Running Free: An Incredible Story of Love, Survival, and How 200 Horses Trapped in a Wildfire Helped One Woman Find Her Soul

by Ami Cullen

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 she think she would become the Equestrian Director and Head Wrangler at a dude ranch, responsible for the care and safety of 200 horses. Nor 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 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.

198 pages, Paperback

Published August 7, 2024

Reviews

[Rachel Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat this whole story and read it in 3 hours. I love this ranch and know these stories pretty well but loved the way Ami wrote it. I was still holding my breath and sitting on the edge of my seat as I waited to read what would happen with the fire and the horses. 5 stars!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the iconic ranch, its magnificent horses, some of its amazing staff and wranglers, its buildings both before and after the fire; I knew the East Troublesome fire as well - a fire-breathing dragon that threatened and in fact destroyed so much of northern Colorado. To watch that fire raging from my home before I was evacuated might have been the most frightening sight I have ever seen. I also knew of the courage and dedication of the wranglers and volunteers to evacuate the horses—twice—right out from under the nose of that fire-breathing dragon. This book brings it all to life and I loved it.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

This is a beautiful story about saving 200 horses from the East Troublesome Fire. There was no history to draw on for what to do but volunteers from all over Colorado came, bringing trailers, hay, etc. The horses were evacuated twice and all were saved. I did not know much about horses before reading “Running Free.” I was surprised to learn how much personality horses have, and how well they can read the situation they are in.

[Lizard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start? Ami’s book is a page turner: a dramatic telling of the C Lazy U Ranch evacuation during the East Troublesome Fire, and a fearless examination of the author’s values, emotions, and life experiences. All made possible by her connection with horses, who teach us so much about ourselves if we are willing to listen. I hope this is just her first of many books.

[Jennifer Hardcastle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!!! Must read for all the horse girls out there!