The Woman on the Horse
Meet Elizabeth Beeson: The woman looking towards her heritage and love of horses to help the people of San Francisco
When looking around the home of Elizabeth Beeson, there is a particular theme that appears in each room. In one-corner lies a chair covered in prints of miniature horses, across hangs an antique leather halter from Argentina, and facing her bed stands her first saddle. With a closet filled of riding boots, western belts, and the occasion folklorico skirt lying around, her home is a reflection of her love for equestrian and pride in her culture.
With striking crystal blue eyes and the petite frame of 5’2, Liz has been modeling and acting in the San Francisco Bay since she was nine years old and continues to do so, 26 years later. Her resume includes skills in advanced Western and English equestrian, with a certification in therapeutic horseback riding. Previously working as a therapeutic horseback-riding instructor at B.O.K Ranch in Woodside, Calif., Elizabeth Beeson is now branching off on her own, on a mission to help the Mexican-American people of San Francisco.
Beeson is creating Caring Cowgirl, a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding company aimed towards the Mexican-American community and the kids that are stuck in the city.
"I am Mexican. That is my culture. I want to reach out to my Mexican-American community because I know that they are underserved in so many ways. I also know that there are many Mexican-American parents that have kids with special needs that just don’t know that there are resources out there like hippotherapy or adaptive horseback riding,” said Beeson.
“I feel like it is my responsibility as somebody who is bilingual and who knows horses to help people, through horses. That’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Outside of adaptive horseback riding, Beeson would like Caring Cowgirl to be an educational experience for those who are interested in learning more about horses at a ranch that’s 20 minutes south of the city.
She is searching for a location for Caring Cowgirl and is planning on opening in the summer of 2018. While her non-profit is not up and running on a ranch yet, Caring Cowgirl's instagram exhibits equestrian as an art, showcasing the heritage that has largely influenced her style. Elizabeth looks towards Escaramuza, a style of horseback riding in Mexic0, as a source of inspiration. Escaramuza, which came out of the Mexican Revolution, involves women riding sidesaddle at top speed while simultaneously wearing brilliant brightly colored folkorico dresses.
“In American equestrian culture, you’re either a cowgirl and you wear jeans and a cowboy hat or you ride English on English saddle with tight breaches and tall boots,” said Beeson.
“I just like the fact that in the Mexican culture, you can be feminine and masculine at the same time.”
Learn more about Liz at: Caring Cowgirl