I Prayed For Change, And God Sent Me A Horse

Kimberlee, Theo, and Trainer Eddie Rodriguez

Healing, finding your purpose, rediscovering yourself, it all seems to begin somewhere between 55 and 60. It’s funny how it begins because no one really warns you about this stage of life. If you are a woman reading this, you are acutely aware of the lack of information surrounding menopause. Your body feels like it has just entered a Crossfit competition with no end in sight. Doctors will tell you, ‘It’s just part of getting older’, and that seems to be the end of the conversation. As a Gen-Xer we also accept that with this same ‘suck it up’ attitude we have had our entire lives.

So, as we are sucking up the never-ending body beat-down we are also faced with a more existential challenge. People at work are treating you differently, you don’t seem to have the same edge you had 10 years ago. The mirror has a reflection of someone you don’t recognize. And while many comedians poke fun at this, it’s true: Don’t invite me to a party that begins at 8pm. I’m home by 8 or 9, not going out then. But, you can absolutely remember when you did go out at that time, came home around 2am and made it into work the next morning with a smile. Ok, maybe not a smile, but you made it. Mentally you are being pulled between the past and the present all while wondering what in the world your future looks like.

What I’ve learned working with horses over the past several years is the importance of consistency and intentionality. Being inconsistent or ‘willy-nilly’ will not produce any sort of result and may possibly even get you hurt. I remember being in a class warming up and hearing the trainer say ‘walk with purpose’. That stuck with me, time to get serious and focus, so I did. Not just in the class, but in all aspects of life.

To do that I needed to be humble and admit all I didn’t know. I had to be intentional with life after 55. I had to look to my Creator for answers. I had to finally say- I just don’t know who I am or who I’m supposed to be. But, I didn’t really know how to do that either, so I went to church. I listened. I cried. I absorbed the Word. I then decided to go to a Bible study because what I realized was I never really understood the Bible because I didn’t know the history. I didn’t know the significance of things written because society has changed. I needed help in understanding the Word and the context. I always prayed. I always believed- but I wanted more.

I have so much more to learn, and I’m excited to continue this journey but something started to reveal itself over the past several months. I started noticing I would look at circumstances with a slightly different perspective. This allowed me to have more peace in my heart and less anxiety about what could happen. It allowed me to give the big problems to God because it’s not mine to fix, and it never was I just always owned it.

As my life continued to change I kept praying, ‘please let me land softly or carry me when I just can’t walk anymore’. There was a time I would pray for strength, I stopped that. Now I pray that I dig further into my faith when it all seems too difficult.

Recently I thought about the unique ways in which prayers are answered. There is the joke about getting a magic lamp and making a wish for a million bucks and the wish is granted with a million deer on the lawn. The message- be careful what you wish for. God isn’t a genie though and our life is blessed daily if we take the time to really notice.

Theo’s name means, ‘gift from God’. He truly was, no doubt about that. And, I know I have a purpose with horses because 5 years ago I knew nothing about them and certainly never dreamt of having one. But, all things in God’s time.

This week I looked in Theo’s eyes and it dawned on me, while he is absolutely a gift from God, he is also the answer to my prayers. While I wasn’t praying for a horse, five years ago I was praying for confidence. Work was stripping away my identity and making me doubt my capabilities. I cried at my desk often. I took on new projects, joined new teams but it all seemed to be the same, so I prayed.

I prayed to be heard, to really be part of a team. I prayed to matter. I prayed to make a difference. My spirit was eroded daily and I prayed to find the me that laughed and made bold choices. I prayed to find the me that took chances if only to experience the feeling of trying something new.

For five years I wondered when and if those prayers would be answered. When would my phone ring with the next big project or opportunity? It never did. I retired from my job quietly, feeling deflated.

But this week I looked at Theo and thought- God did give me all those things. Through Theo my confidence has grown. I trust him with all my heart, we’ve bonded and formed a partnership which allows me to go a little faster than I would have a few years ago. Together we are learning so much and that creates such joy and a feeling of being reborn.

Following my faith and learning more about the Bible allowed me to see things from an entirely different perspective. I prayed for change and God sent me a horse named Theo.

---

Kimberlee & Theo

Written by Kimberlee Delany

Kimberlee Delany is a multi-faceted athlete, technology professional, and writer based in North Texas. Whether commanding a room in the corporate tech sector, executing a precision lift on the national weightlifting stage, or working in the pasture with horses, Kimberlee brings an unwavering sense of "grit and resilience" to everything she touches.

Kimberlee grew up and spent the formative years of her career on the East Coast. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, she channeled her understanding of human behavior into a highly successful, multi-decade career in the technology industry. Demonstrating a classic trajectory of continuous improvement, Kimberlee built her tech career from the ground up—starting at the IT help desk and climbing through every technical role to establish herself as a high-level Technical Business Advisor.

An avid athlete for over twenty years, Kimberlee has explored a wide range of physical disciplines from triathlons to Olympic weightlifting, competing in local and regional events up and down the East Coast and across Texas.

Today, she is an elite competitive Masters Olympic weightlifter within the USA Masters framework. Coached out of Dallas, she won third place overall at the National Championships in Boise, Idaho, and went on to represent the United States on the international stage at the International Masters Weightlifting Association (IMWA) World Championships, posting 72 kg total. For Kimberlee, the barbell is both a passion and a vital release—a practice she famously calls "sweating out the crazy" to balance the demands of an intense corporate career.

After turning 50, Kimberlee boldly stepped into an entirely new world by learning to ride and handle horses. This pursuit quickly evolved from a hobby into a profound personal calling. Today, she is certified in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and has become a regular contributing writer for Equine Business Magazine.

Now in her vibrant post-career chapter, Kimberlee is exploring how horses act as mirrors to our souls, helping us embrace vulnerability and reshape our lives. She is a living testament to continuous evolution, proving every day that our most powerful transformations often happen after 50.

This article is from the August 2026 issue of Equine Business Magazine