Catherine Lee’s love for horses began not in the heart of horse country, but on the tropical island of Guam where riding wasn’t part of the culture, and access to horses was limited.

There, on the small U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean, horses entered her life through something simple: slow trail rides that were organized by her father for their family on Sundays. Equestrian sports are nearly non-existent on the island. What may have started as a novelty became a tradition and eventually, a bond.

“It was supposed to be a tourist trap,” she recalled. “But we loved it.”

Her bond with horses is inseparable from her bond with her father, a man whose life story shaped her long before she understood its full weight. Before Catherine and her brother came into the picture, their father had defected from North Korea in search of freedom and opportunity. His aspirations to build a new life for his family through resilience and sacrifice led him to the small island.

Those early rides, taken with her father and brother on older trail horses, became some of her most meaningful childhood memories. Horses became a shared language between father and daughter, a way to spend time together, and a source of joy that followed her far beyond Guam.

As Catherine grew older, horses remained a constant thread, even when geography and finances made riding difficult. She sought out trail rides whenever she traveled, including trips to South Korea and Australia, holding onto the feeling of connection horses gave her. Still, formal training and consistent access remained out of reach as she moved to the mainland United States, thousands of miles away from her small, island home, to attend Syracuse University, where she focused on building a career in marketing.

Like many amateur equestrians, Catherine’s path to horses was not a straight line. Work, cost, and location often dictated how close (or far) she could stay from the barn. It wasn’t until her 30s, after relocating to New York City, that horses re-entered her life in a more permanent way, particularly at a moment when she needed them most.

At the time, Catherine’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Lee traveled back and forth from Guam regularly to visit and care for him. Looking for a way to cope with the emotional strain of caregiving and anticipatory grief, she enrolled in 30-minute weekly lessons at Riverdale Stables located with Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. 

“Even just half an hour every Saturday felt like therapy,” she said. “It became something I looked forward to all week.”

When her father passed away, the grief felt unbearable. Catherine found herself searching for something that could hold her steady through the loss, and she returned to horses with renewed urgency.

“I remember thinking, ‘I need to dive deeper into this,’” she said. “I need something that lets me move through this grief.”

She found a new barn in Westchester County and began training with Jorge Ventricelli at South Horse Stables, who remains her trainer today. Over time, riding evolved from a coping mechanism into a cornerstone of her emotional well-being. 

What surprised her most was how far the impact extended beyond the saddle. 

“Horses helped me grieve,” Catherine explained. “But they also helped me build confidence I didn’t realize I lacked in my career.” 

She describes riding as a form of moving meditation; one that demands presence, emotional regulation, and resilience. 

“You can’t panic on a horse,” she said. “And in my job, you can’t panic either. Horses taught me how to stay grounded under pressure.” 

Now the Head of Global Events for dentsu Creative, one of the largest advertising agencies in New York City, Catherine oversees large-scale international events, including managing the dentsu Beach House at Cannes Lions. Her role requires staying calm under stress and constant problem-solving. She credits horses with strengthening the same mental and emotional muscles she relies on professionally. 

Today, Catherine rides her own 16-year-old Warmblood mare named Re Leika, who winters in Wellington, Fla. with Ventricelli. While she hasn’t competed yet, she hopes in the future that she and Leika can earn their first ribbon together. She continues to build her skills as an amateur in the hunter-jumper ring with growing interest in dressage. 

More than competition, horses have become a source of balance in a fast-paced life. 

“My husband always says I’m a better person after I come back from the barn,” she said fondly. “No matter how the ride went.” 

Catherine’s journey has also shaped how she thinks about access to horses; not just financially, but geographically. Growing up in Guam, she understands what it means to love horses from a place where they are rare, distant, or difficult to reach. 

“When you don’t live near barns or horse communities, it can feel like this world just isn’t meant for you,” she said. 

Now based in New York City, she remains mindful of how location can determine who gets to participate in equestrian sport and who doesn’t. She’s drawn to programs that bring horses closer to urban communities like GallopNYC, a therapeutic riding program that helps individuals with disabilities improve their skills and independence. Lee spent some time volunteering with the organization, and she imagines a future where more people, regardless of where they live or what their socioeconimic background is, can experience the same connection to horses that shaped her life. 

For Catherine, returning to horses wasn’t simply about rekindling a childhood interest. It was about honoring her father, surviving grief, rebuilding confidence, and reclaiming a part of herself that had been waiting patiently inside of her. 

“There’s something inside me that always yearns for horses,” she reflected. “And every time I come back, I realize—this has always been home.”