Training horses was too dangerous & hard for Kim to think of doing it forever. And since her clients were mostly backyard horse owners who didn't have thousands of dollars to spend on training, the income potential was limited. Kim used to have nightmarish visions of training hoses at 50 years old, getting a broken leg, and being SOL in business and money.
So she slowly shifted her interest to modeling. In the process of doing this Kim became very interested in digital media, found her inner web geek, and developed considerable web tech skills. And she discovered something surprising... online horse training. Instead of divorcing herself from being a trainer, Kim found a way to incorporate training horses into her modeling / internet ventures by writing horse-training articles. She's currently in the slow process of writing & narrating articles and building a library to sell in her online store alongside her modeling posters.
The reason for Kim's interest in modeling to begin with? Two reasons.
Reason one, Kim was tired of the proliferation of what she calls 'wanna-be cowboys'. These are people who conspicuously dress up as 'cowboys' or 'cowgirls' for show, soley to gain attention. By wearing the clothes, they convince themselves they are the real thing.
In reality they are not good animal-handlers or good horsemen; do not have a strong work ethic; have not shouldered great responsibility; have not developed unusual talent, intelligence, or nerve; have not done courageous deeds; have not displayed fortitude, independence, adaptability, or ingenuity; have not faced hardship or sacrifice... and simply have little or no qualifications for portraying themselves as real cowboys. (See the Close-Up page of Kim's Cowgirl Image website.)
They are like ordinary people dressing up in a superman costume and calling themselves superheros. But clothes alone do not make the man. It's experience and what's inside that counts. It's not about what you're born with. It's about the principles you stand for, and what you develop into as you grow throughout your life.
Kim's mission is simply to provide images of a real cowgirl and do what The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly did for westerns... present reality - good, bad, and ugly. Her horse-training articles are a terrific complement to this goal, as they provide techniques that are truly effective and emphasize safety for both horse and handler.
The second reason Kim gravitated toward modeling was that she disliked the lack of morality and positive values in society (particularly in the modeling industry). She quickly got tired of being bombarded with images of bikini-clad women with fake tans and plastic surgery every time she turned on the tv or saw an internet ad on her social network pages.
In addition to finding the sheer volume of this type of media offensive, she noticed the absence of values it engendered. These 'models' were truly leaving the 'role' off their profession and being the worst of examples. While their appeal was (and is) valid and appropriate for certain niches and types of media, it was not appropriate for daytime viewing or a family setting. This type of media sent out negative messages that made others (including Kim) feel less than or unimportant because they had a less glorified job or didn't look a certain way. And the worst part was the message that women should mutilate their bodies in the name of beauty, instead of accepting themselves and using healthy methods to improve their physiques.
Kim decided that if she was offended by this unhealthy, unrealistic portrayal of women in our society, others probably were as well.
Kim is a purist and a realist. She doesn't believe in plastic surgery or artificial means of altering one's self. She feels that every job requires a certain amount of moral responsibility and that our society needs real role models to look up to; not people who are in-it-to-win-it simply for money and ego.
Our culture today glorifes and gives riches, fame, and fortune to people who sing, dance, or act. These are things hard to do and it takes a tough, talented person to perform in public. Many deserve their wealth and are solid personalities. Many tell inspiring stories about their lives and truly are caring, positive role models we can look up to. Many use their celebritydom to give back to society, and use their wealth to give others a hand-up.
But many people honored today have no character, morals, personality, or accomplishments actually deserving of the glory and reward given them. Many are drug addicts. Many go to prison for DUI, then fight their sentences - completely ignoring the fact they could have killed someone while driving repeatedly under the influence (duh!... that's why it's illegal to drink and drive). Many have out-of-control tempers, unhealthy relationships, and commit domestic violence. And these often are people our society upholds as winners and shining examples of success.
Kim feels we should honor people who have actually done something positive, selfless, or real: firefighters, war heroes, policeman, those who fight abuse and cruelty for humans & animals, those who fight for freedom and quality of life.
Kim feels she has a moral responsibility to provide a positive message in whatever field she's in; and that makes her a good role model... someone people can respect and look up to. As a horse-trainer who actually invented her own methodology of training, she has proved her worth in a dangerous and difficult industry that in reality few succeed. (See her article Code of the West and Morailty in Horse-Training.) Kim takes her moral responsibilities seriously and feels she has done something to deserve that respect. She doesn't feel she loses anything by spreading a positive message on her climb up the ladder of life. |
