A woman entrepreneur shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt when opportunity knocks, learning to ask for help, and discovering that believing in your business means being willing to seek support from others.
Her Story
About Heather
Heather Douglas is a veterinary professional, experienced ranch manager, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of hands-on experience in veterinary medicine, equine care, and large-animal management. She has overseen herds of up to 80 horses, including draft horses, with responsibilities ranging from daily health assessments, nutrition, breeding, foaling, and training to individualized treatment plans and emergency care.
Heather is the founder of Stable Wisdom, a business created to give horse owners trusted guidance, practical educational resources, and compassionate support when they know something is wrong but are unsure what to do next. She is also developing Double D Guides & Rides, an equine agritourism experience that will introduce guests to the beauty of Walla Walla wine country through guided horseback rides, meaningful connections, and unforgettable experiences.
Both businesses reflect Heather’s lifelong commitment to horses, education, and helping people feel more confident around the animals they love. Through her work, she hopes to combine professional knowledge with genuine friendship and create experiences that improve the lives of both animals and people.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mentor, Dr. Plummer. She never gave me the opportunity to say no or to fail; failure simply was not an option. She taught me everything I know and provided me with opportunities, education, and experience from a young age. She was an amazing woman, and I truly attribute where and who I am today to her influence and guidance.. My dad was a big part of that as well, teaching me that life's not easy, nothing is ever just handed to you and you have to work hard to get what you want out of life! He never failed to prove that everyday. He is the hardest working man I know. I try to let that show in everything I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to pay attention to what the animal is telling you, trust your instincts, and never stop learning. Most importantly, never lose the compassion that brought you into this work.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to others is to trust your instincts, remain open to learning, and never lose sight of why you started. Pay attention to what the animal is telling you, lead with compassion, and do not let fear of failure stop you from pursuing something meaningful. The path may not always be easy, but the most worthwhile dreams rarely are.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in careers like mine is that the work never truly stops. Animals need care regardless of the hour, the weather, or how tired you may be. It is physically demanding, emotionally draining, and often underappreciated. You give a great deal of yourself to the animals and the people who love them, so learning to care for yourself while continuing to lead with compassion is essential.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me, both professionally and personally, are compassion, honesty, loyalty, responsibility, and perseverance. I believe in standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves, keeping my word, and taking responsibility for the people and animals who depend on me. At work and at home, I want to lead with kindness, continue learning from my mistakes, and never stop trying to become a better professional, mother, and person.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Heather
Sometimes the Biggest Step Is Saying Yes Before You’re Ready
How I'm Learning to Say Yes to Opportunities That Scare Me
There is a strange moment that happens when an opportunity you have worked toward finally shows up: excitement is quickly followed by a hundred reasons why you might not be ready.
I think many women building businesses experience this. We become very good at surviving, working, solving problems, and taking care of everyone around us. But when an opportunity requires us to invest in ourselves, ask for help, or step into a room where we aren't completely comfortable yet, suddenly we hesitate.
I'm learning not to do that.
I have spent more than 20 years working with horses, animals, and people. Now I'm taking that experience and building Stable Wisdom and Double D Guides & Rides. Neither business appeared overnight. They grew from years of experience, mistakes, lessons, long days, and a genuine belief that what I've learned can help other people.
Recently, another door opened when I was offered the opportunity to participate in The Blox, an entrepreneurial experience that will put me alongside other business owners and challenge me to grow in ways I probably can't accomplish by staying comfortable.
The opportunity is exciting. Paying for it is the difficult part.
Rather than allowing that obstacle to automatically become a "no," I've decided to give myself 30 days to find a way forward. Part of that means doing something many independent women struggle with: asking for help.
I'm currently looking for a sponsor or business partner interested in helping me participate in The Blox. But regardless of how those next 30 days turn out, I've already learned something valuable.
Asking for support doesn't erase the work you've done yourself.
Sometimes believing in your business means being willing to tell people where you're going, admit what you need to get there, and give someone else the opportunity to say, "I believe in this too."
So if there's an opportunity sitting in front of you right now that feels just slightly bigger than you are ready for, don't automatically close the door.
Say yes.
Then figure out how you're going to get there.
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