Education Committee
Alicia van den Abeele
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.”
Octavia Brown
ED.M., D.H.L. EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF EQUINE STUDIES, CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
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.
Kathleen Choe - Co Chair
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.
Justin Grant
Justin Grant is a US Army Special Operator (SOCM), strategic medical planner, career/education manager, 6 years director experience, Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran ( x 8 deployments), clinical psychology with concentration on Animal Assisted Therapies.
“ The connection between animal and human is sacred, and transcends all things that distract us. You will always get two things; total honesty and the same energy you give them.”
Helena Harris
Helena brings over 30 years of experience to the equine community. Her career began in the IT industry, but after 12 years in the corporate world, she made the switch to horses full time. She's worked in barns large and small, managed operations, lesson & training programs, boarding and speciality services. For 14 years, Helena produced award-winning podcasts, like the Stall and Stable Show, while serving as a business consultant to equestrian professionals. In 2024 Helena began her graduate studies in Animal Welfare & Behavior Science at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine . She now specializes in equine behavior consulting for professionals and private horse owners.
Shellie Kwitkowski
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.
Emily Mahoney
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.”
Tara Mahoney
Tara Mahoney is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She graduated from Boston College majoring in Neuroscience and holds a Master's in Counseling with certifications in Forensic Psychology and Veteran Behavioral Health. Since 1996, Tara has counseled in diverse settings including a correctional facility, NYC homeless shelter for veterans, in-patient psychiatric hospital, Vet Center, Family Drug Court, DBT Out-Patient Clinic and private practice.
For the past 10 years, Tara has combined her professional calling with her lifetime passion for horses. She has focused her education, experience and energy into the field of animal-assisted alternative therapies. Tara is proud to support HHRF’s mission to fund and share research as it is vital for the field to explore efficacy and best practices.
Her current role as CEO and Co-Founder of Equine Immersion Programs (EIP) is the highlight of her career. She is honored to serve those who have served- veterans, active duty service members, law enforcement/first responders as well as their families and supports. EIP provides trauma informed equine assisted learning to heal the Invisible Wounds of War (PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma and Moral Injury).
Marny Mansfield
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.
Cheryl Meola- Co Chair
Cheryl Meola, PhD, LCMHCS, NCC is the founder of Mane Source Counseling, a private psychotherapy practice in Greenville, NC, and one of the founders of Horses and HEALTH Inc, a non-profit equine assisted activities program for veterans. She is PATH Certified as a TRI and ESMHL. Her research projects have focused on equine assisted activities with various populations, including adolescent inpatients with substance use issues, veterans, and counselors-in-training. She has authored one book and various peer-reviewed publications. Her love of being around horses started very young when she used to catch rides on ponies at her aunt’s farm, and she now has 2 horses of her own as well as a group of horses that work with her in practice.
Elizabeth Richardson, PhD
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
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).
Debra Thompson
Dr. Debra K. Thompson has 37 years in healthcare including various clinical and leadership roles across multiple settings. Her graduate and doctoral education focused on translating nursing and evidence based research findings to frontline clinical application and development of population health programs. Currently, Debra serves as a clinical population health leader and nurse practitioner in eastern North Carolina. She is co-founder and co-owner of Follow My Lead, an equine leadership and personal development business. Her dream of becoming a horse owner came to fruition four years ago with Lady Dreamwalker and now a small herd of four keeps life interesting!
“I believe the connection between horses and humans is powerful and revealing of your true self.” When asked if she could choose a photograph to illustrate horses and humans, what would it be? “I think two key elements to illustrate horses and humans are a mirror and truth serum. Horses read our body language, sense what we are thinking before we speak, and accurately assesses qualities such as trust and awareness. Horses are true educators and give unbiased feedback- something very difficult for humans to do.” Dr. Thompson became a Level 1 Certified Practitioner through the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) in 2020. Her interests include sharing the horse-human connection with others and the impact on individuals, teams, and leaders through focused reflection and engagement with the horse as co-facilitator.
“Through the Education, Communication, and Strategic Planning subcommittee, colleagues share knowledge and awareness of the impact horses have on our overall wellbeing. I’m excited to be part of this dynamic committee and look forward to supporting HHRF’s mission to support research and share knowledge of the horse and human connection with others. HHRF has an exciting year ahead!”
C. Mike Tomlinson
DVM, MBA
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."
Rebecca Rose Wara-Goss
LMFT, Ph.D., AAMFT & OR Approved Supervisor Candidate, PATH Intl. CTRI & ESMHL
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.