Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Harmse. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachel, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

One of the biggest trends I’m seeing in the equine community is one that likely sounds odd to those outside the horse world. It is a concept that I believe the average human would assume has always existed, or at least one that has existed for the last hundred years. That trend is simply – the dedication to the wellbeing and happiness of our horses.

And I don’t mean in a shallow sense; I mean far beyond providing food, water and shelter. In recent years, there has been a notable trend in the number of people truly willing to put their horse’s feelings above their own dreams. For lack of a better term, on social media it has become quite trendy to be empathetic, compassionate and kind to horses. It is a trend I have enjoyed to see and I do my best to support.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Rachel is an equine educator and advocate for holistic horse care. With a degree in Animal & Equine Science and years of hands-on experience, she helps horse owners prioritize what truly makes horses happy—not just healthy.

What began as sharing her horse’s story on Instagram evolved into a platform where she educates and supports a growing community. Now, she promotes species-appropriate care through education, coaching, and resources while fostering a space for horse owners who feel like the odd ones out for prioritizing their horse’s well-being over tradition.

Her main goal in life has always been to help as many horses as possible to lead happier lives. A background in social media management, marketing, photography and videography has provided the tools required to create the material necessary to reach horse owners and an online course has been the goal for awhile. In the end, the best moments are when a message is received from someone who has implemented a change in their horse’s life and seen positive results. That is what everything has always been all about.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A major pivot in my journey came when I invested in a high-ticket coaching program, hoping it would help me finally launch the online course I’d been dreaming about—something that could truly help horse owners create better lives for their horses. Unfortunately, the program turned out to be a complete mismatch. It was marketed as a supportive, strategy-driven path for heart-led entrepreneurs like me, but instead, it leaned heavily into a business-to-business model and “bro marketing” tactics that felt completely out of alignment with my mission and audience.

My community is made up of horse lovers who care deeply about doing right by their animals—not other businesses—and I realized I had veered off course trying to follow a formula that wasn’t built for the kind of work I do. That pivot cost me time and money, and forced me to pause on my original goal while I took on more client work to recover financially.

But here’s the key: that experience clarified everything. It reminded me why I started, who I serve, and what really matters. I came out of it with stronger boundaries, a clearer voice, and a deeper commitment to creating resources that support horse owners—not just sell to them. It delayed my course launch, but it sharpened my vision. In the end, it wasn’t a detour—it was a reset. And the ultimate pivot was when I turned back towards the business I had dreamed about for years.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was what work is “supposed” to look like. When I first left my 9-5 to pursue independent contract work, I didn’t even think of myself as an entrepreneur—I was just trying something new. I treated my business like a traditional job because that’s all I knew. I clocked in and out, followed strict schedules, and judged my success by how “busy” I was, not necessarily by the impact I was having.

It wasn’t until I heard the term “imposter syndrome” on a podcast that I realized how much I was struggling to see myself on the path to being a legitimate business owner. Over time—and with a lot of trial and error—I began to understand that running my own business meant I could do things differently. I had the freedom to build something that worked for me, not just mimic what I’d seen in corporate settings.

Thankfully, I went through that transition in my early 20s, before I was too locked into traditional workplace expectations. I also had the unique benefit of working with a wide variety of clients and businesses, which exposed me to many ways of doing things. That helped me unlearn the idea that success only comes one way. There are no hard rules. Running a business can—and should—look different for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://when-it-clicks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nantucket_blue/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nantucketblue
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/raemei

Image Credits

Brian Harmse