Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeni Ni
Hi Jeni, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey has been a bit unconventional and meandering, but each step has led me to where I am today. I started my career in fashion, working as a buyer in my early 20s, which led me to move to NYC and later to LA for different fashion roles. In 2017, I ventured into entrepreneurship by starting my own fashion-tech company.
However, my passion for cooking, creating community, and travel led me to shift gears, and I moved to France to attend culinary school, specializing in cuisine and patisserie. I lived in the south of France until the COVID pandemic brought me back to the U.S.
During this time, I rekindled a childhood passion—horseback riding. Growing up in Boston, I rarely had the chance to ride, aside from occasional visits to my cousin’s horse or the week-long horse camps in different locations we visited that I could coerce my parents into signing me up for. My love for riding really took root during my teenage years when I spent time with our close family friends – the Simmers- who had 40 acres, 16 grandkids, and a herd of horses. My father was diagnosed with cancer when I was 15, and my parents sent me down to stay with them during his summer treatments. Those carefree rides without saddles, and riding wild with just halters, sparked something in me that I carry through my life.
Fast forward to 2023, I’ve been riding in Orange County since COVID-19 (the perfect socially distanced activity!) and had a life-changing trip to Morocco last April to celebrate a friend’s milestone birthday. This trip connected me with amazing riders and ranchers, leading to multiple returns to Morocco and several sponsored riding opportunities in Turkiye, Ireland, Jordan, and beyond.
Right now, I work full-time as the Head of Marketing for a non-profit, but my passion for horseback riding has become a significant part of my life. I create horse-related content on Instagram and TikTok, and I’ve even started hosting horseback riding retreats. I even incorporated riding a horse bareback as my surprise entry into our wedding this past October! I’m building a brand with my husband, and leaning into the opportunities provided through the horse-y content creation. It’s incredibly fulfilling to turn a childhood dream into reality, and I’m excited to see where this all will take me next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve never really followed the traditional path, and I think growing up I felt like maybe there was something wrong with the way that I was moving through life. Now, I try to embrace the unique ways that my mind works, and really lean into the joy that things bring me. I don’t want to follow the “life I’m supposed to lead”, I want to live a life that I can look back on and be excited about.
Understandably, my mother was not a huge fan of me working in fashion at the beginning, and then when I decided I didn’t want to work in fashion anymore, she was not a huge fan of me “throwing away” a decade of career experience. But at the end of the day, I trust that I will land on my feet, and need to work and live in the way that makes most sense for me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come as a rider over the past year and the impact my content has had on others. My videos and experiences have resonated with people, and it’s truly rewarding when viewers reach out to share how I’ve inspired them to start riding, return to the saddle, or even book their first horseback riding vacation.
What sets me apart is my passion for connecting with people and exploring the world by horseback. There’s something uniquely beautiful about experiencing new places from the back of a horse, immersing yourself in nature, and discovering hidden landscapes that can only be accessed on horseback.
I’m driven by a desire to inspire others to connect with horses, which I believe are incredibly spiritual animals that have a profound impact on the soul. In a country where horseback riding has become less accessible, I’m committed to creating opportunities for more people to experience the joy and connection that comes from working with horses.
Ultimately, I’m most proud of the inspiration I provide to others and the connections I’ve made along the way. I hope to be able to funnel this passion into an avenue that can create more opportunity for people to connect with horses in an accessible way.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Fostering a deep connection with both people and animals – creating joyful, inspiring content. Leading by example. Living a life that might seem unconventional but works. This is incredibly fulfilling because it allows me to share the joy, freedom, and spiritual enrichment that comes from riding and working with horses, and traveling the world.
Horses have been a lifelong passion of mine, and I believe they have a unique ability to ground us, teach us patience, and help us reconnect with nature. What drives me is the opportunity to inspire others to experience this bond, especially in a world where such connections are becoming increasingly rare.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pillar.io/thejenini
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejenini/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejenini
Image Credits
Selim Sendal
Liz Andolina
Cheval Essaouira
