Dark Horse Colorado by Dark Horse Apparel - Home of "Love yourself Always"

Dark Horse definition, Marriam-Webster: A person who has interesting qualities or abilities that most people do not know about.

Dark Horse definition, Cambridge Dictionary: A person who keeps their interests and ideas secret, especially someone who has a surprising ability or skill.



We provide high quality apparel with a mission.


Each piece is designed with style, comfort, and quality in mind. Best of all, you can feel great about every purchase you make, knowing a great cause is being supported. We donate a healthy percentage of every sale to local organizations. We are dedicated to helping the victims of childhood mental and physical abuse.

Together, we can help women everywhere to live better lives.

An Open Letter To Those Concerned About Childhood Abuse

From the desk of the founder.

I never thought my life would be touched by childhood abuse. I was fortunate. I was blessed with a mother who loved me, and a stepfather who cared for me. While we all have our ups and downs with our parents, mine were far from abusive.

When I was 14 years old my little sister was born. We would fight over Little Mermaid or Lion King—and somehow she always got to watch Little Mermaid. I thought I had problems! I had no clue what was going on in the homes of many of my peers. I wasn’t aware of how every 10 seconds a child is abused or raped. Of the 1.5 million runaway children, 85% are fleeing some form of abuse. Thinking about this makes my heart sink.

It is difficult to imagine what it must be like for the victims, but I try. I personally battled with depression, hurt, and hang ups with alcohol. 14 years of darkness until I finally received the help I needed to combat the darkness with love.

Recently, someone who was a victim of childhood abuse has profoundly impacted my life. This person lives everyday with the pain, guilt, shame, and scars that have yet to heal. The victim isn’t the only one that feels the pain. It also spills over to the ones that love them as well. My heart breaks more every day, knowing that abuse both mentally and physically happens to our loved ones, our most precious gifts.

I knew that abuse happened, and I always felt bad when I heard anything about it. I learned that 1 in 3 girls would be sexually molested before the age of 17. Once it impacted me on a personal level because of my close relationship with someone who lived through it, however, I could no longer sit back and do nothing.

For every 3.3-million child-abuse cases reported, 2 more go unreported. In your group of friends these statistics prove that one of them is a victim—you just might not know about it.

Some victims choose to ignore the pain and hurt, and force it into submission. The only problem with this is that it doesn’t go away and begins to eat them alive from the inside. 80% of victims meet the criteria for at least one psychological disorder as adults.

Like a thorn that has never been pulled out, first you put a band aide over it, then maybe a cast, and soon they protect that pain from the thorn by pushing everyone away so that no one will bump the thorn in them causing more pain each time it is touched. The only problem is this thorn is now infected and festering into a wound that, without treatment, can lead to isolation, chronic illness and even death.

Today 6 children will commit suicide due to child abuse. Some victims have yet to ask for help for the deep hurt they feel—only opening up enough to feel some small semblance of love, and then the sense of hurt comes rushing back. They slam the door to their heart even harder, making the next time, if there is a next time, only that much more painful to reopen.

While there is nothing we can do to go back in time to prevent the abuse, I want each and every person that is a victim of this terrible crime to know they are loved unconditionally. Just like the loved one in my life that was a victim, and who means everything to me, your friends need to know that people do care, wont judge them, and need to know that speaking up is ok. Your story can help others out of the pits of depression, self-destruction and unloving relationships.

It is my goal to help raise money to prevent abuse and provide proper counseling for the victims, so that victims can have a safe place that loves them and never judges them. In the process, we can share these stories so that they can make a difference in someone’s life.

You have to “Love Yourself Always”. This quote is from my best friend and the person who means the world to me. Love Yourself Always is our brand and message. In the spirit of making sure that it always stays personal, I created the logo using my own handwriting. You have to love yourself before you can love someone else. It’s my goal to bring the Dark Horse Apparel Love Yourself Always message to people everywhere.

Here is how you can help. With your purchase of any Dark Horse Apparel item, a donation will be made to one of our approved charities or causes of your choice. While wearing the message “Love Yourself Always,” I hope to inspire conversation and action.

Share the importance of calling attention to child abuse. Please share your story of how this message and the money generated have inspired people to love themselves and love others.

If there is anyone that you know who needs help, please don’t just ignore him or her. Reach out and let them know that you love them unconditionally and that there are people like us who care.