Lauren Nash, author and equestrian, resides in Bragg Creek, Alberta with her partner Lynda.

"At first glance, you might not think of me as a professional athlete, or even someone who once dreamed a dream and made it come true," exclaims Nash in her first book, The Next Fence: One Rider’s Story. But she is not only a professional athlete; she is an inspiration to all of us who have ever felt that desire to achieve the unachievable, regardless of all the garbage that gets in our way.

An endeavour seven years in the making, this autobiography is meant to both reflect and inspire. "My hope is to motivate others to dream about life’s possibilities, and find the courage to face the obstacles that confront us all. I also wanted to reveal my own personal beliefs that childhood dreams need to be nurtured, not judged. The dreams we dream as children fuel the ideas of tomorrow," stated Nash in her interview with GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine.

"Initially, the book started out as a series of email communications with a friend who expressed a continued interest in my life experiences and equestrian career. This led to the realization that my story may be helpful to those facing similar kinds of obstacles in their own lives."

Life began for Lauren Nash in Cleveland, Ohio in 1953. Born into a middle class Jewish family, Lauren seemed from the outside to be part of an idyllic household. In actuality, as in most families, life was not as easy as it seemed for Nash. Her early childhood was marred by illness, which she believes set the tone for her parent’s attitude towards her later in her life. She faced cruelty from family members, and her dreams of being a skilled equestrian were continually crushed. "I never thought of myself as a difficult child, but it became apparent quite early in my life that I wasn’t the sweet, feminine little girl my mother and father had always dreamed about. I threw the ball like a boy and ran like the wind."

The Next Fence: One Rider’s Story, chronicles Nash’s path to where she is now, and showcases all of the hands that have either helped or hindered her. Regardless of what came in her way, Nash kept going.

"The book deals with many issues prevalent in today’s society, such as attitudes toward domestic abuse, class, and the disabled, as well as sexuality. We all experience times in our lives when we have to face up to whom we are and what we want from life, and then figure out a way to get there. The struggle to find our own place in the world is universal. If we can face these challenges with hope and courage, I believe we have a much greater chance for success," Nash told us.

She identifies two key attributes to realizing your dreams: self-knowledge and education. "If we persevere at something blindly, this can be more harmful than doing nothing. My hope is to encourage everyone to dream your dreams, learn about what it is that has captured your interest, and then decide if that path may be one that brings joy and fulfillment. Continuous reflection, re-evaluation and adaptation are required to realize any dream or personal endeavor. Knowing we always have a choice is what allows us to take that risk."

The Next Fence: One Rider’s Story details Nash’s realization of her dreams. The tale is chalk-full of humour, sadness, inspiration, and determination. She wrote this story for the reader to understand that it can be done.

"I believe it’s important for all of us to support and encourage each other in being all that we can be, including who we are personally. This requires open, honest, and respectful communication, tolerance, and community. My goal now is to do all I can to build and promote these principles."