Meet the Staff

All of our Riding instructors are certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, and our Vaulting instructors are certified by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). Our therapists are licensed in their specialties and certified by the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA), the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), PATH Intl., or possess the necessary expertise as required by their field.

Executive Team

Amber Varner
Executive Director, Riding & Vaulting Instructor
As a Founder of Forward Stride, Amber has been with Forward Stride since the beginning and has taken on more and more management responsibilities throughout the years. Amber has institutional knowledge through years spent working with our equine herd, staff, clients, and volunteers as Head Instructor, Program Director, and Associate…
Amanda Garrison
Programs Director, Riding & Vaulting Instructor
Amanda takes her job as Programs Director seriously and is our expert for ensuring all our programs meet the highest standards. She also has a focus with outreach and development ensuring our programs are sustainable and full. Amanda holds more than eight years of experience as a volunteer manager and…

Program Leadership Team

Sheila Stahl Butler
Director of Rehabilitation Services, Physical Therapist
As the Director of Rehabilitation Services, Sheila is in charge of all administrative duties required for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech and Language Pathology. Sheila has more than 3 decades in her field and has been with Forward Stride for over 5 years. Along with her Physical Therapy degree…
Mackenzie Johnson
Equine Manager, Riding Program Coordinator, Riding & Vaulting Instructor
Mackenzie has been involved with Forward Stride since 2004. Her time here started with riding lessons, cleaning stalls, and helping with horse care. From there she joined the competitive vaulting program. During the Summer of 2008 Mackenzie won the National Championship in the Women’s Trot Division with the Flying Star…
Jessica Conwell
EFP Program Coordinator, Mental Health Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Jessica is one of our mental health therapists in the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program at Forward Stride and is licensed as a clinical psychologist. Jessica received her PsyD from George Fox University and is certified as a Mental Health Specialist through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). Her…
Marci Siegel
Vaulting Program Coordinator, Grant Writer
Marci is our very talented Vaulting Program Coordinator. She has been involved with competitive vaulting for over 20 years and is a National Champion at the Silver level. After four years of judging, she decided coaching is what really feeds her soul. She is thrilled to bring Equestrian Vaulting to…
Anna Finn
Volunteer Coordinator, Horse Handler
Anna has been a part of Forward Stride since 2010. She started riding and volunteering when a friend from school encouraged her to take lessons. From Anna’s first time out at the barn, she was hooked - spending all of her free time riding horses, leading in classes, and helping…

Program Assistants

Abby Goodell
Barn Coordinator
Abby first became a part of the Forward Stride community in 2011 and immediately knew she wanted to be a part of the organization. This was largely due to the horses, but even more so the people. When the position for Assistant Facilities Coordinator opened up, she was so excited…
Betsy Dana
Assistant Volunteer Coordinator
Betsy took lessons on her aunt's horses off and on throughout middle school and high school. She ended up pursuing and earning an Associate's Degree in Animal Sciences: Horse Management at Linn-Benton Community College. Most of her hands-on experience has been training young and green horses. After school, she took…

Equestrian Sports Team

Emily Dent
Riding Instructor
Emily is a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor fulfilling her dream of living in the Pacific Northwest after moving here from Lexington, Kentucky. For as long as Emily can remember she has been horseback-- starting with riding Rocky Mountain Horses at her grandparents' farm as a young child then venturing…
Michelle Whiteaker
Marketing Content Creator, Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist
For over a decade, Michelle has been a part of Forward Stride as a volunteer, rider, and now our Marketing Content Creator, PATH Certified Instructor and Equine Specialist. Michelle has over six years in marketing including content creation and implementation, photography, videography, and website design. Through the healing powers of…
Mary Ann Kappa
Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist
Mary Ann is one of our PATH Certified Riding Instructors with over 10 years of experience. Mary Ann is one instructor of many who started as a volunteer. Through her time volunteering she found a strong passion to teach. Mary Ann enjoys watching her students grow in their self-confidence and…
Shannon Tabbal Haider
Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist, Rehabilitation Services Administration Assistant
Shannon fell in love with horses in third grade when she read The Black Stallion. After her first riding lesson, she never looked back. Shannon was fortunate enough to ride on the West Linn High School Equestrian Team and compete in 4H for two years. Having obtained her bachelor’s degree…
Micah Vaughn
EFP Intake Coordinator, Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist
Micah began as a volunteer with Forward Stride in 2009 before joining as a staff member in 2016.  She created the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program and worked as the first ever EFP Program Manager for Forward Stride.  She helped create the Stable Ground: Women's Trauma Recovery Group, the Life…
Nicole D’Auray
Riding Instructor
Nicole has been volunteering with Forward Stride for over 10 years and teaching since 2011. Nicole enjoys sharing her life long love for horses and the lessons she has learned in pursuit of the art of riding. Nicole’s three favorite things include her horse, beagle, and cats. She also enjoys…
Patricia Nelson
Riding Instructor
Pati Nelson is our problem solving, love and logic instructor. With a Master's degree in special education,  and 17 years of teaching experience, Pati excels at teaching life long valuable lessons to her students. Pati’s top three favorite things include her family, animals, and the Rocky Mountains.
Eve Irish
Riding Instructor
Eve is a PATH Intl. certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a longtime member of our community. Eve truly loves being in the world of horses and seeing the differences they can make in the lives of people. Eve brings a light and relaxed vibe to her classes and can find…
Liz Johnson
Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist
Liz is a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, a PATH Certified Mentor Instructor and a Masterson Method Equine Specialist. Teaching has always been her passion. Liz has a Master’s Degree in Music Education and taught in high school and junior high for 31 years in Oregon, the last 23…

Clinical Services Team

Gretchen Dumestre
Physical Therapist
Gretchen started out volunteering at Forward Stride, offering her Physical Therapy skills as a bonus to the treating therapists. She quickly fell in love with the environment at Forward Stride and became passionate about equine assisted therapy as she saw incredible changes in clients. When Gretchen was offered a position…
Camille Robinson
Physical Therapist
Camille Robinson graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Pacific University, OR. She has been a therapist for over 16 years specializing in pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation in various settings including hippotherapy, outpatient, home health and in the schools. She concurrently works for the Willamette ESD serving school age…
Valery Sampson
Occupational Therapist
Valery, one of our Occupational Therapists (OT), has 26 years of experience in OT as well as nine years practicing OT utilizing the assistance of the horse. With her B.S. in OT, certification in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test, Valery is thankful her two passions (OT and horses) came together…
David Crisp
Horse Handler
Always willing to pitch in when help is needed, David has been around Forward Stride since its inception. He was first introduced to the program when his sisters would come to riding lessons with Kris on weekends. Not long after that he found himself helping with odd jobs around the…
Melissa Perkins
Horse Handler
Bio coming soon!
Charlotte Cheney
Equine Specialist
Charlotte is thrilled to join the Forward Stride team as an Equine Specialist after being a volunteer leader for two years. She is a graduate student at Pacific University studying to be a counselor, and she hopes to work with horses and other animals in a therapeutic capacity throughout her…
Libby Volk
Database Administrator, Horse Handler, Lunger
Libby Volk received a pony as a birthday present when she was six and never looked back. While her passion lies with eventing, she has done just about everything during her horse career including western gaming, vaulting, and ride and tie. Libby is a graduate HB from Columbia River Pony…
Kendall Rauscher
Equine Specialist
Kendall has been part of the Forward Stride Center since 2006 as a volunteer.  She has worked with many different types of horses through her life, and decided she needed to be a part of a community that involved the companionship between the horse and the human in a caring,…
Kelsey Corey
Mental Health Therapist
Kelsey is one of our mental health therapists in the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy program at Forward Stride. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her MSW degree from Portland State University in 2011. She has experience working with children and families in the hospital setting as well as…

Administrative Team

Maiah Zentz
Assistant Accounts Coordinator, Horse Handler
Maiah has enjoyed being a part of the Forward Stride community for many years, starting out in the Riding Program in high school. After getting a degree in Zoology, she came back to join the Forward Stride team helping with administrative tasks and assisting with the volunteer program. While she…
Leanna Sugar
Development Coordinator, Facilities Coordinator
Leanna’s journey with Forward Stride began as a volunteer, where her love of the barn and the incredible impact of equine-assisted mental health treatment merged. Now, as a part of the staff, she is able to draw on her years of experience in nonprofit development and lifetime love of horses.…
Heather Sutherland
Development Manager, Horse Handler
Heather has always had a passion for working with horses and helping others. She is no stranger to Forward Stride, having volunteered on Saturday mornings for six years before being hired on as staff in 2017. She brings a sense of gratitude to each day and enjoys continually learning from…
Kat Kendall
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Kat is an avid horsewoman and grew up riding and competing in her 4H club, at breed shows, and in dressage with her Arabian gelding. With experience in both the nonprofit and horse worlds, Kat believes strongly in the importance of organizations like Forward Stride! She is thrilled to be…

Executive Director, Riding & Vaulting Instructor

Amber Varner

As a Founder of Forward Stride, Amber has been with Forward Stride since the beginning and has taken on more and more management responsibilities throughout the years. Amber has institutional knowledge through years spent working with our equine herd, staff, clients, and volunteers as Head Instructor, Program Director, and Associate Executive Director. Now as the Executive Director, Amber works towards executing the Board’s vision of a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable future for Forward Stride.

Amber has over 19 years experience working for Forward Stride and a lifetime love for horses. Everyday, Amber comes to work and feels a surge of happiness. She considers herself fortunate to get to do something she is so passionate about.

Amber’s three favorite things include her family, traveling, and her pets which include her horse, two dogs, two cats, two fish, two shrimp, and one snail.

Programs Director, Riding & Vaulting Instructor

Amanda Garrison

Amanda takes her job as Programs Director seriously and is our expert for ensuring all our programs meet the highest standards. She also has a focus with outreach and development ensuring our programs are sustainable and full.

Amanda holds more than eight years of experience as a volunteer manager and coordinator. As a PATH International Certified Instructor, Amanda has a passion for nonprofit work, equality for all, and the healing power of horses.

Amanda’s three favorite things include her husband, her horse Dusty, and our lovely state of Oregon!

Director of Rehabilitation Services, Physical Therapist

Sheila Stahl Butler

As the Director of Rehabilitation Services, Sheila is in charge of all administrative duties required for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech and Language Pathology. Sheila has more than 3 decades in her field and has been with Forward Stride for over 5 years.

Along with her Physical Therapy degree and license, Sheila is also a PATH registered PT, AHA Level 1 & 2. She has had her license and practiced Physical Therapy in 6 states and has taken continuing education courses internationally.

Her top three favorite things include her husband and 3 daughters, her clients, and traveling.

Equine Manager, Riding Program Coordinator, Riding & Vaulting Instructor

Mackenzie Johnson

Mackenzie has been involved with Forward Stride since 2004. Her time here started with riding lessons, cleaning stalls, and helping with horse care. From there she joined the competitive vaulting program. During the Summer of 2008 Mackenzie won the National Championship in the Women’s Trot Division with the Flying Star Vaulters.

Attending West Linn High School, Mackenzie was very active on her high school equestrian team.  With her horse, Rhapsodee In Bleu (Dee), she competed in both English and Western individual events as well as team events; drill, IHOR, and her favorite event, team penning. After spending four years in Corvallis at Oregon State University studying Animal Science with the option in Animal Management, Mackenzie is back at Forward Stride. Since returning she has become a PATH certified riding instructor, a lunger for the competitive vaulting team, the Riding Program Coordinator, and our Equine Manager

Mackenzie’s favorite things are Disneyland, her horse, and her dog Ryder.

EFP Program Coordinator, Mental Health Therapist, Clinical Supervisor

Jessica Conwell

Jessica is one of our mental health therapists in the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program at Forward Stride and is licensed as a clinical psychologist. Jessica received her PsyD from George Fox University and is certified as a Mental Health Specialist through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). Her specialties include treating eating disorders and substance use disorders.
Jessica started out at Forward Stride as a volunteer in the fall of 2016. She has work experience through a residential psychiatric facility, community mental health, crisis line, residential chemical dependency treatment and through her private practice.
Besides horses, Jessica’s three favorite things include her dogs, coffee, and her husband.

Vaulting Program Coordinator, Grant Writer

Marci Siegel

Marci is our very talented Vaulting Program Coordinator. She has been involved with competitive vaulting for over 20 years and is a National Champion at the Silver level.
After four years of judging, she decided coaching is what really feeds her soul. She is thrilled to bring Equestrian Vaulting to Forward Stride!
Her three favorite things are vaulting, the ocean and paddle boarding.

Volunteer Coordinator, Horse Handler

Anna Finn

Anna has been a part of Forward Stride since 2010. She started riding and volunteering when a friend from school encouraged her to take lessons. From Anna’s first time out at the barn, she was hooked – spending all of her free time riding horses, leading in classes, and helping with horsecare.

Forward Stride gave Anna the opportunity to try new things. During her middle and high school years, Anna was a member of Pony Club, as well as a competitor on her high school equestrian team. With Anna’s love for jumping growing, she became interested in eventing. Her family soon added her horse Freckles to the family, who is still a part of our herd.

In 2017, Anna joined the staff as a horse handler. She was very excited to be able to mix her passion for horses and helping people through this opportunity.

Anna’s three favorite things are horses (especially Freckles!), her two dogs Cocoa and Oreo, and traveling!

Barn Coordinator

Abby Goodell

Abby first became a part of the Forward Stride community in 2011 and immediately knew she wanted to be a part of the organization. This was largely due to the horses, but even more so the people. When the position for Assistant Facilities Coordinator opened up, she was so excited for the opportunity to join the Forward Stride team. She is currently working towards her B.S in Business Administration at Oregon State University with an expected graduation in 2024, and she is eager to explore her interests before deciding on a career path! Her three favorite things are her family, her horse Cyrus, and her dog Howie.

Assistant Volunteer Coordinator

Betsy Dana

Betsy took lessons on her aunt’s horses off and on throughout middle school and high school. She ended up pursuing and earning an Associate’s Degree in Animal Sciences: Horse Management at Linn-Benton Community College. Most of her hands-on experience has been training young and green horses. After school, she took riding lessons (English and Western) and even a term of vaulting at Forward Stride before applying as a Horse Care volunteer.
Betsy says, “Forward Stride’s community is so special and dear to me. I am so excited to connect more closely with the community as a whole. I am also eager, of course, to polish up my horsemanship skills and continue learning within the horse world.”
Betsy has two cats and a dog that keep her company while she reads and plays video games. She also regularly goes contra dancing!

Riding Instructor

Emily Dent

Emily is a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor fulfilling her dream of living in the Pacific Northwest after moving here from Lexington, Kentucky. For as long as Emily can remember she has been horseback– starting with riding Rocky Mountain Horses at her grandparents’ farm as a young child then venturing into the exciting world of barrel racing and contesting as a teenager. Emily’s best friend is her 19 year old quarter horse named Kip, who she has had for over 11 years! With a Bachelors’ degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Communications and a minor in Digital Arts and Media, Emily loves finding new and creative ways to teach riding skills to each of her students.
Emily’s favorite things are her horse Kip, hiking with friends, and coffee in the morning.

Marketing Content Creator, Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist

Michelle Whiteaker

For over a decade, Michelle has been a part of Forward Stride as a volunteer, rider, and now our Marketing Content Creator, PATH Certified Instructor and Equine Specialist. Michelle has over six years in marketing including content creation and implementation, photography, videography, and website design.

Through the healing powers of the horse, Michelle has first-hand experience overcoming an anxiety disorder. She brings this life lesson, and the horse knowledge she has gained through the years, to promote self-love and confidence in her riding students so they can excel in every part of their life.

Michelle’s three favorite things are her family, traveling and yoga!  

Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist

Mary Ann Kappa

Mary Ann is one of our PATH Certified Riding Instructors with over 10 years of experience. Mary Ann is one instructor of many who started as a volunteer. Through her time volunteering she found a strong passion to teach.

Mary Ann enjoys watching her students grow in their self-confidence and abilities. She feels blessed to be able to be around horses and teach others the riding skills that she has gained over the years.

Mary Ann’s three favorite things include her family, horseback riding, and beach trips with family and friends.

Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist, Rehabilitation Services Administration Assistant

Shannon Tabbal Haider

Shannon fell in love with horses in third grade when she read The Black Stallion. After her first riding lesson, she never looked back. Shannon was fortunate enough to ride on the West Linn High School Equestrian Team and compete in 4H for two years. Having obtained her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from George Fox University and PATH certifications, Shannon loves being able to combine her love of horse and human psychology. As a traumatic brain injury survivor, Shannon is especially passionate about helping individuals also recovering from TBI. She is very thankful she gets to do what she loves every day!

Shannon’s favorite things include horseback riding, her dog “Bear” and playing trumpet.

EFP Intake Coordinator, Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist

Micah Vaughn

Micah began as a volunteer with Forward Stride in 2009 before joining as a staff member in 2016.  She created the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program and worked as the first ever EFP Program Manager for Forward Stride.  She helped create the Stable Ground: Women’s Trauma Recovery Group, the Life in the Herd: Teen Therapy Group, and the Working in Tandem: Mentoring Program.  She currently works as a Skills Trainer, Equine Specialist, Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and secondary supervisor for clinical interns.

Micah has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Carleton College and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a PATH certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL), and a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI).

Micah is passionate about horses and may or may not still own a copy of every Black Stallion book.

Riding Instructor

Nicole D’Auray

Nicole has been volunteering with Forward Stride for over 10 years and teaching since 2011. Nicole enjoys sharing her life long love for horses and the lessons she has learned in pursuit of the art of riding.

Nicole’s three favorite things include her horse, beagle, and cats. She also enjoys spending time in the Columbia River Gorge and at the Oregon Coast.

Riding Instructor

Patricia Nelson

Pati Nelson is our problem solving, love and logic instructor. With a Master’s degree in special education,  and 17 years of teaching experience, Pati excels at teaching life long valuable lessons to her students.
Pati’s top three favorite things include her family, animals, and the Rocky Mountains.

Riding Instructor

Eve Irish

Eve is a PATH Intl. certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a longtime member of our community.

Eve truly loves being in the world of horses and seeing the differences they can make in the lives of people. Eve brings a light and relaxed vibe to her classes and can find the humorous side of any dilemma.

Eve’s three favorite things include being in America but being Welsh at heart, her husband who takes her as she is, and her horse, Mars.

Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist

Liz Johnson

Liz is a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, a PATH Certified Mentor Instructor and a Masterson Method Equine Specialist. Teaching has always been her passion. Liz has a Master’s Degree in Music Education and taught in high school and junior high for 31 years in Oregon, the last 23 of which were in the Lake Oswego School District. As a choir and music teacher, Liz had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with the Special Education department and with many students with special needs who were mainstreamed into her classes. After retiring from the school district in 2011, Liz moved with her husband to St. Louis, MO. There she volunteered at the Albert Pujols Center for Adults with Down syndrome and started a Glee Choir. She also volunteered at Equine Assisted Therapy starting in 2012 and became an Instructor in 2014, where she worked through 2022. Liz recently moved back to Oregon from Missouri and is thrilled to join the wonderful staff at Forward Stride!

Physical Therapist

Gretchen Dumestre

Gretchen started out volunteering at Forward Stride, offering her Physical Therapy skills as a bonus to the treating therapists. She quickly fell in love with the environment at Forward Stride and became passionate about equine assisted therapy as she saw incredible changes in clients. When Gretchen was offered a position on staff, she completed the Level I AHA course and said “yes”!  She has worked primarily in pediatric rehabilitation and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education.

She is a member of the American and Oregon Physical Therapy Associations (APTA/OPTA) and AHA. Besides an MS in Physical Therapy from Pacific University, Gretchen also has a BS in Engineering-Physics from Pacific Lutheran University and spent 8 years in the electronics industry.

Although Gretchen is a native Oregonian, she definitely prefers sunshine. Her three favorite things are hiking, going on vacation with her family and friends and drinking espresso coffee.

Physical Therapist

Camille Robinson

Camille Robinson graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Pacific University, OR. She has been a therapist for over 16 years specializing in pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation in various settings including hippotherapy, outpatient, home health and in the schools. She concurrently works for the Willamette ESD serving school age children (5-21 yrs). She is a member of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) and has completed the AHA Level I certification. She is an APTA Certified Clinical Instructor and serves as an appointed representative for her region on the Regional and Statewide services for students with orthopedic impairments (RSOI) professional learning team. Camille is excited to return to incorporating equine movement into her physical therapy practice and joining the Forward Stride family. In her free-time, she enjoys spending time with family/friends, caring for and riding horses, boating, baking, traveling and reading.

Occupational Therapist

Valery Sampson

Valery, one of our Occupational Therapists (OT), has 26 years of experience in OT as well as nine years practicing OT utilizing the assistance of the horse. With her B.S. in OT, certification in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test, Valery is thankful her two passions (OT and horses) came together to make a difference.

Valery’s three favorite things include her family, horses, and gardening.

Horse Handler

David Crisp

Always willing to pitch in when help is needed, David has been around Forward Stride since its inception. He was first introduced to the program when his sisters would come to riding lessons with Kris on weekends. Not long after that he found himself helping with odd jobs around the property, cleaning water troughs and fixing fences.

He was hired on in 2014 and has been a horse handler and helping hand since then. Presently, he is the only male member of staff. This doesn’t bother him. His three favorite things are archery, working with animals, and traveling and experiencing the outdoors.

Horse Handler

Melissa Perkins

Bio coming soon!

Equine Specialist

Charlotte Cheney

Charlotte is thrilled to join the Forward Stride team as an Equine Specialist after being a volunteer leader for two years. She is a graduate student at Pacific University studying to be a counselor, and she hopes to work with horses and other animals in a therapeutic capacity throughout her career.

Charlotte completed her PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning in the summer of 2021 and has a lifetime of experience working with and showing horses. Her entire life she has believed in the healing power of animals and is thrilled to put that belief to work with the horses she loves.

Her three favorite things are the ocean, traveling, and of course horses!

Database Administrator, Horse Handler, Lunger

Libby Volk

Libby Volk received a pony as a birthday present when she was six and never looked back. While her passion lies with eventing, she has done just about everything during her horse career including western gaming, vaulting, and ride and tie. Libby is a graduate HB from Columbia River Pony Club. She was a camp counselor and instructor with Happy Horse Riding School in Burbank, WA for over seven years before moving to Oregon for college. Libby attended Pacific University and received a Bachelor’s in Literature with a minor in Photography. She began volunteering at Forward Stride as she began to miss horses and the comforting power they possess. She became a part of the Forward Stride team in Spring of 2022 as a Horse Handler and has enjoyed becoming more involved with the Forward Stride community. Her three favorite things are her cat Princess, playing video games with her friends, and going to the beach.

Equine Specialist

Kendall Rauscher

Kendall has been part of the Forward Stride Center since 2006 as a volunteer.  She has worked with many different types of horses through her life, and decided she needed to be a part of a community that involved the companionship between the horse and the human in a caring, understanding and supportive environment.  Kendall was an Art teacher for many years, but realized horses were her calling and decided to be certified to become an Equine Specialist.  She is our new member in the Mental Health EFP program and is grateful to be involved in a contributive growing community. Her three favorite things are her family, horseback riding and being creative in whatever she may be doing!

Mental Health Therapist

Kelsey Corey

Kelsey is one of our mental health therapists in the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy program at Forward Stride. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her MSW degree from Portland State University in 2011. She has experience working with children and families in the hospital setting as well as private practice.
Kelsey grew up riding horses and competed in Clackamas County 4H and OHSET. She is thrilled to be working with Forward Stride and combining her love of horses with her passion for mental health treatment. Her favorite things are hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Assistant Accounts Coordinator, Horse Handler

Maiah Zentz

Maiah has enjoyed being a part of the Forward Stride community for many years, starting out in the Riding Program in high school. After getting a degree in Zoology, she came back to join the Forward Stride team helping with administrative tasks and assisting with the volunteer program. While she loves all animals, horses hold a special place in her heart and she loves getting to be involved in all aspects of Forward Stride as the Assistant Accounts Coordinator. Maiah loves working with horses, volunteers, and clients, and keeping things organized!
Maiah’s three favorite things are music, her family, and pets!

Development Coordinator, Facilities Coordinator

Leanna Sugar

Leanna’s journey with Forward Stride began as a volunteer, where her love of the barn and the incredible impact of equine-assisted mental health treatment merged. Now, as a part of the staff, she is able to draw on her years of experience in nonprofit development and lifetime love of horses. Leanna is especially excited to support the rest of the Forward Stride team in all aspects of the day-to-day management of the facility, whether it be fixing a fence in the morning and hosting a tour moments later.

When she’s not at the barn, Leanna can be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband, weightlifting, or reading with her cat, Ralphie.

Development Manager, Horse Handler

Heather Sutherland

Heather has always had a passion for working with horses and helping others. She is no stranger to Forward Stride, having volunteered on Saturday mornings for six years before being hired on as staff in 2017. She brings a sense of gratitude to each day and enjoys continually learning from her fellow humans and horses.

She works to make sure Forward Stride has a firm foundation from which to grow by leading the development and communications teams, managing donations, and facilitating funding opportunities. She loves sharing our work with the public and connecting donors to a cause that is making a unique and meaningful impact in the community!
Heather’s three favorite things are spending time at the barn, traveling to new places, and her family & friends.

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Kat Kendall

Kat is an avid horsewoman and grew up riding and competing in her 4H club, at breed shows, and in dressage with her Arabian gelding. With experience in both the nonprofit and horse worlds, Kat believes strongly in the importance of organizations like Forward Stride!

She is thrilled to be working with Forward Stride to spread the message about their work. When she’s not with horses, she enjoys traveling, writing, and spending time outdoors.