Shannon Hildebrandt grew up in rural Virginia and North Carolina, surrounded by woods, horses, and stories—an environment that shaped both her imagination and her values from an early age. A lifelong hiker, backpacker, snowboarder, and equestrian, Shannon’s deep connection to the outdoors has fostered a lasting interest in nature, conservation, and humanity’s responsibility to the natural world.

From Pony Club to barrel racing to guiding treks in New Zealand, Shannon has spent much of her life on horseback, experiencing the world both from the saddle and on her own two feet. Alongside horses and adventure, books have always been a constant passion—one that eventually led her to storytelling of her own.

In 2017, Shannon moved to Chicago, where she began her professional career in the corporate world. Her job later took her to Saratoga Springs, New York, a transition that would ultimately change the trajectory of her life. In 2022, with the support of her boyfriend, Mario Dino—owner of the Saratoga Polo School—Shannon made the decision to leave corporate life and pursue an unexpected opportunity.