Keli Hendricks

Keli and I first met in 2011, just after she had retired as a professional horse competitor and trainer. She was at a crossroads, exploring ways she could give her time and talents back to animals, and finding herself drawn to help wildlife for reasons she describes in this conversation. 

Keli's background begins with a childhood full of dogs and horses, followed by college studies in Animal Science and she worked for some of the top trainers of cow horses in the country before turning professional herself in the mid 1990’s. She trained and showed cutting, reining and cow horses for over 15 years, and after retiring she began volunteering for Project Coyote as the organization's Ranching With Wildlife Coordinator, and Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, fostering wild animals and working in the hospital.

We filmed together on two occasions at her home in Petaluma on the 500 acre cattle ranch run by her husband, Dean Spinelli.

The Interview