Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Irby.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The first time that I ever rode a horse was when I was 6 years old. Horses have been my passion ever since. I was a competitive Hunter/jumper rider competing up and down the East Coast. During my final junior year riding (1994), I rode a 13.3 Hand Large Pony to Large Pony Champion and Grand Pony Champion at The Washington, D.C. and The Meadowlands, NJ International Horse Shows (for those of you who don’t know horses, 13.3 hands is a very small, large pony that is typically not able to take on the height of the large pony jumps). After graduating from the University of SC in December of 1997, with a BS in Business Management, I continued to train and ride horses with Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw of Camden, SC. I eventually decided to ride and show professionally. I had everything I wanted, or so I thought.
That is when I realized that something was missing and felt that I was not using the gifts GOD had given me for His Purpose. In 1998, I started working with children with autism, teaching them to ride and sharing her love of horses. Ten years later, I established Blissful Dreams, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassion, love and acceptance to anyone in need. I began to realize that I could still make horses my career, but I could do it to help others. GOD gets all the credit for Blissful Dreams. In the midst of it all I was able to get my License in Veterinary Technician. I currently live in Huger, SC with my daughter, Samantha, and all the animals on Blissful Lane.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have had many obstacles and challenges over the years. This past year has been extremely difficult. We lost our eldest horse of 30 years to strangulating lipomas, our 12-year-old Great Dane to osteosarcoma, and our 28-year-old pony to laminitis back-to-back this year. That on top of me having a knee and foot surgery. I am extremely blessed to have my faith, my family, and volunteer support to keep things going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Work? I call it a ministry and therapy for me. The joy that it brings watching these animals and individuals grow and get healing from each other never gets old. Really, it is all a healing process for me as well. I deal with physical, mental, and emotional challenges myself. I can honestly say that the ministry and all involved keep me getting up and moving each day.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was born at the Roper St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, SC. My family was living on Isle of Palms at the time. Yes, I am one of the true natives left, I attended East Cooper School through 2nd grade and lived in Snee Farm (which was in the middle of nowhere at the time). I then attended Sullivan’s Island 3rd grade, Jennie Moore 4th & 5th grades, Laing Middle school 6-8th grades, and attended and graduated from Wando High School. I am the youngest of 3 girls (I am 9 & 10 years behind my sisters). I was very active and played soccer, took Taekwondo, danced, and then started riding horses at 6 years old. Some friends of the family introduced me to Albert at 6 years old. Albert was a paint Shetland pony. From the second I rode him, I was hooked to horses forever, I learned how to ride at Pelican’s Roost on Venning Road in Mt. Pleasant. When I was about 7 years old, I got my own pony, and we moved to Cassina Plantation on Rifle Range Rd where we were able to keep our horses on our property. At that point I quit everything else to focus on horses. I grew up going to school and then horse shows pretty much every weekend. I ended up graduating from University of South Carolina and then started riding professionally until I realized God had other plans for me & my passion with horses. Through a few detours I ended up using that passion as a ministry for healing both 4-legged and 2-legged individuals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blissfuldreams.org
- Instagram: Blissful_Dreams_Rescue_Ranch
- Facebook: Blissful Dreams Rescue Ranch
