Conversations with Hannah Parsons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Parsons.

Hi Hannah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved animals, and had a special affinity for the large ones. I’ve always connected well, adapted to their needs, but I didn’t grow up in a situation to allow or support for this kind of business, so I had to be creative. In my early years, before I was a teen, I taught myself a lot through YouTube, books, a few riding lessons too- and eventually started networking and offering to work for those in the horse community. I’d offered to clean stalls just to pet and groom.
By age 12 I was already helping new horse owners train their horses.
By age 13 I received my first horse, a young foal.
He’s still with me today at age 19, to get to here, owning 8 horses, caring for 13-18 at a time and running a full busy lesson program, took about 12 years of building, 3 major moves and a lot of time and money invested. I sacrificed everything for this dream and passion. 12-16 hour work days, 7 days a week for a few years before I was able to begin taking a day off, then 2. Success is relative but we’ve came a long way at Surefire Horsemanship.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up in North Linden Columbus, even access to opportunities is difficult when it comes to agriculture.
I grew up on WIC, food stamps, there was trouble within the family and home, getting transport, finding places to work within a reasonable distance, and lack of resources and funds in general made things difficult. Further formal education was expensive.
I had always had a second or third job to support the dream before 2020, but after losing my father in 2014, and his parents on either side of his death, and then my youngest brother all within 2 years and then losing my healthcare job in 2018, in debt and with lots of loss, I had a short inpatient stay due to mental health.
In 2023 I was injured so badly I almost had to shut down, chores were hard to complete, my body ached from compensation patterns, and I had to send horses home I’d had in training, for the first time ever. That stung, and I didn’t bounce back until this past year, 2025.
The largest challenge however is finding properties to operate out of, in the last 10 years we’ve had 4 major moves. We hope to stay in Hilliard but are purchasing 10 acres in southern Ohio as a placeholder.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I teach riding lessons with an emphasize on mental health in the saddle. Not a therapist, but I had worked in equine assisted therapy for years before moving to riding lessons for the public. Many of my students (like me) are on the spectrum or have adhd and struggle in certain settings.
I am proud that we have riders who enjoy learning, growing, educating to actually train a horse and problem solve if they’d like to learn (not something many local barns offer) and we’re known for that very adaptable low pressure approach that lets others feel comfortable while
learning , and the ability to go as far with a certain skill as my students would like.
We have a very eclectic base of clients and horses .

What are your plans for the future?
We’re planning on upgrading our lease property with dry lots/all weather areas to help our best staff (our horses) stay clean and dry out of the Ohio mud when weather is bad. We are revamping our horse training, and hoping to get better at putting out content and helpful information. One day- we’ll be building on our item property

Pricing:

• $70 Intro Lessons Required
• $95 Private 45 minute
• $78 1 hour 15 minute Group of 3 or less riders
• We have monthly tuition with steep discounts
• Scholarship options for those in need

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Surefirehorsemanship.com
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/surefirehorsemanship