10/10/2023
It has been such a long time since I have done a post. I figured as I sit here sick on my couch, I would love to truly introduce myself.
I am Hollie, founder and co-owner of Rockin’ 33 Performance Horses , along with my other half, Sam. (He will introduce himself soon enough)
As a young girl, my earliest and best memories involve horses. My dad was a horse trainer and started teaching me the way of the horse at a very young age. He taught me his gentle ways, a horse whisperer if you may!
It didn't matter how disrespectful or untrainable a horse was, my dad could gentle anything.
I always admired his passion.
I knew as a little girl, that one day I would grow up and have my own pasture full of mares and babies, just like my daddy!
I have been riding as long as I can remember.
The horse that taught me how to ride was a grade sorrel gelding with a big white crooked blaze. Retired cutting horse and could hunt a cow til day turned to night.
He took care of me as any old gentleman would and I decided at 6 or 7 years old i needed to become a barrel racer.
Of course at that time, all I knew was that I needed to turn 3 barrels and run home. I did not know any of that fancy barrel training!
Now, Chopper was not the fastest horse in the pasture but he was my best friend and I just knew we were going to go to the NFR one day, obviously that did not happen but he taught me to love and trust your horse no matter the situation.
We had many horses throughout my childhood. Some were just horses and some I bonded with but Chopper was always my go-to, true blue #1!
Years passed and Chopper started to really slow down.
Naturally, mom and dad got me another barrel horse. She was a fire breathing dragon and would only allow certain people to ride her. She was a tall 16 hand off the track appendix mare who I think purposely tried killing me on several occasions! We never did click but I loved her anyways.
She ended up getting hurt my senior year of high school.
I wanted to finish my HS rodeo career out and ended up borrowing another gals horse. We clicked but unfortunately it was short lived and my HS rodeo career was finished.
Throughout my childhood and HS years, I was involved with anything horse related. 10 years of horse showing and way more years of rodeo. I took joy in training young kids how to ride. I also trained a a few of our personal horses and outside horses as well.
There was not a day that went by that horses were not in my life!
Not long after HS I ended pregnant with my first child. I rode up until I couldn't fit in the saddle any longer, and the only horse I would ride, was my Chopper!
He was long retired but he took care of me, as he did all those years.
Chopper passed away at the age of 32, but he got to see my baby girl and take care of her in my arms as we went on one last ride together.
As I became a mom at a young age, I dedicated my life to my daughter. Soon after, I become a mom to 3 more kids over the course of 6.5 years.
I took time away from horses to raise my family!
Even tho I loved being a mom, my heart still would ache knowing I was not following my dreams.
It wasn't until about 5 years ago, I decided to follow God's calling and get back into horses again!
Over the course of the last 5 years, I have had things happen that should have broke me, broke my dream.
I had people telling me," You need to sell out. Your being selfish, your a horrible mother for not selling.
You never put your children first."
I knew what I was doing! My heart and God told me to keep going, DO NOT give up.
That's when I decided to brand my little horse ranch as Rockin'33!
Life is tough,but I am tougher. I am teaching my kids that no matter what life throws at you, you keep on going.
Just as my Emmy said yesterday "You gotta chase your dreams bc your dreams won't chase you"!
Now, as I creep up to the big 40, I am finally reaching my dreams, Sam and I are reaching our dreams together.
It's true what they say "You have to close one door, to allow another one to open." ( Sam and I are a story for another day.)
Of course, there is so much more to my story,so much more to Rockin'33.
I just wanted to give you a little history how Rockin'33 came about.
And for the name, 33 has ALWAYS been my favorite number. From the time I was a little girl, 33 was everywhere. Even was my number for a year in HS rodeo.
I knew as soon as I wanted to name my ranch, 33 had to be part of it!!!
And now, 33 has even a bigger meaning which will be shared in due time!
So stay tuned for some big news and some new faces, along with an introduction to all the faces of 33.
