New Year, New High Horse

Every January comes with a lot of pressure to reinvent yourself.

New year. New goals. New systems. New everything.

For High Horse Creative, this year really is a new chapter. And it didn’t happen because of the date on the calendar but because of the work we have been doing made the next step obvious.

How we got here

Over the last year, my work started expanding beyond equestrian businesses in a way that felt natural and very familiar.

I spent the summer working with J. Reid Indeed, helping bring tech education to students in Kansas City. That work was hands-on supporting the program as it ran. Making sure the systems in place actually worked for the people using them.

At the same time, I was deeply involved in planning a nonprofit gala from the inside for Northland Therapeutic Riding Center. Not just the highlights, but everything behind the scenes. From the catering menu to the video. From the speeches to the run of show. From how the night was planned on paper to how it actually unfolded in the room. These efforts raised over $55,000 for therapeutic riding and helped spur a decision….High Horse would focus on non-profits going forward.

Being that close to the work gave me a clear picture of what nonprofit teams are juggling every day.

And that is when the pattern became impossible to ignore.

Different missions. Same challenges.

On the surface, nonprofit organizations and equestrian businesses look very different.

In reality, the challenges were almost identical.

Small teams (often individuals) doing big work. People wearing too many hats. Systems (if they exist at all) that were built quickly and never revisited. Marketing and technology that felt important but constantly fell to the bottom of the list. A lot of effort going into meaningful work without the structure to make it feel sustainable.

These were the same conversations I have been having for years with trainers, barn owners, and program directors. Just in a different context.

What New Year, New Us actually means

High Horse Creative is still deeply rooted in equestrian businesses. That work is core to who we are and always will be.

What is new is that we are officially expanding our services to support nonprofit organizations in the same way.

Practical strategy. Hands-on execution. Systems that match real life.

That might look like support with event planning and execution, organizing marketing and communications, building or refining websites, creating structure around fundraising and sponsorships, or stepping in during busy seasons when teams need experienced support without the overhead of a large agency.

The goal is to make the work easier to manage, whether that work is a non-profit food pantry or a lesson program.

Why this matters to me

I have spent my career working with small teams doing meaningful work. I know how heavy it can feel when everything matters and there is never quite enough time.

Nonprofit teams deserve the same level of clarity and support as any other organization. Equestrian businesses do too.

Expanding High Horse Creative to nonprofits is about bringing the same thoughtful, realistic approach to another group of people who are doing important work and need systems that actually support it.

Looking ahead

So yes. New year, new High Horse.

But also the same values. The same approach. The same focus on building things that last and work in the real world.

If you are part of a nonprofit team and feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or stuck in systems that no longer serve you, this expansion was built with you in mind.

And if you have been with High Horse Creative from the beginning, thank you. Everything we have learned along the way made this next chapter possible.

Ready to get on your High Horse?