UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE PARIA RIVER RANCH

My name is Stephanie Seaholm. My journey with horses began when I was 2 years old. Love at first sight. I remember being drawn to these magnificent creatures at a young age. By age 6, I started my first riding lessons at Cloverleaf Ranch, in Santa Rosa, CA. I learned the basics of the Western discipline. About 6 months later, I begged my dad for English riding lessons. I moved to Oakridge Stables, also in Santa Rosa. I stayed there many years and rode with several instructors. Most of their school masters were 16hh-17hh. Gentle giants. I loved them all. I then rode my first gray Arab and decided that was my breed and one day I dreamed of having my own. Eventually, I privately leased a very special Tennessee Walker named Sam. He was abused in his past and would buck if anyone tried to mount up. I figured out how to mount by tying him to a pipe corral and climbing up and over and gently lowering myself onto his back. I’d release my quick release knot and off we’d go. He babysat me and always kept me safe. We had many adventures together in Annadel State Park. He is the horse who introduced me to trail riding. I’d pack snacks for both of us and off we’d go. I trusted him with my entire being and he trusted me, but he eventually went back to his person and I lost track of him. Of course, he had a huge influence on me. I think of him often. I’m forever grateful for our connection and for his teachings. What a beautiful soul. My next horse found me in Monterey, CA. He was a 5 year old Morgan/Arab (registered Morab), named Max. My dad and I drove to the barn where Max was boarded, in Carmel Valley. He was a beautiful bay gelding. I rode him and fell off due to my inexperience with jumping. Rider error. He turned right around, put his nose down to check on me and that was it. My dad bought him for me. I had Max for 6 years. He was not only my partner, but my best friend and my therapist. He helped me navigate life through my rough and awkward teenage years. All of a sudden I was 18 and expected to go off to college and our relationship came to an end. Something so painful, I still cry, miss him, and think of him often. I just pray he had loving humans the rest of his life. I then moved to Lake Tahoe for the winter of 1997, but ended up staying 5 years. I dreamt of horses and riding often and finally knew I needed horses in my life again. I found a summer job at Tahoe-Donner Equestrian Center. All of my years of training in English riding paid off. I became the English riding instructor at TDEC and ran their English horse camps for kids. I also became a trail guide/wrangler. I went back to my Western roots. I quickly learned how to tie a rope halter, tack up, neck rein, and manage a group of beginners out on trail. My nickname was “Hollywood”. My favorite guide horse was Crystal, a gray Arab mare that was so fun to ride. a couple years later, I moved to Santa Barbara for a year. I found a job as a guide/wrangler again, but this time I learned to drive a 10 horse stock trailer, pulled by a dually, and got to ride on the beach for 6 hours a day. We would trailer the horses, that we needed for the day, out to the trail head in Goleta. We would tack up, meet the guests, and start the 2 hour ride along a scenic bluff and through eucalyptus trees which would wind down to the sand. We ‘d often ride on the beach as dolphins fed and played just off shore. Heaven. I bonded with a guide horse no one else liked. His name was Coal. He was a black Quarter Horse. I loved him. So grateful for all the lessons I learned working for TDEC and Arriba Horse Adventures. I made my way back to Lake Tahoe, but settled in south shore this time. I got hired at Camp Richardson Corral. I worked 6 days a week and sat in the saddle up to 9 hours a day.  I loved this job. We got to ride some beautiful mountain trails and experienced bears, thunder storms and more. This was by far the most demanding job I had. I loved this place and all the horses. The thing is all of the horses you work with, at any of these places, become your co-workers and your family. And, there are always the super special ones you just connect with and fall in love with. My love of draft horses began at CRC, thanks to the owner, Quint Ross and his buddy, Steve Weems. They had a jousting troup called Knights of Avalon. Steve also guided there. Quint had several drafts, but one in particular captured my heart. Big Maude. She was a huge Belgian mare. I swear she was 18hh. I rode her often and decided my next horse would be a draft. I moved to Los Angeles to follow my dream of becoming an actress. I studied at Stella Adler Acting Academy and found a job teaching riding lessons and running the camps and other programs at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. I worked for the Traditional Equitation School. I loved this place. It was on another level. I got certified under the British Horse Society and made several friends, one who is still my best friend, Lorna Duff, who now runs her own riding school, Starwood Riding Club. Lorna left TES and taught for Baycrest Farms. Eventually I followed and taught lessons and we started riding camps together.  We took the camps to the next level. They were popular with the kids and we had so much fun. Baycrest Farms was eventually sold and we both moved on. Lorna began her own riding school and  I took a break form horses and started a dog care business called Dogstar LA. In 2017 I got a job at a private rescue in Topanga called Mesa Ranch. The owner had several animals including a camel, alpacas, a donkey, birds of all types, and goats. She also boarded a small group of horses and had some rescues of her own. I eventually took over the management position and was introduced to the world of Equine Therapy. I soon found my mentor, Ariana Mazzuchi of Skyhorse Academy. I got my level 1 certification in Equine Guided Education. In 2018, Forest found me online. Forest is my heart horse. He is a 22 year old Clydesdale gelding. He’s the first horse I’ve had since I had Max. He is my everything! Forest and I spent a few months getting to know each other and bonding. We then started taking our first clients and Covid hit. LA got bad, so we kept our Malibu place, but moved to our other home in Park City for a bit. then, in October 2020, the universe decided we needed to buy a ranch in Kanab. We started 2021 off as the new owners of Paria River Ranch and began rescuing animals. In 2022, we started a 501c3 called Earth Angels Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. I partner with our amazing horses to help people connect to the earth, nature, animals, themselves, and each other. We can learn so much from the animals. I know my heart work is helping them and together we help humans.