Page 48 - San Diego Woman Anna Adams

Women of Distinction

From Attorney to Wrangler:

A Tale of Horses, Fire, and

Personal Transformation

By Ami Cullen

Photos courtesy of Ami Cullen

It was 2005, and the I will never forget the be a part of it. (The jingle I was as an attorney. I just my career as an attorney
grind of everyday life first time I went to the C is when the wranglers had to believe this was would ultimately thrust
had taken over. I had Lazy U Ranch. Driving ride out in the morning the life I was meant to me into the path of one
recently passed the bar under the archway and to gather the herd. The live and that things would of the worst and fastest
exam and was well into down the mile-long ranch story goes that back in the ultimately work out. moving fires in Colorado
my second year at my law road was like driving day, some of the horses Soon after my history and lead to a high-
firm working endlessly through time. It was used to wear cowbells summer working as a stakes mission to rescue
to hit my billable hour beautiful. There were around their neck so that wrangler ended, I began more than 200 horses
requirement. I made good well-cared-for and happy the wranglers could find a half-hearted attempt from the flames. This
money and had status at a horses everywhere, graz- them in the dark or when to find another job as an life-altering experience
young age, but the greater ing among the beautiful they chose to hide among attorney. I was sad and ignited my new book,
my achievements were at aspens and wildflowers. the willow bushes). Fast depressed, which meant “Running Free,” a gripping
work, the less time I had We were greeted by forward several years later that no firm was remotely and relatable journey of
for myself and the more pleasant cowboys and to the year 2012, when the interested in hiring me. I personal transformation
unhappy I was. I felt stuck. provided with elegant and opportunity arose to work figured I had doomed my that delves deep into the
I had to keep working in cozy accommodations. as a seasonal summer career and was begin- inner battles we all face
law because that was what I was paired with a little wrangler. The decision to ning to accept my fate and the incredible freedom
my degree was in, and I buckskin horse named walk away from my legal as a washed-up attorney that comes when we aban-
had student loans to pay. Gunsmoke. We rode career was not an easy one. who would be lucky to don the lives we think we
I liked it well enough and twice a day every day, From six figures to eight find contract work. One should live to embrace who
figured everyone has some and I could feel my spirit dollars an hour. I traded day, out of nowhere, the we are truly meant to be.
disdain for their career repair. We were guided to my business attire for cow- ranch called and asked if I Running Free, began as
choice. I kept waiting for the most beautiful terrain boy boots and jeans. I gave was interested in inter- a memoir based on every-
things to improve. But where we were able to ex- myself six months to play viewing for a position as thing I could remember
nothing ever did. perience the most thrilling cowgirl and convinced one of their operations about the fire, the events,
My best friend lopes. We saw incredible myself that I would return managers. I jumped at the and the people, but it soon
suggested we head to the wildlife, including moose to my career. I never did. chance to interview and evolved into a fictionalized
C Lazy U Ranch for a and bald eagles and herds C Lazy U Ranch is a was immediately offered version, which gave
horse-riding vacation in of elk, pronghorn (ante- magical place and the lon- the job, which I accepted me the creative latitude to
Granby, Colorado. I was lope), and mule deer. By ger I stayed and worked, without a second thought. tell a complete story. It is
hesitant at first. I would the end of my weeklong the more it had my soul. I Through my time at the an incredible story of how
have much rather gone on vacation, I didn’t want to could not imagine leaving ranch, I have progressed people came together to
a beach vacation since I leave and all I could talk for any other type of job, my career and overseen save some 200 horses from
rode horses regularly and about was coming back nor did I want to, but the many departments, even one of the worst fires in
was competitively showing next summer. real world was calling. working as the Interim the history of Colorado. It
on the east-coast hunter/ I booked a vacation to I had student loans and General Manager for is also a story of personal
jumper circuit, but this the ranch every summer financial commitments. seven months. Ultimately, challenge and transfor-
dude ranch experience thereafter. I remember Working as a wrangler was I accepted a position as mation.
would ultimately have waking up watching the never meant to be perma- the Director of Equestrian Running Free follows
a significant impact on wranglers’ jingle in the nent. I needed to return to Operations, which I still the personal trajectory of
my life and everything I herd of 200 horses and my old life, but the longer hold to this day. Emme, a horse lover who
thought I was supposed to having an overwhelming I stayed away the less con- The decision to work never felt rich enough
be and do. feeling that I needed to nection I felt to the person as a cowgirl and leave or connected enough to

48