Nicole Smith

Assistant Equestrian Director

Nicole grew up in a small, rural town called Lowndesboro, Alabama, fifteen minutes from the closest Dollar General and thirty minutes from the closest Wal-mart!  She lived in the same house for all of her growing up years until she moved away to attend Judson College after high school.  Nicole received a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science and Psychology, along with her Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International certification and her Certified Horsemanship Association certification.

Throughout high school and college she taught a few private horseback riding lessons and worked in a small candy shop during breaks from school.  Her first “real” job was as a receptionist for a construction company, but she quickly learned that office life was not for her.  While she was in college she had to complete a 30 hour equine internship, and a classmate told her about Camp Arrowwood and put her in contact with Mr. Seth.  Nicole came to camp for a summer and worked as a wrangler for Camp Arrowwood in 2018 under the supervision of Mr. Ryan.  After that summer, he invited her to fill out the application for the Ranch’s Equestrian Internship.  She was hired in February of 2019 and started in April, originally planning to only be at the Ranch for fifteen months and then go work at a PATH facility.  However, the Lord had different plans.

Eight months into her internship, the Ranch offered Nicole a year-long extension, and she accepted it through August 2021.  She began searching for a new job in February 2021, knowing that her end date was getting closer and closer.  She went to an interview where someone asked a question that would change all of her plans: “If the Ranch does not have anyone hired to take your place, why don’t you stay?”  During the course of twenty-four hours, two other people who were entirely unconnected with the interviewer asked her the same question, which left her pondering it for the next week.  Nicole finally gave her thoughts and desires to the Lord through prayer, and she felt encouraged to bring the idea of a longer term position to Mr. Ryan.  Eventually she was offered the position as the Assistant Equestrian Director.

Nicole loves being able to teach the Ranch students how to ride, tend to the horses’ daily needs, administer equine first aid, and train/communicate with horses.  She is also passionate about showing students and visitors how all of the Ranch’s animals (cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and horses) work together in harmony, according to God’s perfect design for creation.  She grew up riding, competing, and tending to animals, so she’s thankful that she can share her experiences and knowledge with her staff and students.  Before starting her job at the Ranch, Nicole did not have a Christian community and was still very young in her faith.  She has grown so much in her understanding of the Lord through other staff at the Ranch and her church body.  She is so thankful for the ways the Lord has grown her in her faith and for the ability to share Truth every day at the barn.  Nicole plans to serve at the Ranch indefinitely until the Lord calls her somewhere else, and she knows that no matter where she ends up, she desires to point people to Christ and serve Him well!