Mission Statement: Divine Equine Assisted Therapy Center helps facilitate the connection between horse and human to provide confidence, belonging, and independence beyond the diagnosis.
Kristy felt a deep affinity with horses since pre-school and has worked professionally with children for 20+ years earning the nickname, "The Child Whisperer".
When she was introduced to therapeutic riding in 2015, Kristy was immediately called to dedicate her future to being in service through equine therapy.
Since that initial spark of inspiration, Kristy volunteered at various centers for riders with special needs, received formal training in western and English riding, and completed an accelerated program to become a PATH certified instructor.
Kristy immediately began teaching and supporting students with disabilities. With a grand vision of being intentionally inclusive and serving broader and more diverse populations, Kristy began her efforts towards creating her own Center. With her love of horses and calling to provide a space to empower people through experience with horses, her non-profit, Divine Equine Assisted Therapy Center was born.
Kat began at Divine Equine in February 2021. Kat fell in love with horses as a little girl and started riding lessons at 12. While she began in jumping competitions, as she learned more, Kat developed a deeper understanding of the horse/human relationship, drawing her toward natural horsemanship. Kat would bring children to a barn for a special day out as a nanny.
There, she observed the horses' effect on the children, calming and creating a peaceful presence within them. Witnessing the deep connection between the animals and humans led Kathryne to her work in equine therapy. Observing an adaptive riding lesson one day, she was moved by the serenity and joy she saw among the participants. She decided then that this should be her life's work. She is grateful every day for the opportunity to see the impact therapeutic riding has on her students and to be a part of the Divine Equine community.
Kayla grew up loving horses, and was finally able to take her first dressage lessons at 10 years old. She rode and competed for three years. She left the horse world briefly to focus on school, but came back when she was studying Psychology in college and discovered adaptive horseback riding. She was excited to be able to work with people and horses in a therapeutic setting.
She began as a certified therapeutic riding instructor in December 2019. Kayla taught at Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center and Halleck Creek Ranch for before teaching at Divine Equine, starting in August, 2021.
She loves being a positive influence in her riders' lives and enjoys all her time in the arena with the horses and the people she works with daily. She is honored to be a part of the team at Divine Equine and is very proud of the work we do!