Nikki was raised on St. Thomas and learned how to ride at age 10 years old with Jerry James. Jerry gave Nikki her first two horses, one of which was a retired Thoroughbred from off the track who Nikki retrained. She took a break from horses and riding while she attended the University of North Carolina for her Bachelors and then Tulane University in New Orleans for her Master’s in Public Health with a focus on International Health and Development. After working in the public health nonprofit sector in New Orleans for a few years, Nikki then moved back to St. Thomas to work on a disaster recovery project with the VI Department of Health.  Nikki stepped in to help and temporarily manage the ranch after Jerry’s sudden passing, and continues to engage with the ranch as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors. She is passionate about rehabilitating and offering the retired racehorses a second chance, as well as providing the community with a hub for learning about and enjoying the horses.