Dena G Garfield

I attribute my success to a combination of mentorship, faith, perseverance, and a lifelong environment of entrepreneurship and creativity.

I was raised by entrepreneurs. Both my father and grandfather ran businesses, and from an early age I learned how relationships, integrity, and consistency shape long-term success. One of my earliest mentors was a seasoned sales professional who taught me relational selling and personal responsibility. Under his guidance, I became Rookie of the Year for a Fort Worth–based organization selling to large businesses. He also introduced me to the teachings of Zig Ziglar, which shaped my understanding of service, discipline, and mindset early in my career.

My mother, an artist, instilled something equally important: the permission to be different, to create, and to trust intuition. She encouraged faith, imagination, and the courage to pursue meaningful work rather than conventional paths.

My journey was not without hardship. Years spent in a loveless and abusive marriage became a turning point that clarified a simple truth - I was meant for more. That realization, combined with faith and prayer, strengthened my resolve to trust my instincts and take responsibility for building a different life.

Perseverance became non-negotiable. My children and animals depended on me, and I understood that showing up for them required showing up fully for myself. Commitment, resilience, and a refusal to abandon my values shaped the path forward.

These influences- mentorship, faith, creativity, and disciplined follow-through - continue to inform how I lead, build, and serve today.

The best career advice I ever received came from my mother: be yourself, fully.

She taught me that I didn’t have to follow conventional or traditional paths to build a meaningful life. I didn’t have to fit into someone else’s version of success to be successful. She encouraged creativity, faith, and trusting my instincts, even when the path wasn’t obvious or widely accepted. That permission to be different shaped every decision I’ve made since.

Learn to trust your intuition early, and don’t override it to gain approval.

This work - especially when it involves leadership, wellness, or animals - requires discernment, boundaries, and self-regulation. You don’t need to rush, perform, or prove yourself through force or burnout. Trying to squeeze into someone else's idea of "right" when it doesn't feel aligned is a mistake. Build skills, seek mentors, and choose environments that honor ethics, safety, and integrity. Your nervous system is an asset, not a liability.

One of the biggest challenges is the rise of quick certifications, AI-generated programs, and control-based approaches for "Equine-Assisted" practices that prioritize outcomes over safety. Not all growth is healthy growth.

The most concerning challenge is the ongoing welfare crisis facing horses across the United States. Thousands of horses are neglected, abandoned, or funneled into the slaughter pipeline each year - often due to overuse, lack of education, or the absence of long-term support systems. Some originate from irresponsible breeding practices, others from displacement or mismanagement, and many simply fall through the cracks once they are no longer profitable or understood.

This reality underscores the responsibility of anyone working with horses to prioritize ethical practice, education, and accountability. At the same time, it presents an opportunity: to create models of work that not only support people, but actively contribute to the protection, rehabilitation, and long-term welfare of horses. Bringing awareness to this issue - and building systems that help prevent it - is essential to the future of ethical equine-assisted work.

At the same time, the opportunity is significant. There is a growing demand for ethical, nervous-system-informed leadership and equine-assisted work that honors both people and animals. Those who commit to depth, training, and responsibility will stand out as the field matures.

Integrity is foundational to everything I do. I believe in doing no harm, acting with responsibility, and continually learning so that my work evolves with care and awareness. Relationships matter - to the people I serve, the professionals I collaborate with, the animals who rely on us, and the environment that sustains all of it.

I value growth and self-reflection, understanding that learning never stops. Faith is also central to my life. Prayer, trust, and the belief that things can unfold with purpose guide how I make decisions, especially during uncertainty.

Ultimately, I believe our mindset and beliefs govern how we show up in the world. When those are rooted in integrity, compassion, and accountability, the work we do can genuinely serve others and create lasting impact.