Wild Woman Katherine Boucher
Ok friends, this is our final Q&A with our core team members and this one features me, Katherine! Hope you enjoy :)
How did you get involved with wild horses? Where does your interest stem from?
I can’t remember the exact moment I learned about wild horses but when I was young, I know I was fascinated by them. My interest was likely sparked by the animated movie Spirit (I was obsessed...I still am) and I actually wrote a short story about a girl who finds and tames a wild horse in her backyard (I’m still trying to find the story!). There’s something about horses in general that sparks a fascination in me and untamed wild horses just amplifies that interest.
In terms of the trip, what are you most excited about? What are you most nervous about?
I am most excited just to be on this kind of trip. I’ve never horse-packed nor camped for more than a few nights. I’m really looking forward to the experience and the immense personal growth I’m sure will come along with it! I’m most nervous about running into other wild horses on our trip. I’m excited to see them in the wild but am nervous about how our own horses will respond. It will definitely be an adventure!
What are you hoping to take away from the trip on a personal level?
I’m hoping to learn a lot more about wild horses and how to work with them. This will be the first time I’ve interacted with mustangs this much and I’m looking forward to working with horses that were previously feral. I’m also hoping to learn a lot about myself, the way you only can when you are deep in the wilderness relying on good friends and horse companions/partners.
Do you think you will stay involved with wild horses after the trip?
I’d like to! I have no idea what doors will be opened for all of us from this film but I hope it will provide opportunities for us to get more involved with wild horses. Also, one of our mustangs might end up with me if there’s one I really connect with ;)
What’s something we don’t know about you that we’re likely to discover on the trip?
I meditate and do some yoga just about daily and I plan to continue this on the trip! Might have to get the rest of the team involved hehe
What has been the best part of this project so far? The hardest?
The best part of the project has been receiving unbelievable support from our community. We’ve always believed in Women in the Wilderness but to see and hear the unwavering support from others is just unreal. The hardest part has been fundraising; it’s tough (at least for me) to ask others for help. There’s definitely a fine line between asking for donations and sounding desperate and none of us have ever done anything like this before so it’s been a learning curve to figure out how to fundraise effectively.
Me with my favorite horse, Smoke
Rapid Fire Q&A’s
Favorite horse color
Buckskin or Gruello
One song/piece of music you hope will make it into the film
UGH soooo many but Stumblin’ Through the West by Boy Named Banjo (also anything Dixie Chicks or Lord Huron. Ok I’m done.)
Favorite horse breed
Appendix QH! I haven’t had a lot of experience with them but they seem like the best of both worlds :)
One name you’d like for one of our horses
Hooch
A nickname you have
Boosh
What are you currently reading?
Bad Dirt by Annie Proulx
What’s the longest you’ve gone without showering?
4 days (during quarantine)
Your favorite horse you’ve known
Smoke :)
What’s your “z-power” (something you’re good at that is absolutely useless)?
I can roll my tongue into the shape of a clover
Craziest thing you’ve ever done on a horse
Jingled a herd of 120 horses alone
Hope you all have enjoyed these Q&A’s with the team! If you have any more questions, please check out our FAQ page and as always, please feel free to contact us, we love to connect with our community!
xoxo, Katherine & the wild women 💕