Hest Creative

01/17/2026

#2016…a year of exploration and growth both professionally and personally. Working a crappy job but making a lasting friend (). Starting my own marketing business, enjoying life in Mill Valley, and taking trips up the coast and to wine country with friends and family. Celebrating milestones with my ride-or-die college friends. While also traveling to Bodie/Mammoth/Tahoe for some exploration and ahu. Taking my first International trip to Ireland with my future husband and living out a fantasy of galloping down a beach horseback and trotting cobblestone streets in a quaint country town. Then to Wisconsin, from a family reunion to roll lefsa, and celebrating my grandmother's history at as a Tilden descendant. I also got to see the iconic Taliesin East by FLW (as an architectural student, this was iconic) and, more influential to my present career, being “re-introduced” to Equine Assisted Learning while riding in Sonoma. Life is unexpected and bittersweet. 2026 brings no more large family dinners hosted by my dad, no more happy hours with Grandma in the apartment she shared below. No more casual trips to the ocean on a weekend, but a tremendous sense of gratitude for moving closer to my purpose across all aspects of my life. Growth is embracing all the ups and downs, the bitter nostalgia, and the opportunities ahead. 2016 was a big, vibrant year and a reminder to live every day fully.

09/25/2025

✨ We’re now on Substack! ✨

I’ve launched Horses & the Human Spirit, a new writing space where I share essays, field notes, and reflections inspired by horses, nature, and the cycles of life.

This Substack will be a sanctuary of words — exploring belonging, resilience, values, and what it means to live unbridled. Expect a mix of short, poetic “Field Notes” from the herd, deeper essays on identity and intention, and nature-inspired coaching prompts to help you pause and reconnect.

Posts arrive directly to your inbox (ad-free), so it’s easy to follow along. You can subscribe for free, or join as a paid supporter if you’d like to go deeper with seasonal reflections, journaling prompts, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

Read the first essay, When Leaves Fall Apart, and subscribe here: https://hannahwaen.substack.com

I’d love for you to join me in this new space — where we can slow down, listen, and learn together from the wisdom of nature and the herd.

07/05/2025

No fireworks needed. Today, I celebrated our country in the way I know best: by getting off the beaten path and embracing the great outdoors. This is the America I love and cherish, with its majestic mountains and the spirit of bold adventure. 🇺🇸🦅🍦Happy 4th, I hope you celebrated in whatever way felt right this year with casual gatherings, protests, or fireworks. There is no one way to show patriotism or one way to be American.

06/27/2025

Something new just in time for fall! 🍂

🌿 Now Enrolling: Aligned & Unbridled
A 3-month group coaching program for women in transition

Have you ever felt like you’ve outgrown the version of yourself that everyone else still expects? Are you standing between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming, with no map for what’s next?

✨ Aligned & Unbridled is for you.

This intimate coaching experience is designed for women navigating personal or professional change—starting a business, forming a personal brand, pivoting careers, rediscovering themselves after motherhood, or simply asking: Who am I now?

We’ll blend coaching, community, and a powerful in-person equine-assisted retreat in Washoe Valley, Nevada, to help you reconnect to your inner compass.

💻 Monthly Virtual group calls + private coaching with me
🐎 Optional In-person pop-up workshops & capstone daylong horse retreat at EQ Insight
🌍 Remote-friendly: Only the final retreat is required in person
🎯 Values-led, brand-clarifying, confidence-building

Early Bird Enrollment is open through July 31
Only 15 spots available

Learn more + enroll: https://www.hestcreative.com/aligned-unbridled
DM me if you want to chat about whether this is a good fit.

Let's walk through the transition together—with clarity, courage, and a bit of horse magic.

Aligned & Unbridled is a transformative 3-month coaching program based in Reno, Nevada, designed for women navigating life transitions, identity shifts, or personal brand confusion. Whether you're launching a business, changing careers, adjusting to motherhood, or simply feeling disconnected fro

06/17/2025

It's always fun to spot my designs in the wild! For this project I helped adapt their pre-existing logo into a show-worthy sub-logo to represent their growing Derby series and elevate their branding for show offerings. It's always a pleasure to work with other horsewomen. Thank you for the opportunity. I love how the coolers turned out for the lucky winners. Congrats to all! 👏🐴🏆

06/08/2025

Full recap to come but let's just say today was magical. 🪄Our Herd to Heart event combined everything I love, coaching, community, horses, nature and creativity. This was so much more than a networking event. It was truly enriching and inspiring. Thank you to all who helped shape the day into something so special. We can't wait to host this event next quarter! ✨DM me if you want to be informed of our next event in this series! 🐴

06/03/2025

I just returned from my 15th college reunion at (how did that happen?) and am re-inspired by the importance of having strong friendships in one’s life. The kind that you can naturally pick up where you left off after being away from each other for several years, like no time has passed. It’s truly a gift when you find that level of connection.

Heading back into work mode, I am excited to host a coaching event with the team at this Sunday, where we will help people access deeper connections and (hopefully) establish lifelong friendships. As an adult, it is so much harder to connect with new people, but when paired with equine-assisted coaching, it becomes much easier. The horses will help us cut through the awkwardness and get to the heart of the matter faster. Only a few spots are left to register. I hope you join us!

This will be a special event. Register: https://equus-insight.com/events/herd-to-heart or look for “Equine-Assisted Events” in my bio links.

Here are a few photos from my beloved college barn (past and present). Most humans and horses have moved on since my college days, but a few still remain, including Victor, a horse that has been teaching beginners to ride since 2006. He is headed to retirement, and boy, has he earned it. What a champ! It takes a special horse to be so patient with so many students who had their first interactions with horses while in college. I promise it’s not too late to reconnect (or connect for the first time) with these fantastic creatures. Join us this weekend to begin the process!