HHRF Committees & Volunteers

Dale Brown - Finance Committee

Dale Brown has over 40 years of experience in non-profit entities and public companies.  His background includes all phases of public and private reporting, treasury, accounting, process and procedures and SOX documentation.  He is a graduate of Penn State University and has a CPA and CMA certificates in good standing.  Dale’s  passion is to work with non-profit organizations as he looks to retire from public company life.

Connie Estopinal- Houston, TX | Finance Committee

As the managing partner at Mohle Adams, Connie is responsible for the firm’s overall business and marketplace strategy. She also manages the firm’s tax practice.

Employed with Mohle Adams since 1985, Connie became managing partner in 1999. Prior to joining Mohle Adams, she worked in the tax section of a national accounting firm and in the corporate tax department of a Fortune 500 company.

Born and reared in the Midwest, Connie enjoyed ice skating and sledding as a child, but chose to rear her own three children—Jason, Kriste and Dane—in the warmer climate of Texas. She is married to Eric Estopinal, who shares her love of outdoor activities, including hiking and cycling in the Texas Hill Country. They dream of the day they will build their retirement home west of Austin and enjoy the quiet.

SALLY LEHNHARDT - Finance Committee

Sally recently retired as Vice President of Information Technology. She has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Montana State University. Sally rode her first pony at 2 ½ and her connection to horses has grown from that moment. She has competed in 4H, Western Pleasure, Saddle Seat, Driving, Hunter/Jumpers, Dressage and now owns an eventer. Sally is a life long learner, an avid reader, and a lover of all animals, especially dogs and horses. She currently has two rescue dogs and her horse.

"I have seen the impact horses have on people. They can bring out confidence that didn’t exist, they can help someone’s body learn balance and improve core strength and they can teach communication in many verbal and non-verbal ways. HHRF is providing the scientific research to show how this connection can be used to help people in many ways and to therapy with horses become more accessible to those who need it."

Kim Berggren - Development Committee

 Kim has been a lifelong horse person, starting in the back yards of Wisconsin. She has been involved in the Equine Assisted Service industry for over 25 years as an instructor, mentor, and consultant. She has traveled across the country and made several trips to other countries helping people develop their skills and programs. She is a Path Intl’ Advanced Instructor, CTRI, ESMHL, PATH Intl’ Mentor, Advance Instructor, Evaluator, and site visitor. She has volunteered in several different roles for PATH Intl’, including serving on the Governance committee and the Board of directors.  Kim is also a   4-H Horse project leader. Kim Loves the outdoors with fishing being one of her favorite activities. She also enjoys photography and playing hockey.

Emily Mahoney - Development Committee

Emily is a life-long animal lover and advocate. She has been partnering with horses both professionally and personally throughout her working career. Emily started as a stable hand, worked as a certified therapeutic riding instructor, and now works as an occupational therapist, partnering with horses while working with kids and adolescents. She completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science, B.S. at SUNY Cobleskill and earned her graduate degree in Occupational Therapy, MSOT at Ithaca College. Her graduate research thesis explored the lived experience of autistic individuals who engaged in Equine Assisted Services. Emily currently partners with a number of equine facilities in New Hampshire to provide accessible occupational therapy services to a wide variety of clients. She is an avid hiker and outdoor adventurer and loves finding creative ways to connect with others.

“My lived experience has shown me that connection with horses benefits my physical, emotional, spiritual, and social being. I’m passionate about exploring the research behind these benefits so that others can understand the magic that is the horse. Research serves as a catalyst for increased understanding, accessibility, and connection. I find it important to partner with foundations such as HHRF to explore the “how’s” and the “why’s” behind Equine Assisted Services.”

Hallie Sheade - Development Committee

Dr. Hallie Sheade holds a PhD in Counseling from the University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). Dr. Sheade also holds PATH Intl. credentials as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Her practice, Equine Connection Counseling, has provided over 7,500 sessions of equine-assisted counseling, specializing in military and at-risk youth clients. Other professional interests include trauma, multicultural and diversity competency, counselor education and training, equine welfare, and ethical issues in equine-assisted counseling and psychotherapy. She pioneered the Relational Equine-Partnered Counseling and Equine-Partnered Play Therapy approaches for equine-assisted counseling and psychotherapy. Dr. Sheade is passionate about training and educating others in the field of equine-assisted counseling and psychotherapy. She is the author of textbook, Healing Through Horses: Equine-Assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy. She has also presented as numerous professional conferences, co- authored peer review articles, and provides training and consultation for interns and other professionals. She currently serves on PATH Intl.'s Health and Education Advisory Committee and Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, and is a Faculty Candidate for the ESMHL workshop.

“Research is critically-needed in the equine-assisted services industries in order to increase accessibility to services, develop and implement ethical practices, and provide effective services. Rigorous research is an important component in ensuring that these services not only meet the needs of clients but are sustainable and promote a mutually-beneficial human-equine relationship.”

Jennifer Strong - Development Committee

Jennifer Strong is a fundraising professional with experience in small non-profit development and higher education advancement. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from UMass Amherst and will complete her MBA in 2025. Outside of work and graduate school Jen is a parent to three children, all of whom enjoy “horsin’ around” with Mom, for example volunteering at a local equine rescue facility, or taking riding or driving lessons together. Horses have helped Jen develop as a human, and through knowing them she reveres them. Other interests include serving as a Special Education Advocate, learning about neurodiversity, and spending time outdoors running, hiking, or biking with loved ones, especially her partner Eric.

Leslie Kieffer Amann - Governance Committee

Leslie Kiefer Amann writes, lectures, and consults on fiduciary administration and estate planning topics bringing to that work, significant fiduciary and banking experience, including work as a Market Trust Executive for a large publicly traded national bank as well as serving as Assistant General Counsel at a regional bank.  Leslie joined Sentinel Trust in 2006 to serve clients with highly complex fiduciary needs and ensure consistency and best practices companywide. She eventually became the firm’s first Chief Fiduciary Officer. She retired to be a consulting role Of Counsel in 2021 but remains a shareholder of Sentinel Trust.  Leslie was elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel in 2018. Prior to working in financial services, Leslie practiced law in a firm focused on complex business litigation for 8 years and taught as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center for 12 years. She also worked as a legislative administrator for a Texas State Senator during three legislative sessions prior to entering law school.

OCTAVIA J. BROWN, ED.M., D.H.L. EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF EQUINE STUDIES, CENTENARY UNIVERSITY - Education committee

Born in England, Octavia emigrated to the USA in 1964.  She earned her Master of Education degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1971 and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2008 by Centenary University.   A founder of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (now PATH International) in 1969, she served four terms on the board of directors. She is a PATH Master Instructor and has chaired numerous committees for PATH, including Standards & Education and Certification.   Now retired from Centenary University, she directed Therapeutic Riding At Centenary for 23 years as both a PATH Accredited program and training site for future TR instructors.

 Dr. Brown is past president of the Federation Riding for the Disabled International, having served six years on the board of trustees.   She was honored in 1982 as NJ Horse Person of the Year by the NJ Horse Council.  In 1990, she received the PATH Directors’ Award and the President’s Award.  In 1998, she was awarded PATH’s highest honor, the James Brady Award for Lifetime Achievement in Therapeutic Riding.  In 2008, with Karen T. Bocksel, she was honored with the PATH President’s Award for their work on producing a training video for instructors seeking PATH certification, as well as a volunteer training video currently in use nation-wide.

C. MIKE TOMLINSON, DVM, MBA - Governance & Education Committees

Dr. Mike Tomlinson became an avid horseperson in the fifth grade. From that point on, his life has been focused on horses. Mike earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of California at Davis. The first job after picking up his diploma was working at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He had a performance horse practice until returning from the Stockholm World Equestrian Games, when several of his best clients explained that he cannot be gone for six weeks straight for the events – he had to choose between traditional veterinary practice and doing the big events. It was clear which way he was to go. So it was back to school, this time earning his Masters of Business Administration (MBA). Since then, Mike has been a C-level executive of several corporations, continuing today as the CEO, COO and/or Board Member of several multinational corporations. He has been extremely active in para equestrian sports since 2000 including helping found the US Para Equestrian Association in 2010 and being an executive board member for a decade thereafter. He is very active in sport governance having been on the USEF board for 12 years and still very active with several equestrian sport organizations. Dr. Mike has been Chef d’Equipe for the USET Endurance Team and the USET Team Vet for numerous competitions including three World Equestrian Games. He is a FEI Vet for Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, Vaulting, Para Equestrian, and Jumping, a FEI Steward, and is a FEI ‘O’ Judge, Course Designer and Technical Delegate in Endurance. Dr. Mike lives in Southern California where he can enjoy riding year ‘round. In a typical year Mike teaches FEI Officials’ courses and officiated at over 20 FEI 3, 4 and 5 star events in countries all around the globe.

“I am a believer - I know positively that horses facilitate an accelerated path to healing and personal progress.  What a thrill to support research that encourages the world to make it more accessible."

Kathleen Choe

Kathleen is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor with a private practice in Austin, Texas.  She is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy through the EMDR International Association and in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy through the Natural Lifemanship Institute, and enjoys combining these powerful specialties to serve people recovering from trauma, catastrophic loss and toxic stress.  Kathleen’s childhood was full of furry friends, including horses, dogs, cats, bunnies, hamsters and chickens and she loves how her “outdoor office” at the farm offers clients a chance to experience the similar benefits of being in nature surrounded by animals, including her trusted equine partners:  Sterling, Copper, Spirit and Chief.  In addition to providing therapy, Kathleen is committed to growing the Equine Assisted Services field through training, teaching, writing and continually learning.  In her spare time, Kathleen enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren, and her rescue dog Emma.

Shellie Kwitkowski - Education Committee

Shellie Kwitkowski earned her undergraduate degree from Lake Erie College in Equine Studies and returned to Lake Erie College years later for her Master's of Business Administration.

Shellie is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at Franklin University. Her working dissertation topic is What Benefits Do Veterans Receive from Equine Assisted Services and is expected to be complete in 2024.

 Shellie is the Program Director at Dreams on Horseback in Blacklick, Ohio. She is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) Certified Therapeutic (Horseback) Riding and (Carriage) Driving Instructor. She previously worked at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center in Chagrin Falls, OH as an instructor and led the Farm's Mobile Mini program, taking a miniature horse out into the community to therapy centers, schools, and assisted living facilities. She currently serves on the Equine Services for Heroes Committee with PATH. A lifelong equestrian, Shellie frequently competes around the Midwest in combined driving and pleasure driving competitions with her Hackney Horse, Beaumont.

Marny Mansfield - Education Committee

Marny Mansfield, MS, MS, OTR/L, is a PATH Intl. Master Certified Instructor, CTRI, ESMHL, PATH International Registered Therapist, Mentor, Certification Faculty/ Evaluator, and Special Olympics coach.  She has served on the PATH Intl. Riding Certification and Certification Oversight Committees and has been Vermont state chair two times. She received the PATH Intl. Professional of the Year nationally and for Region 2 in 2014. She is currently an Associate Professor for the Bachelors of Technology in Therapeutic Horsemanship (approximately 30-32 majors and 10 minors) and Program Director of the community-based program at the State University of New York (SUNY ) Cobleskill. She currently owns and partners with her three Norwegian Fjords and seven other hardworking partners at SUNY Cobleskill.   She has provided therapy, recreationally-based lessons, instructor and therapist education, mentorship, and practiced in the field of equine-assisted services for over 25 years.  She has worked at programs both large and small and is a lifelong horsewoman. She completed the Masters in Public Policy at Tufts University Veterinary School (now Cummings Veterinary School) and her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University.  She spends her free time on the ski mountain, riding, rowing, enjoying the outdoors, playing with family, friends, and pets, and travelling.  

Research drives best practices and is important to drive the education of future professionals and to continue to expand the body of knowledge for the sustainability of  the Equine-assisted services field.

Elizabeth Richardson, PhD - Education Committee

Elizabeth discovered the power of horses as an adult and purchased her first two horses after she obtained academic tenure. Deciding to merge her professional background as a psychologist with her passion for horses, she pursued training in equine-assisted services. She regularly facilitates equine-assisted learning sessions for veterans and at-risk youth. Elizabeth received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University, and specialized in clinical health psychology while completing her internship, postdoctoral fellowship, and junior faculty years at Brown Medical School. Elizabeth is currently a Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and brings more than two decades of clinical research experience to support the mission of HHRF.

Andrea Suk - Education Committee

Dr. Andrea Suk coordinated the Education Committee’s December 2020 webinar survey. She is an assistant professor of inclusion at Salisbury University in Maryland and has been a PATH Intl. certified instructor since 2007. Andrea has been a high school special education teacher in Illinois, Arizona, and Texas. In that capacity, she received distinct recognition for her leadership as the ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering mentor group for high school students) mentor of the year in Phoenix, the Wal-mart Teacher of the Year (Glendale, Arizona), and is a Target Grant Field Trip recipient for bringing her students to a PATH Intl. premier accredited ranch to learn about and participate in Equine Assisted Services. In her doctoral studies work, Andrea conducted a single-case, multiple-baseline design, research study to identify if teaching individuals with disabilities to self-monitor their own riding goals, within the Equine Assisted Services environment, had an effect on attainment of their goals. Pictured is Andrea and Hank, the horse that she credits for connecting her love of horses and supporting individuals with disabilities (Central Illinois Riding Therapy).

Dr. Rebecca Rose Wara-Goss, LMFT, Ph.D., AAMFT & OR Approved Supervisor Candidate, PATH Intl. CTRI & ESMHL - Education Committee

Dr. Rebecca is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Portland, Oregon, USA. She is the Founder/Executive Director, Clinical Supervisor, and Principal Researcher & Research Design Consultant of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc.®, and is the Founder/Owner of the private practice Eudaemonia Connections Counseling Services for Mental Health Treatment and Transpersonal Wellness, LLC. Since 2011, Dr. Rebecca has worked in traditional, office-based counseling psychotherapy and, since 2012, has worked in equine-assisted services (EAS) in both therapeutic/adaptive riding and equine-assisted/facilitated psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning (i.e., EAMH/EAL); and in both practice areas she has worked with diverse client populations in individual, group, couples, and with children, adolescents, and adults. Her counseling experiences include in-patient youth psychiatric stabilization services, special education mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and general social rehabilitative management in agencies, nonprofits, schools, and group and individual private practice settings. Dr. Rebecca specializes in transpersonal psychology, humanistic and client-centered psychology, somatic and holistic psychology, psychosynthesis, and animal-assisted therapy (AAT)/equine-assisted services (EAS) in psychotherapy treatment and learning that includes interactions with horses (i.e., equine-assisted mental health (EAMH)); in addition to evidenced-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused (TF)-CBT, trauma-informed care (TIC), solution-focused, and strengths-based psychotherapies.

Alicia van den Abeele - Education Committee

Alicia van den Abeele is a Zoologist, with a Master of Research in Anthrozoology specialized in horse-human communication. Alicia works as a horse trainer, equine specialist and nature-inspired artist. Her hands-on and academic sheds important light on our transformative relationship with the natural world, more specifically with horses. 

 “HHRF’s mission is incredibly important in furthering our scientific understanding of the horse-human relationship to improve horse welfare, equine practice, and our the uniquely transformative relationship horses can provide to us. HHRF’s work is furthermore crucial as it provides a platform for equine practitioners and equine researchers to share knowledge, and to expand our understanding of the horse-human relationship.”

Molly Sweeney - Equine Well-Being Committee

Molly Sweeney is the founder of the Horses and Human Research Foundation. She is originally from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where she was blessed to grow up with horses in her back yard and still has 5 horses in her pasture in TX. Molly became involved with Equine Assisted services in 1990, when she started volunteering with SIRE, a local program in Houston TX. Molly was a volunteer there for over 20 years, was the Equine Director evaluating horses for the program and also served multiple terms as the Board President. She served on the NARHA (now PATH, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) Board from 1996 to 2002. Molly says she is not a researcher herself, but has never outgrown that childhood phase where one is always asking, "But WHY?"

"When HHRF was founded the emphasis was on rigorous research to record the results for humans in horse/human interactions. Then we added the Education piece to spread the word of the results. A newer emphasis has been added that also looks at the impact on the horse in the horse/human relationship. Once we understand that better, we can begin to explain HOW the horse affects the human. That will lead us to a new paradigm on health that moves away from chemistry and into whatever it is that the horse does. For me, it's about energy fields."

Anna Baucum - Equine Well-Being Committee

Anna Baucum currently works at Brook Hill Farm as a supervisor, Vet Tech and holds a certification through Path International as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.  She graduated with a degree in Psychology that she uses with the at risk youth at the farm. She grew up with horses, working at various barns, learning natural horse behavior.   She has spoken at both the national and regional conferences as well as at the Temple Grandin center, and has been a coach at the United States Pony Club Championships in show jumping.  Anna is proud to be a member of the Equine Well-Being committee for the Humans and Horses Research Foundation, a national organization.

Trish Broersma - Equine Well-Being Committee

I roam the mountains surrounding Ashland in southern Oregon on my horses, Mystic and Journey, and offer experiences for people and horses alike to explore new possibilities for their lives. I also enjoy bringing visual brilliance through web and print media to the deeper vision of those whose work makes a positive difference in our world.

I have been a therapeutic riding professional since 1988, certified as a PATH Intl Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist, and Mentor, as well as past president of EFMHA (Equine Facilitated Mental Health Assn, a section of NARHA) and a member of the PATH Intl Equine Welfare committee. I spent eleven years developing and conducting an equine assisted learning program in human development for at-risk teens and adults in transition, published in 2007 by New World Library Riding into Your Mythic Life: Transformational Adventures with the Horse. Since then my work has focused on deepening the horse/human relationship for global purposes, with an emphasis on body-based modalities, the power of story, and liberty training with horses for eliciting their willingness, wisdom, and enthusiasm for interactions with people. I've been director and head instructor for two PATH Intl premier accredited therapeutic riding centers. Nine years ago I founded Riding Beyond, whose mission is to open doors to the future for women recovering from breast cancer treatment through the horse/human connection.  trishbroersma.com tells more. 

Marcie WILD - Co-Chair Equine Well-being Committee

Marcie Wild (formerly Ehrman) is a member of the Board of Directors of HHRF, co-chair of their Equine Well-Being Committee, and prior co-chair of the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee.

As a lifelong equine advocate, she has been involved in the EAS field for over 20 years, and has presented and published articles internationally on topics involving equine welfare. Marcie has held positions as the Director of Equine Assisted Services at a large residential facility, and instructor and director of volunteer services at several Premier Accredited PATH Centers. She has worked with The EQUUS Foundation, and recently sat on the Board of Directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension, where she serves as advisor for their equine programming.

Arnau Gomà Font, Spain | equine well-being committee

 Even though I don't come from a family with a horse background, apparently I showed an interest in horses from a very early age, and my parents supported it so I started having riding “lessons” at the age of five once a week with a family friend. And that was the beginning of it all. There is a quote that quite reflects my journey with horses "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”. My horsemanship is all about that if it involves horses I am in. Been involved with show jumping, eventing, dressage, alta escuela, natural horsemanship, academic art of riding, trail riding. You name it.

 I have been blessed in my path with horses to be able to acquire knowledge and learn from great horsemen and horsewomen, by attending clinics, reading their books, enrolling in their training programs or personally meeting them and having the opportunity to see them work and share experiences.

 I don’t want to forget the great horses, and I have been blessed in that sense, that allowed me to be part of their lives from “Xocolate” the first school master that allowed a 5 year old horse loving boy to have his first experience on a horse back, our first horse “Arai” ( got the name from putin together the first letters of my name and my sisters name), “Jeanluc” the horse that really taught me what jumping could be, or “Zyhad” the youngster I am starting at the moment, just to name some.

 At the moment I share my life with a wonderful herd of 8 horses, two ponies and a jenny. So I am living the dream.

 “HHRF is paving the way for a deeper understanding of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and well-being. Joining efforts, provides the opportunity to become masters of this field, enhancing knowledge and benefiting both humans and equines alike."

Cathy Languerand - Equine Well-Being Committee

As a lifelong Horsewoman, learning to train, teach, share and listen to the horses has been my life's mission.

 I have spent the last forty years following this full time passion to become a Master Instructor. I have been an active member of the United States Pony Club, United States Eventing Association, Masters of Fox Hunting Association, Certified Horsemanship Association Master Instructor, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Intl. Riding and Driving, a Reach Out to Horses Instructor with Anna Twinney, Bio Energetic Techniques with Dr. Regan Golob, and Irwin Insight Instructor Mounted, In-hand, and Driving with Chris Irwin. Teaching, training, managing farms, all levels of students, all types of horses from untouched, to performance horses, and therapy horses has allowed me to work with many thousands of horses and their humans in the most effective and compassionate way possible.

As I complete my fourth decade of work, the desire to Create a Benefit for the greater good of both Horses and Humans has expanded my work into the physiology of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance.

By sharing an understanding of the empathic nature of horses, along with the science behind brain function and body language, I am able to assist others to deepen their partnership with their horse, on all levels, to become a more relaxed and skillful horse-person.

 I have spent the last ten years creating a curriculum for the next generation of horsemen and woman that addresses a greater sense of communication and understanding for both partners.

 My hope is that this work brings a greater awareness to the difference between positive and negative methods of working with our horses.

 What I have learned from the horses is how to feel safe, feel trust, share respect, and yes, even have fun. I wish to bring this message out into the world. Contact Cathy by email cmlmrc@aol.com

Jo Ann Miller - Equine well-being Committee

Jo Anne Miller is the Executive Director of Brook Hill Farm, a fully accredited horse rescue by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, as well as a PATH International Premier Therapeutic riding center, working with rescue horses in all of the programs. She is an adjunct Professor of Equine Science at Randolph College. She has been the co-chair of the PATH Equine Welfare Committee, and currently chairs the Equus Foundation's Equine Welfare Committee, and serves on the HETI Equine Welfare Group.

" I believe that research is the key to the future success of this industry, and I am honored to be able to help HHRF in any way that is needed"