Beauty For Ashes

To every 14-year-old girl facing difficulties, insecurities, and challenges—I want you to know: you will overcome. The strength you need is already within you, and the Bridle Up Hope program helps you unlock that power.

When I was your age, I wish I’d had a program like this—a person, a hand to hold, a path forward. I was 14 when my mother passed away, a tragedy that forever changed my life and that of my siblings. Soon after, my father died too. I’ve carried with me the phrase, “beauty for ashes,” and I believe now, more than ever, that the pain I endured had a purpose—to create something stronger, more meaningful.

I’m from a small valley in the Andes called Alausí, in the Chimborazo province of Ecuador. Even as a young girl, I dreamed of going to college, though no university was nearby. After my mother died, we moved to Quito, where I finished high school and earned an associate’s degree. I thought that might be the end of my education—but more awaited me.

I came to the United States to learn English. Leaving my family was incredibly hard, but I completed my language studies and eventually enrolled at BYU, where I earned scholarships and completed my bachelor’s degree. Later, I received a master’s degree from the University of Utah. During my time at BYU, I met the man who would become my husband—my greatest companion. Together, we raised three sons, now grown and pursuing their own careers. In 2013, we felt inspired to adopt a daughter.

It was through my friend Cindy Powell—who served in a similar role as I did in our Alpine congregation—that I discovered Bridle Up Hope. I joined for the sake of my daughter, and Cindy became my first instructor. Her encouragement was life-changing.

Studying the 7 Habits at Bridle Up Hope helped me identify strengths I’d developed through my life—resilience, perspective, proactivity. These traits carried me from Ecuador to a new life in the United States. When I was single, education was my priority; as a wife and mother, my family came first. Through it all, the pain of losing my mother shaped me—it taught me empathy. Habit 5, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood,” resonated deeply with me, because that’s exactly what I had to learn: how to listen, how to feel, how to connect.

After completing the program, I had to step away from Bridle Up Hope for a time. But slowly, I found my way back—earning hours, reconnecting with the horses and instructors. Tori, Hannah, and Sarah have each helped me grow in new ways.

One of my favorite moments was riding Kokomo. Tori warned me he was energetic and quick, but she set up poles and we serpentined around. That was my first time trotting—I loved it. The next time I came, Kokomo was taken, so Sarah suggested I ride Diego. It was a cold, windy February morning, but we were determined to ride. That day, I cantered for the first time.

It changed me.

I wrote in my journal:
“I felt I could do anything. Diego, the wind, and the universe created a powerful energy that filled me completely. I didn’t know how to explain it. I felt like Santiago in The Alchemist— "the boy who turned himself into the wind. For a few seconds, I held within me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe.”

That experience stayed with me for days. I’ll forever chase moments like that. Until then, I’ll keep practicing, keep improving. I’m deeply grateful to Sarah for her encouragement, and to the entire Bridle Up Hope instructor team—for teaching me patience, courage, love, perseverance, and purpose.

The horses taught me to ride. They taught me to fly. They helped me reconnect with my truest self—and with something bigger than myself.

I’m in awe of Rebecca Covey and her family, who turned unimaginable grief into a foundation that lifts women and girls. They truly turned ashes into beauty.

– A Bridle Up Hope Women’s Participant

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