Meet Danielle 

You have such deep roots to both the equestrian and surfing world. Can you give us a little background  on your upbringing and how you got involved in both?

I grew up in a surf & turf family. I got my first horse at 4 and have been a horse girl ever since. My Dad made surfboards for velzy and Hobie and he managed the old Hobie surfboard shop for 35 yrs. I grew up in that shop.

 

How has your family and their history shaped how you navigate surfing and riding, and what are the parallels between the two worlds?? 

There's definitely a crossover with the surf life and equestrian life. I feel both horses and the ocean are very therapeutic. Both lifestyles are so connected to the outdoors and nature. We are lucky to live both worlds at the same time. Sand in your toes at the beach and sand under your hooves in the arena. We can go to the beach and ride our horses the same day. I got my beach hat and cowboy hat available at all times. 

 

 

You are a founder, a mom, a competitve rider, a wife, a model, and a rancher. How do you manage it all? How many animals do you look after? 

My life is crazy busy. Taking care of our autistic adult son Isaiah takes top priority. It's a full time job in itself. Running the charity has thankfully been streamlined over the years and we have lots of help. Here on the ranch I have 4 horses, chickens and a dog, of course the horses are a lot of work. I have another young horse in Weatherford Tx in training. And oh ya I did model bathing suits back in the day. 🤪

 

Can you name a few of the equestrian accolades you have achieved? 

Over the years I have competed all over the country placing 3rd in the world, National Champion, and Regional Champion and had many world show finals.

 

 

You founded Surfers Healing with your husband Izzy. Can you tell me how the organization came to be and how it has transformed your relationship with your family and the community?

We started Surfers Healing in 1996 when we realized how therapeutic surfing and the ocean was for Isaiah. It rapidly grew over the years and it is our proudest accomplishment, other than our children.

 

Your family really owns the ‘surf-cowboy’ term. Can we call you the God Mother of the SurfCowboy Culture we have seen lately? How do you and your family blend these two worlds into something uniquely your own? 

My family with Izzy has been a surf-cowgirl/cowboy family ever since we've been together. I taught Izzy how to ride when we were first married in between surf contests. After Isaiah was born, I sold our horses with the new challenges I was facing with him. I started collecting horses and riding again when he was 8. I wasn't the same without horses in my life. I started a program to raise funds for Surfers Healing in 2008 and called it surf&turf. It was the coolest thing. We would ride with the best cowboy-horse trainers in the world (i'm blessed with the connections I have) and they surf with Izzy and our A-team surf instructors from from Paskowitz surf camp. I haven't done it since Covid but definitely thinking of starting up again.  

 

 

Do you have a pre-ride ritual that helps you get into the right head space? 

A pre-ride ritual is just a nice slow warm up trotting circles and checking all my horses buttons. I learned from the best, Bob Avila was my trainer for 13 years and then Corey Cushing. I'm a lucky girl in that department.

 

What’s something about your lifestyle that you never expected to love as much as you do? 

I love driving the tractor. 

 

 

What’s your favorite meal to cook or share after a long day of riding?

My favorite meal to cook is salmon and it's the only thing I'm good at cooking better than Izzy. I always feel really good after I eat it.

 

What is your favorite Mi Cocina product, and why? 

My favorite Mi Cocina product is the apron. I can wear it around the ranch doing chores, it keeps me clean and it's really cute. 

 

 

How did you meet our founder Ulrich (UBI) Simpson? Please feel free to give us some dirt. 

We love Ubi! We met him many years ago when he was a designer for Tommy Hilfiger. Tommy sponsored our surf camp for awhile and we immediately were drawn to him. He gets our humor and he fits right in he's like family. One amazing memory I have of Ubi is going to the key club in Hollywood where my brother was the talent buyer and dancing to Prince for 4 hours. It was like a private show, it was insane!

 

What are you most proud of in your journey so far? 

I'm most proud of my children, starting the first surf therapy of its kind, and being married to Izzy for 39 yrs. That last one has been a bit challenging at times. 😆

 

 

What is your most memorable horseback riding experience? Where was it and who was it with?

I have a couple memorable riding experiences. One was with my husband in Moab Utah where the scenery was so spectacular it didn't look real. The other was with my mom and daughter. We did a couple local rides together and the 3 generations of us riding together was a dream come true. 

 

 

 

 

Check out Danielle's Favorite Songs!