We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Sheriff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My business, Sheriff Horsemanship, grew out of a passion for teaching people about horses and using the horse as a tool for learning more about faith, self, and community. My entire life has been shaped by my involvement with horses. I knew that I wanted to invest back into my community in a similar way that people invested in me when I was young. By pairing my equine skills with a passion for teaching people, my business had a strong foundation in my core values and philosophies. Since opening in fall 2021, I have found not only success but joy and fulfillment by turning my passions into a job.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sheriff Horsemanship is based in the Arkansas River Valley and focuses on teaching people of all ages western horsemanship skills. Not only do students work to achieve their goals in the saddle, lessons also focus on being a student of the horse – how to care for them, understand their behavior, and recognize how horses are a reflection of people – by studying the horse we can recognize truths about ourselves and the world around us.

Starting Sheriff Horsemanship has been a lifelong pursuit. As a “crazy horse kid” growing up in western Pennsylvania, I dreamed of owning horses, exploring the mountains of the West on horseback, and sharing my passion for equines with others. I have spent my entire life learning about horses and when I moved back to Colorado after graduate school, I knew it was time to launch my own business. It all fell into place pretty seamlessly, and I was proud to teach my first official lessons in the fall of 2021.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d definitely start off the day with coffee at the Buena Vista Roastery Cafe or The Blend, followed by Sunday brunch at Wesley & Rose at the Surf Hotel. Seeing the herds of elk off of Highway 24 in Nathrop is always fun in the fall/winter.

One of the most beautiful spots to see on horseback is at the top of Poplar Gulch by St. Elmo. You can’t go wrong with a day spent in the backcountry on a good horse! Brown’s Creek Falls is another great spot to ride or hike into.

For dinner and drinks, we’d hit up Crave in Buena Vista, followed by either Deerhammer Distillery or The Slammer. Buena Vista has great food trucks in the summertime, especially the Buena Viking. Louie’s is great for ice cream, and the river walk along the Arkansas is a wonderful spot to watch the sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the equine professionals that have invested in me – thanks to my mentors in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, & Colorado!

Website: https://sheriffhorsemanship.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheriffhorsemanship/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccasheriff/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheriffhorsemanship

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheriffhorsemanship

Image Credits
Taylor Mathis & Betsy Oda

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