Today we’d like to introduce you to Ursula Valencia.
Hi Ursula, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a horse lover and a Unicorn collector. Anything horse or unicorn related that I could get my hands on was so special to me. I had an extensive ‘unicorn collection’ when I was a kid and if you asked me what I wanted to do for fun my answer was always “horseback riding”. I never had my own horse growing up but I never stopped wanting one! I’m pretty sure I also watched the movie “The Last Unicorn” over 100 times!
Cut to me in my 40’s, a fitness, nutrition and competition coach….still no horse of my own, still not sure how to make it happen, loving being in the fitness industry, and still endlessly in love with horses.
As a fitness coach, I work with my good friend Michelle Starkey who owns a gym….and also owns horses!!!!! We would work out and train our clients and then she would be ‘off to the barn’.
I had to get in on this!
So she invited me out to ride…..and that literally changed my life! (Thank you Michelle!!!!)
She introduced me to Debbie Sanger who runs the barn and I started taking lessons. I learned that I could lease a horse if I wanted and that I had options! I always thought I just didn’t have the land or the means to have my own horse but this opened up a lot of possibility!
The more I was there taking lessons, the more I knew I wanted…neeeeeded…a horse of my own! So I got one! Well, Debbie got me one! The biggest blessing! A beautiful chestnut Mare, Charlotte! It felt like a dream!!!!! So for months, I rode and learned and worked with Debbie and Charlotte. I was just smitten.
AND THEN……Debbie brought some mini horses to the barn! A black one and a white one! If you are a horse lover and you have ever seen a mini horse in person, you know how absolutely adorable and amazing they are! I was instantly in love!
Shortly after that, I went to a baby shower where someone set up a “Bohemian Picnic”. I thought it was neat but didn’t think much of it.
When I went back to the barn, I was casually chatting with a friend, Nadine who ended up adopting the white mini Debbie had at the barn. I shared how cute the boho picnic was and she mentioned she loved that style too and wanted to get a boho teepee for her yard. I thought, how cute, a little white mini horse and a teepee!
….and then it hit me, out of the blue……what if I got a white mini horse I could turn into a unicorn and some boho decor and I created a unicorn company?! I could do photoshoots and kid parties and amazing picnic set ups.
I knew it was kind of a crazy idea but it just felt so right!
…but, um….I didn’t have a white horse! Haha!
So I went on a mission….I found an amazing lady, Kasey, who has minis and told her I was looking for a unicorn. It was meant to be because she had a sweet little 16 year old palomino mare that was her grandkids’. They were grown and moved out now and this mini needed the attention! When I went to see her, she was such a sweetie! I pet her and walked away and she followed me for more attention! I KNEW in that moment she would be my Posh Little Unicorn! So I bought her & named her Willow!
Then it was time to form the company!!!! I found horns and wings and white halters and started gathering pillows and teepees for the boho picnics in the unicorn forrest! My husband helped me make some tables, he created my logo and built me a website (he’s the most amazing designer). I bought rugs and all sorts of decor and started to materialize my vision. I called my dear friend Brooke Carver and she agreed to be my photographer!
Once Brooke and I were able to get my vision into some photographs, it was time! The Posh Unicorn was born!!!!!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is anything worth it ever a smooth road??? No!!! I bought a horse but didn’t have a truck or trailer to bring her to parties! Hahahahaha! I also bought a warehouse full of stuff for the picnics that I realized was piling up in my home office and I had no storage for! “I’ll figure it out” is my motto. So I paid friends to let me use their trailer til I got one of my own. I figured out my storage situation, but still, even as I write this, I don’t have a vehicle to tow my new unicorn and trailer! That’s ok though….I’ll figure it out!!!! I just rent a Uhaul for now. Challenges…what challenges??? Haha!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Many people know me as a fitness instructor. I used to be a personal trainer at 24 hour fitness in Rancho, San Diego. After that, I trained out of Michelle’s Fitness Oasis for years before I opened FlexRx Fitness, my online competition coaching business that I run with my partner Alissa Parker. FlexRx is still active and thriving, I just added Unicorns to my skill set!
I do most of my online work during the early mornings and later in the evenings. I spend my days taking care of my teenage daughter and of course, my horses at the barn. I prep the unicorn for events at the barn and plan the parties and events in between!!! I specialize in keeping horses white and making unicorn dreams come true!
I’m known for being just little bit ‘extra’ so it’s fitting that I would open a Unicorn company!!!! I’m most proud that I have been able to realize my dream of owning horses and pay that joy forward to others, young and old, who also love horses and unicorns as much as I do. The smiles on the faces of those who interact with my horses is priceless!
I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness to pursue something really out of the box. It was scary to tell friends and family I was buying a mini and creating a unicorn company! I sounded nuts! The looks I got at first & the “I don’t see your vision” comments…..they were really hurtful but I pushed through and did what my heart felt was right and I’m proud of that! I’m proud that I followed my dream through all the ‘noise’!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see The Posh Unicorn growing! I see more unicorns! I see bigger events and parties! I see bringing more joy to families!!!! I’m starting out with one Unicorn….we will not end there!!!!!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@theposhunicorn.com
- Website: theposhunicorn.com
- Instagram: the_posh_unicorn
- Facebook: @poshunicorn
Image Credits
Brooke Ziegler Photography William Valencia
