Never rich enough. Never connected enough. Never feeling like she fit in. That’s how Emme felt when it came to the incredible wealth and privilege of the hunter/jumper world. But she loved the horses. So, for a time, she tried to compete — graduating law school and passing the bar exam, traveling in the “right” social circles, and getting engaged to the entitled son of the CEO of one of the fastest-growing hedge fund companies. For a time, the façade worked . . . until she couldn’t pretend that this was the life she wanted. It was time to make a change. A major change.
Not in her wildest imagination did Emme think she would become the Head Wrangler at a dude ranch, responsible for the care and safety of 200 horses. Or did she imagine she’d be the one to save those horses from a terrible wildfire. But she did, all while learning important lessons about trust, love, leadership, and life itself. While friends and family accused her of running away, Emme knew the truth: she was running free for the first time ever – because sometimes leaving everything behind is the only way to get what you really want out of life.
Celebrated for over a century for its rustic elegance, legendary service, and exceptional horsemanship, The C Lazy U guest ranch in Granby, Colorado, found itself in the destructive path of one of the worst fires in the recorded history of Colorado—the East Troublesome Fire—in October 2020. Running Free is a fictionalized account of this event.
Ami Cullen hails from Chester County, Pennsylvania, where her love for horses first blossomed. Growing up, she competed in the hunter/jumper discipline at the national level. After earning her law degree from the Catholic University School of Law in Washington, D.C., Ami practiced medical malpractice defense law at a firm in Bethesda, Maryland. However, it was during a vacation at the C Lazy U Ranch that she discovered her true passion—ranch life and taking care of horses.
Currently, Ami is the Director of Equestrian Operations and oversees all aspects of the C Lazy U Ranch’s Equine Program. Certified as a Horsemanship Association Instructor in both English and Western disciplines, Ami delights in connecting people with horses and teaching novice equestrians’ horsemanship.
Ami resides in Granby, Colorado, with her husband Mike, their cat, River, and their two dogs: Esther, a Blue Heeler, and Arlo, a Jack Russell Terrier. Her journey from legal practice to ranch life is a testament to following one’s heart and finding fulfillment in unexpected places.
