It wasn’t your typical start to an interview. But when you’re chatting with someone like Lindsay Jackson, it makes a world of sense.
We took a seat at a table in the Linda Laine Hauck Equestrian Center at Discovery Riders (DR) on a sunny October afternoon. On the other side of a windowed wall, trainer Marleigh Collins worked with a palomino quarter horse named Sunny, a recent addition to their stables.
This particular horse was a gift from one of their students, a woman in her late 60s named Barb who, Lindsay explained, bought the horse at an auction in New Jersey.
DR, a therapeutic equestrian center just outside of Bellefontaine at 1797 State Route 47, draws people to it, whether they want to be a student, a volunteer and/or a supporter. Barb, for instance, has been all three.
You might say it was inevitable that Lindsay, who just celebrated her third anniversary as director of DR, would one day end up in a job that combined two of her passions—ministry and horses. But, really, she’s simply following in her mother’s footsteps.
Lindsay’s mom, Linda (Boy) Hauck, grew up around Bellefontaine and still has family in the area. That’s what brought the Haucks here from Chicago before Lindsay started school.
Shortly after they arrived, Linda became director of the center, a position she held for over 20 years, until her sudden death in February 2018. At the time, Lindsay was employed at the family business—PowerBuilt Material Handling Solutions in Bellefontaine.
Though she enjoyed working with her dad, Rick Hauck, Lindsay felt it wasn’t where she was meant to be.
As much as horses would one day be a major part of her life, they were a big part of her past as well. Lindsay got involved in 4-H and started showing horses in her early teens. She was also on the Logan County Fair Board.
“Mom had a love of horses,” Lindsay said. “I got a Tennessee walking horse when I was 13.”
After graduating from high school in 2003, Lindsay attended Malone University in Canton, Ohio, where she planned to study early education. It wasn’t long, though, before she realized it wasn’t the right fit.
“I had it in my head I wanted to teach elementary education. I loved babysitting and spending time with kids. But as I got into it, those thoughts changed.”
Her desire to serve led Lindsay to switch to a social work major, and that’s what she earned her degree in four years later. With diploma in hand, Lindsay returned home to Bellefontaine.
Throughout her years in college, she had spent her summers working as a camp counselor at the Hilliker YMCA. That position led her to her first post-college full-time job: youth program director at the Y.
In 2008, Lindsay married Brad Jackson and they had their first child, Landon, in 2010. Nine months later, she left her position at the Y and went to work for her dad at PowerBuilt doing office and clerical work. As the business grew, Lindsay also oversaw the human resources side.
Though she enjoyed the work for that season in her life, she recognized it was temporary.
“As I evaluated my career path, I felt I was missing the opportunity to serve people in my community and have an impact,” she explained. “Not that it was bad, but I was missing that piece I’d gone to school for.”
Then, in December of 2017, her mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and, less than three months later, she was gone, leaving a hole in Lindsay’s life … and in the ministry of Discovery Riders.
Over the next several years, the DR board went through a number of directors. In her memory, Linda’s husband and family started to build the equestrian center as a gift to the ministry. They decided a family member needed to represent them on the board, so Lindsay stepped into that role.
When the most recent DR director stepped down in October 2021 to start a family, the board came to Lindsay with a proposal.
“I was missing my mom a bunch and struggling with wanting to do something different with my life. That’s when board president Kelli Bader asked if I’d be interested in being director and continuing Mom’s legacy.”
Seeing this as just what she was looking for, Lindsay resigned from her job at PowerBuilt and accepted the directorship. And discovered it was a good fit.
“I took the reins, if you will,” Lindsay said. “I looked at all the pieces and parts of what was going on. It’s helped me grow as a person and fulfill my longing to serve.”
Under Lindsay, DR has hired a program coordinator and a barn manager. They’ve increased their exposure in Logan County and the surrounding area. And they’re continuing to change lives.
“Using my love for people and horses, I feel I’m making a positive impact and continuing my mom’s legacy.”
The ministry holds several fundraisers a year, including the annual Market at the Barn on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brad, who manages the Jackson family farm in DeGraff and owns Mustard Seed Excavation, and Lindsay also have a daughter, Amelia, who is 8 and following in her grandmother’s footsteps.
“She lives and breathes horses,” Lindsay admitted.
Lindsay is grateful for the opportunity to change lives with her family right next to her. In fact, her kids head out to the barn after school and volunteer their time to the ministry.
“When you come to Discovery Riders, everyone is family,” Lindsay said with a smile. “Everyone who walks through those doors knows they have a fresh start. And I hope they realize they’re not alone.”
For Lindsay, the truth is simple: she’s finally found where she’s supposed to be.
As I was preparing to leave about an hour after the interview started, a woman walked up to us. She’d just driven an hour, she said, apologizing for not calling and setting up an appointment. But she wanted to see if there was a place for her to volunteer.
“Sure,” Lindsay said with a welcoming smile. “I’m the director. Let me give you a tour.”
To find out how you can be a part of Discovery Riders, call (937) 935-6545, check out their website at discoveryriders.org, or visit their Facebook page, Discovery Riders Inc. You can also email Lindsay directly at [email protected].