[Michelle]

Right. They'll come on down.

[Michelle's Friend]

Negotiation.

[Michelle]

What are some things horses do to show affection towards humans? This is a really funny question, because every time I bring someone that's not a horse person to hang out with Red, they're like, why does he hate me? And I'm like, do you want him to lick you? Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Okay, so. Okay, this is the interesting thing. I think horses show their appreciation for us in many different ways. Like, I really don't think, like, it's a. It's a horse to horse basis because, like, you've met my horses. I've got three mares. They're all completely different personalities who show me a lot of care and affection in different ways. Like, bam. Bam is more of my kind of close. She likes. She likes to be, like, near me, and she likes to kind of be, like, in my space. And she's very gentle and soft. Whereas, like, Bird, I. I noticed a lot of her appreciation for me through actions.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, when I'm running Bird, this is so horse girl. But Bird gives me a lot of confidence. And I know that's, like, gift from her because she doesn't have to be as kind to me as she is. And, like, she'll do these little things. Like, sometimes, you know, she'll step off the backside of the barrel and I'll get a little off kilter. And I. I tell you what, I can feel that horse move right back underneath me. Like, she just wants to be good. And she's very in my space and.

[Michelle]

Tries hard for you.

[Michelle's Friend]

She. Dude, she tries so hard for me. And for me, that's what I noticed with horses is like. I know when my horses are trying and when they're not, and that's kind of what I gather. But a lot of it is just it with horses, it. It's hard to explain, but it becomes a very quiet connection.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

I could sit in silence with my horses for a very, very long time. Nothing is said, but also everything is said. And they give me a comfort that I don't think I could ever get from anything or anyone else.

[Michelle]

I think that's a great idea.

[Michelle's Friend]

And it's all quiet.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Yeah. It's not like what you would experience from a dog. It's a very different feeling.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. And it's crazy. Like, I know there's a lot of cheesy stuff and signs about, like, horses giving us wings and all that Stu stuff, but there's. There's a lot of truth to the. The freedom that they provide.

[Michelle]

It's crazy. It has changed my life.

[Michelle's Friend]

There's just nothing else. And I know that it's not that for everyone. You know what I mean? But I think for those that get it, there is nothing else.

[Michelle]

You can't put it in woods.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. And like, all of a sudden, like, other things in life just become not very important.

[Michelle]

Yeah. It's a wild feeling, you know?

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, some people are like. I wanna. I don't even know. Like, some people get a lot of enjoyment from, like, traveling and doing these things. I just like, kind of being at home.

[Michelle]

Do you know what I noticed when I started writing? I stopped, like, shopping.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

I, like. I don't care about stuff as much anymore.

[Michelle's Friend]

No. Literally, it's like, whatever.

[Michelle]

Nothing will match up to the feeling of being around my horse ever.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. No. And also, they kind of. What I like about horses is they kind of, like, love without judgment, but are also like, if you want to know if your character. If you've. If. If you're a bad character, honestly, ride a horse, though. They're great judges of character.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

They're extremely honest animals. If I want to know something about someone, let's take a gander over to Bird Stall and she'll give somebody a look. And I'm like, did she like me? Yeah, she likes you. That's.

[Michelle]

I'm still a little scared of her, though, dude.

[Michelle's Friend]

I just respect her, you know, she's just misunderstood.

[Michelle]

She did not like Red.

[Michelle's Friend]

She. No, I don't know what that was, but she hated Red. Bird just needed somebody to love her. I honestly, I unfortunately see a lot of myself in Bird.

[Michelle]

I was gonna say you guys are the same person.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, we're kind of kindred spirits.

[Michelle]

You know what I feel about Red. It's almost like the Brad situation. I don't want to.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Call out Brad directly, but Brad, who bucked me off, like, they know that accident I had. Why are you laughing? Dude, it was crazy, dude.

[Michelle's Friend]

We all get. We all get yeeted every once in a while.

[Michelle]

Yeah. But as you told me, it was like a dirty fall.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, he was pretty. Yeah, it was pretty. He was bringing. He was kind of dirty deal.

[Michelle]

He wanted me off of him and it was like. It almost let.

[Michelle's Friend]

You know.

[Michelle]

Yeah. It almost ruined my.

[Michelle's Friend]

I wasn't gonna let that happen, though.

[Michelle]

Relationship with horse, Remember? I was really messed.

[Michelle's Friend]

I was gonna give you, like two weeks.

[Michelle]

I didn't even take to tell you.

[Michelle's Friend]

To get over it.

[Michelle]

I didn't take two.

[Michelle's Friend]

No, I know.

[Michelle]

I went right back to it, but.

[Michelle's Friend]

I was like, gonna be like, okay, get over it.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Which is a good advice. But has Red not been, like, the healing?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. No. He's extremely caring. That dude takes care of you.

[Michelle]

I know.

[Michelle's Friend]

I love a horse that can take a joke, though.

[Michelle]

What do you mean?

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, Bird can't take a joke.

[Michelle]

You think Red can?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, dude, you could get on Red backwards. You could. You know what I mean? Like, you can be, quote unquote, a gunzle on. On. On Red and he's gonna roll with it.

[Michelle]

I mean, Greg got on him.

[Michelle's Friend]

Exactly.

[Michelle]

Taylor got on him.

[Michelle's Friend]

Bird is the type of animal that's like. Yeah, that's actually not gonna work with me. And I'm gonna let you know right now in a million different ways that are gonna scare you.

[Michelle]

She's not a beginner horse. No, I still gotta get better at the gate.

[Michelle's Friend]

I'm like, yeah, I know.

[Michelle]

I was good at the beginning, and now I'm. I'm losing it.

[Michelle's Friend]

It takes time.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Can you help me with that? Do you know how to do that.

[Michelle's Friend]

Open a gate on a horse? Yeah, it's one of the first things they teach you.

[Michelle]

Well, I'm good at opening it and then I run through it.

[Michelle's Friend]

Well, that's. Yeah.

[Michelle]

Also, my jeans got caught on it last time, so that was kind of a disaster.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, okay.

[Michelle]

Horse expenses per month, roughly Mine. I mean, just in general, like, what should people anticipate?

[Michelle's Friend]

Okay, I'm gonna give you. I'm gonna level with the people on this right now. And I'm gonna count my whole lifestyle here, okay? Because you have to remember, I've got the truck, I've got the trailer, I've got the house.

[Michelle]

We actually have very different setups, so I can explain. Mine too.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, I've got the horses. I'm like, I'm off the deep end here. I'm gonna be completely honest with people. It is not unusual for me to have an eight to ten thousand dollar month. That being said, that is diabolical behavior. That is insane. And I'm fully aware of it.

[Michelle]

That's like by choice. Kind of.

[Michelle's Friend]

That's by choice. Because honestly, dude, I don't care about anything else. You know, I live in a thousand square foot barndo. Yeah, don't care.

[Michelle]

Your whole life is your horse.

[Michelle's Friend]

My whole life is my horses. You came over. I didn't even have furniture. I didn't. I didn't even have salt.

[Michelle]

No. You guys, this girl, like, she's showing me her full rundown of the horse's routine. The horses are getting a sprinkle of their hoof stuff, their gut stuff, their whatever.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And there's all this stuff. She's explaining each thing to me and she's like, it's really expensive. And I make sure I do this. Then we go in her house and she's like, what do you want? I don't really have anything. I was like, oh, so you don't eat?

[Michelle's Friend]

I had like yogurt and.

[Michelle]

And no seasonings, Pickles. No chiz.

[Michelle's Friend]

So I got a couch.

[Michelle]

Now you've. Now you're stepping it up.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. No.

[Michelle]

And I sent her salt in the mail.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. No. So I'm fully aware that I'm a diabolical individual. It does not have to be that way. No, that's crazy. But I know people wonder. So if people have wondered, that's what I'm spending.

[Michelle]

I'm not spending that.

[Michelle's Friend]

No. Nobody should.

[Michelle]

Yeah. And I have a different lifestyle where I'm not with my horse every day. I can't be. Right now, he stays at a facility, so I think I spend a thousand to two thousand dollars on his stall feed.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Injection.

[Michelle]

Like inject. Actually, he vet.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. That's like a quarterly thing. But yeah. I mean, yeah, my horse has got crazy stuff going on. We've got shoes and training and.

[Michelle]

But I also have one horse. And you have four. Four.

[Michelle's Friend]

Three.

[Michelle]

Three. What about Vienna?

[Michelle's Friend]

Well, I had four, but one died.

[Michelle]

All right, Coco, may she rest in peace. 26 years.

[Michelle's Friend]

She's 36.

[Michelle]

Oh, I'm sorry. 30.

[Michelle's Friend]

Oh, yeah. Put some respect on her name.

[Michelle]

Sorry, sorry.

[Michelle's Friend]

36 years old.

[Michelle]

36 is wild.

[Michelle's Friend]

May she rest in peace.

[Michelle]

This is why I will take Michelle's advice with literally anything.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, dude, I got that horse to 36. She was healthy and sound until the day she died. Good.

[Michelle]

Want to hear more about Red? Pedigree, Bloodline, height training. Pedigree. What's pedigree?

[Michelle's Friend]

It's breeding.

[Michelle]

Oh. So I actually can answer this. His dad is called Repeat Offender. He is a lovely stallion out of High Point Performance Horses. That's right. And his mom was something bull. Bow. Something bull.

[Michelle's Friend]

I don't know his mother, but that's.

[Michelle]

Why his full name is Red Bull. He's an American quarter horse. He's chestnut.

[Michelle's Friend]

Sorrel.

[Michelle]

Sorrel. He's sorrel. And he's big.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, he's big.

[Michelle]

He's 16.

[Michelle's Friend]

16. 16 one, maybe.

[Michelle]

Which is great for me because I'm tall.

[Michelle's Friend]

You're a lanky girl.

[Michelle]

Lanky girl. He was raised in a family, the Carcula family out of California. They're a rodeo slash family.

[Michelle's Friend]

Also hilarious that I grew up with the youngest sister.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Crazy. And the dad of the family is the one who broke Red and literally trained him. He was trained on a ranch around cows. He did barrels. He was just a little too slow for the big races.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And he taught the kids how to ride, so he was perfect.

[Michelle's Friend]

He's a great horse. I. I think he's a fantastic addition. I. I really do. I think he'll be great for your children. I think he'll be great. Great for you and your husband and. Yeah. I think he'll be awesome for your kids.

[Michelle]

I know. I'm obsessed with him.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

I feel, like, guilty that I'm not doing barrels on him, though.

[Michelle's Friend]

Dude, please. He's a horse. What does he know?

[Michelle]

I know. He gets. He likes the barrels, though.

[Michelle's Friend]

He's got food in front of him every day.

[Michelle]

Yeah. Blue Bonnet.

[Michelle's Friend]

And he gets pet. So he does get pet. That's a. I have a thing about that. I got a comment the other day that, you know, Bird is a very nice horse, and Jimmy got on her and absolutely laid a rundown and we posted about it because she was third fastest time at a jackpot. And then I got a comment about. Oh, it's. It's so horrible that that horse is not going to reach its full potential with you. Sorry. Last time I checked, she is a happy animal. Animals don't know.

[Michelle]

They don't care.

[Michelle's Friend]

They don't care. Oh, my gosh. She has food. Yeah, she said she gets carrots. An acupuncture. She. She needs nothing more in this lifetime.

[Michelle]

Also, this was, like, meant to be her path, you know?

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, dude. Like, people are dumb online. I don't take people's. I don't take opinions from strangers about my horses. I'll pay a professional for that.

[Michelle]

Period. Okay, one more question. Biggest pros and cons you've both noticed about being a part of the equestrian community.

[Michelle's Friend]

Biggest pro has been this year in losing my dad. Here's the thing about cons in the equestrian community. And then this is an opinion that I have. The horse world is as bad of an experience as you let it be. I am extremely conscious of the people that I let in my circle. And I have to be honest, I don't really have bad experiences. I'm. You know, I'll run into some people here and there that I'm like, jesus, you were rude. And then I never see him again. If I see him at a barrel race, I walk the other way. But honestly, I had this great moment the other day. You know, I just moved to North Texas, right? I mean, granted, I know some people already, and granted, I've got a following on social media, but I went to this jackpot in North Texas, small Wednesday jackpot. I had like six people offer to record my run. And in the background of my run is just a bunch of people being extremely supportive. And I have people that are very helpful and very kind. And I think it's for two reasons. One is I'm very conscious of those that I let in my circle, and that's just life. Don't allow crappy people around you. That is like, all the time I hear people. This person's taking advantage of me. Stop talking to them. That's not your friend. Sorry. I don't care. What. I don't want to make any waves or problems. It. Trust me, they don't care about you that much. That's why they're mean to you. So just cut them out. They're not going to care that much. But two, I'm nice. I'm nice to others, like, you know, and in this year, losing my dad, more people have helped me, you know, because I've said this year I really dove headfirst into the barrel racing. And I keep telling people, like, this is not about barrel racing. Everything that I'm doing this year, this is not about barrel racing. This is about pursuing something that will light my fire. After facing the Worst thing that I ever have. Yeah. And so there's been so many pros in that I've put a lot of good out there. I'm the first girl that's going to walk somebody in the arena or help them or I'll pull my horse trailer over on the side of the road if I see another trailer broke down. And therefore people return.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And when I hear people constantly complaining about the horse world, it's so negative. So negative. It's so negative. You're negative and you're allowing negative people in your circle and that's why your life sucks. And at the end of the day, we're spending way too much time and money on this doing something that a million other people would like to do.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

So be more conscious of who you hang out with because there are bad people in this sport. There's bad people in life.

[Michelle]

Yeah.

[Michelle's Friend]

And so I think a pro of the horse world is I've got a million people that have my back. I do. I mean, really, I have a million people that have my back. And I think that's something that is really special to the horse world. I think that normal people aren't like that.

[Michelle]

Yeah. I have experienced both.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And I think with the English world, I cut it off right when I needed to. And getting into Western, I have to say I did feel way more welcomed.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

I found you. I mean, Michelle literally kept my horse at her house for a week, trailered him down for me, stayed with me, showed me how to do everything. Like, really took me under her wing. And like, that was crazy. I think sometimes it can be difficult to recognize, like, is this person trying to help me? Not you before. Like in the English world, is this person trying to help me or are they taking advantage? I think the biggest lesson from Michelle that I learned is that independence is so valuable.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

And I think I spent a couple years learning how to ride and getting the basics down, but really being too reliant on other people. I didn't even know what my horse was being fed. I didn't know what they were giving him supplement wise. I didn't know what was happening at the bed appointments. Like, I just felt really out of.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Out of it. And now I feel very involved and I could take care of my horse probably top to bottom without help.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Well, knowledge is power. And I think in general you're just nice and trusting of people, which is honestly a great character trait to have.

[Michelle]

But I keep getting screwed over.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. It can hurt you, you know, and that's why I tell you, I'm like, stop, Stop doing stuff.

[Michelle]

This has been my year of like realizing.

[Michelle's Friend]

But it's a good thing to have you're trusting, you know, like, you know what I mean? But not anymore. Knowledge is power. I mean, I would say that the only con that I have from the horse world is like, dude, I got like, every time I think I'm gonna have more money, it's just like, dude, it's just spent.

[Michelle]

Yeah. You know what I mean?

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, I could make $10 million a year and I'm telling you right now, I could spend it all and I would be out of money by third quarter.

[Michelle]

It's a black hole.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, it's a black hole. So I'd say that's the only con. It's like, I'm just out of control. But that's personal, you know what I mean? Some people can reel it in. I can't. Yeah, I can't. I'm like, I need that for, you know. Yeah, I need more. I need another horse, you know? Why?

[Michelle]

What are your last question? What are your goals with riding? Do you have any?

[Michelle's Friend]

I do. You know, I wanna, I want to get more comfortable riding higher level horses. You know, Bird is a very nice horse. She's very quality animal, a, you know, top dollar animal. And right now I'm probably not doing her a lot of justice though. We get better every time and so on that level, on the riding level, you know, I just want to get better, but I want to have fun doing it. Yeah, I'm not going to do it if it's not fun. That's such a waste of time for me. But honestly, I think I'm more on this journey with horses now of like, how can I make the world around me better through horses? And like, that's why I like sharing horse content and I want to do more, you know, I'd love to like start my own brand in the space and I want to, you know, I would love to. Like, my ultimate goal, honestly is I'd love to start a brand in the horse space. And I don't know what it's going to be yet, but I, I want it to be a company that like, gives back. I, you know, I would love to be able to pick five kids a year throughout the nation that, hey, we'll pay all your horse bills, you know, And I think I'm progressing to that of like, what's the impact that I can have through horses? Because horses have changed my life. They've made my life Honestly, I would be nothing, really. Truly, I wouldn't be anything that I am without the relationship that I have with these animals. And I think that they can have a great impact on the world. And that's kind of the journey that I'm on. And if it means that I'm going to less barrel races because I'm spending more time going to events and educating people on horses and getting people involved in horses and getting more people to take lessons and do things, I think that's where I'm headed. You know, channeling something positive through what has ultimately like, kind of been the greatest privilege of my life.

[Michelle]

I feel like even doing a show like this and talking about it will do that too.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah. Like, I think there's so much to learn through horses and there's so many different avenues and there's so many different people in the industry and I think there's so much positivity and, you know, I think there's, there's a lot. And I think horses are really healing for a lot of people. And that's kind of why I'm happy that there's such a trend right now.

[Michelle]

Yeah, aesthetically, they're a trend.

[Michelle's Friend]

They're. They're aesthetically a trend. But I think there's a couple people going and riding horses and taking lessons and it's changing their lives.

[Michelle]

I get a lot of questions about it.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's changing their lives. And, you know, 10 minutes with a horse. Yeah, is. Is a life changing experience. I've. I've honestly really rarely met very many people that don't like horses. And when I find out they don't like horses, there's usually a reason why. It's usually because horses told them something about themselves. So I, I love that horses are a trend. I want more people to take lessons and go find trail rides and go pet a horse. Yeah, I think it's really healing. So that's kind of the direction if.

[Michelle]

You can't ride just to be around them.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, dude. Just looking at them.

[Michelle]

Michelle, where can everyone find you on the Internet and watch your content?

[Michelle's Friend]

Broke ass horse girl. Tick tock and Instagram. Don't find me on Facebook. That's my personal page.

[Michelle]

Don't go there, it's personal.

[Michelle's Friend]

Don't go there, it's personal. No, that's just where I find, like barrel races.

[Michelle]

Do you have any, like, products you want to promote?

[Michelle's Friend]

No, I got nothing.

[Michelle]

I want Michelle to make a guide about horses and supplements.

[Michelle's Friend]

I'm scared.

[Michelle]

A PDF workout guide. PDF.

[Michelle's Friend]

PDF guide, Horse guide. PDF horse guide. Yeah. You know, look out in the new year. I think 20, 25. Big year for Michelle.

[Michelle]

I agree. What's the name of the fly company?

[Michelle's Friend]

Spalding Labs.

[Michelle]

Spalding Labs sent me some lovely natural fly products. And you guys know how I feel about toxins.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

So thank you to Spalding Labs.

[Michelle's Friend]

Fly predators are actually really cool.

[Mari Llewellyn]

It's guys, it's sick.

[Michelle's Friend]

It's really cool. Okay, so it's give a quick plug.

[Michelle]

Give a quick blog.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Do you have a code?

[Michelle's Friend]

It's a bug. Yeah, I do, actually. It's Michelle 10.

[Michelle]

Oh, use Michelle 10.

[Michelle's Friend]

So basically it's this bug and you release them and they eat the fly larva before it hatches. And the life cycle of that bug is not very long. So that's why you have to get a new batch, you know, every month and stuff like that. That. But I'm being dead honest. I don't have flies.

[Michelle]

We have horrible flies in my.

[Michelle's Friend]

Like, I, I don't endorse products without knowing that they, like work. And I was suspicious. I was, I was like, I'll try it. I don't have flies, guys.

[Michelle]

And for anyone listening who's in the horse world, like, flies are kind of a big deal and they really, really annoying.

[Michelle's Friend]

They ruined my life.

[Michelle]

Also. Fly spray has so much crap in it.

[Michelle's Friend]

They also have a product, though. It's called Bye Bye Odor. It's honestly just good for people that have like animals.

[Michelle]

You sent me that.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's an odor eliminator. It activates the molecule. You activate the molecules with water and like you can like spray it on like your clothes and. And like stuff like that. Like, it's literally non horse. People use it and it like, it's just an odor eliminator, but it's like an actual good one. It has a really good smell. And Spalding was like. Spalding Labs was started by a family. It's a. It was originally family owned. It's owned by equine network now, but. But it's actually kind of a cool.

[Michelle]

Story started by a woman use woman Nephew, Michelle 10.

[Michelle's Friend]

Yes.

[Michelle]

Thanks, Michelle.

[Michelle's Friend]

Thanks, Mari.

[Mari Llewellyn]

Thanks for joining us on the Pursuit of Wellness podcast to support this show. Please rate and review and share with your loved ones. If you want to be reminded of new episodes, click the subscribe button on your preferred podcast or video player. You can sign up for my newsletter to receive my favorite [e-mail] it will be linked in the show Notes. This is a Wellness Loud production produced by Drake Peterson Fiona attucks and Kelly Kyle. This show is edited by Mike Fry and our video is recorded by Luis Vargas. You can also watch the full video of each episode on our YouTube channel at Mari Fitness. Love you POW girls and POW boys. See you next time. The content of this show is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual medical and mental health advice and does not constitute a provider patient relationship. As always, talk to your doctor or health team.