January of 2025 had me feeling as if there was something missing from my life. I was busy, sure, but felt drained. As a wife, mother of 9 children, homeschooling, and being a massage therapist, I always had something going on. I realized though, as I was looking at my goals for the upcoming year, that there was something that I needed for ME. And I had no idea what that was.

After a tumultuous and traumatic year on the East Coast pursuing my masters degree and professional training, I moved to San Diego. I spent the following couple years slowly putting the pieces of my personal life back together while building my professional life from the ground up. When I finally began to feel truly healed, I stumbled upon Bridle Up Hope San Diego. 

Looking back now, some of the sweetest parts of my life began when I was young, in moments that felt small but meant more than I knew. I was a quadruplet and grew up dealing with multiple food allergies, which made even simple things feel complicated.

Like many of us, when the war began, my heart was broken. But a part of me, it felt like it had died because the war came into my own family too. My younger brother volunteered to defend us… and he was killed. It happened in our hometown, Chernihiv, at the Stadium in the city park.

With the help of the program, my self-confidence and self-esteem have improved, and my tension and stress have decreased. I’m feeling good about myself.

When I was younger, I was obsessed with anything horse-related, but as I got older I started being influenced to follow trendy styles, and I lost that true spark in me and soon became a different version of myself. Then, when I found this program, I remembered that little girl inside me who lit up when she saw a horse and longed to be a cowgirl.

My son, Austion, passed away 10 years ago. He was 18, and it has been a long journey. It wasn't until I joined Bridle Up Hope that I truly found peace.

I truly believe Bridle Up Hope saved me, to be the best mother and woman I can for my children and most importantly for myself. I am proud to say they helped me become more hopeful, confident, and resilient. And there are not enough words to describe how grateful I am to have found them.

I am so thankful for the Bridle Up Hope program! I've been trying to develop hope and find resources of hope for many years. Honestly, I doubted I could find lasting hope from the Bridle Up Hope program, but being desperate for finding hope I gave it a chance… and I'm so glad I did!