We were lucky to catch up with TessRiley Warren recently and have shared our conversation below.

TessRiley, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission is to start a non-profit ranch that works with troubles kids and rescued horses. I have identified as a troubled kid and into my adult hood still battle mental health. Through out my life I have worked with and seen the benefits first hand of handling animals. Especially animals that are coming from a trauma background or abuse. These two groups have alot in common. And the safety and trust it requires to really lean in on both sides takes alot of work but its so rewarding. Often those that are feeling abandoned or broken by their past really need reassurance that they are safe and loved again.It can be a long and dark road before they can even open themselves up to the work ahead. Mental health comes far down in the line of priorities. Its a privilege to think even beyond safety, shelter, health and basic needs especially if they aren’t being met. I have found that individuals and animals are so resilient but they need nudges in the right direction to learn those new pathways. Horses are heard animals, and in order to preserve their safety they stick together. It can be really beautiful to work on and build the confidence to be on your own but seeing these heard dynamics can also teach humans to trust again. Being from a troubled past has equipped me with tools to acknowledge other people with shared experiences. Its a tough world let alone to feel isolated in, so with the work of a team, nature, nurture and support I believe we can all heal our wounds. Ideally, I would be able to start a ranch near our outside Austin proper with a multi-faceted program. In my dream that I ponder often, I see a co-ed ranch where kids can stay temporarily or long term depending on their needs. I would hope to have some horses that are healthy and happy to work with, but also a program where I can accept horses or mustangs specific from BLM land to protect them from slaughter or auctions where they will be sold for meat or otherwise.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am born and raised in Texas and throughout my life have found that I have a calling to work with horses. Despite the rumors, Texans do not waltz around to HEB on horseback or have beautiful ponies sprinkled throughout their back yard. They are an expensive pet, and also alot of work. So from the get go as a lower-middle class family they were out of reach. But that didnt stop this young extrovert. I would often disappear and be located at our neighbors house having offered to work in exchange for riding. At first it was a selfish feeling, a young girl awe struck by those funny goofy four-legged creatures. But as Ive grown I have seen the medicine that they truly offer. What comes naturally for some is work for others. Hence realizing when something is a passion; it separates from your desire to make profit but rather a lifestyle. It would be my life goal to help others truly love themselves, trust in their abilities, strengthen their confidence whilst utilizing horses as a vehicle for this journey. There are alot of similarities to humans and horses, in our dynamics as a group and as individuals. Our fears and how they manifest, the desire to be in a loving supportive group that creates safety, to understand the world around us, the desire to be needed and have structure and purpose. The list goes on… I think that through out my career I have come back to this innate feeling that there is a higher reason for my horsemanship gift. I could have really used a program like this as a kid and its a life dream to create a place for young people who deeply need a safe, loving home to really find out who they are and what their place in this world is in peace and a judge-free environment.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My favorite story that keeps on giving is that of my open adoption with my son. Before any tears or sadness are shed, just know he is happy and healthy and loved by many. His adoptive family, and mine included. As a teen I got pregnant, not a shocking piece of the story consider where we started. As qw all know. if you were brought up in the 90’s sex education was taboo and frowned upon as it might encourage sex? I think the mystery and curiosity is what did it for me. But we can just say it was lack of education or ignorance that charmed me with a teen pregnancy. No matter how I paint it, it is and was a gift of life for us both. It woke me up from a long stint of disassociation and dissonance in my home life. I felt I grew up the exact moment that I heard his heartbeat. I know that it was a dream of mine since I was a child to be a mother. Knowing the responsibilities of motherhood were mostly romantic sounding and sweet. I never knew that motherhood started the moment you carried that child with its safety and well being as your number one priority. So of course, being in the position I was in as a kid having a kid in was a less than desirable situation. A choice had to be made, for this person not for me and what I believed would create purpose for me. I had to make a choice that would forever effect this spirit and it was not with a selfish veil did i sign my name on those papers. After months of therapy, paperwork, counseling, discussions on money and time being not in our favor I knew what had to be done. 14 years later I am looking over my shoulder with joy and admiration. Yes for me! For making what could have been a heartbreaking choice but really opened my heart up to be full of love for this life.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I feel that each individual has a special set of skills. Some honed and some given at birth. I feel that my voice, my ability to use it for others and myself and that extra dash of confidence is what really pushes me forward. Not everyone has that. I am not saying that from ego, I just mean we are all very different and blessed/cursed in unique ways. If I didnt share my confidence, and my ability to use that confidence in every day life including horse wrangling I wouldn’t be me! I feel that seeing myself, that brutal self awareness that once you shed light on will never be dark again… has allowed me to see myself more truly. For the amazing qualities that would be wasted if not shared. And for those other qualities that I too need help harnessing. Its a two way road you all, and I hope that my story allows you to not only see me but yourself as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sister.woman

Image Credits
@urzulka