Meet our Herd
Healing with Horses Ranch is a PATH Intl. Premier Riding Center. Our PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors, Equine Specialists, counselors, and facilitators, all of whom are PATH-certified, believe deeply in the transformative power of the horse-human connection, and the ability for individuals from all backgrounds to improve their emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities.
A central part of our team is, of course, the horses – our true teachers. We partner with a variety of breeds, shapes, and personalities of horses to meet the needs of our riders. Each horse goes through a careful screening process, both to ensure their temperament and soundness is appropriate for the program and to make sure this is the kind of work they will enjoy. We take pride in giving our horses the choice, both in the lessons they choose to be in and in their participation in the program. Like our instructors, our equines undergo consistent continuing education and additionally are specifically chosen after extensive evaluation to determine if their behavior, confidence, and physical abilities will fit into our participants / program needs.
We are also supported by a community of volunteers that make our entire program possible. In lessons, in facility work, and more, each individual who comes out to the barn contributes to – and benefits from – the healing environment.
Alexa Ball
Alexa is a CTRI, Board Secretary, and Calloway’s mom. She believes the world flourishes when we are brave enough to change our minds – about what we are capable of, about the way the world works, and about how we can operate in it. Her mission is to steward that process in others, particularly in her emphasis in working with at-risk youth at the Ranch.
In addition to the work at the Ranch, she is pursuing her Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health and Counseling with an emphasis on children and adolescents. She also works full-time at a marketing firm for science companies. In her free time, she works with her hands as much as possible, gardening and starting any number of house projects on the weekends. You’ll rarely find her without dirt under her nails or her canine companion, Luna.
Amanda Hoppe
Amanda Hoppe started as a volunteer mentor and exercise rider for Animals as Natural Therapy in Bellingham, Washington in 2001 while she earned her Bachelor’s degrees in English and anthropology from Western Washington University. She earned her PATH Intl. CTRI in 2010 a year after earning her Master’s degree in English, and was among the first PATH members to earn the new ES certification in 2012. Working alongside certified counselors, horses, goats, chickens, cats, and dogs, Amanda specialized in helping children, teens, and veterans overcome social-emotional issues, addiction, and trauma.
After moving to Austin, Texas, she joined the team at Healing with Horses Ranch as a part of their Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning programs in 2021. As well as teaching riding and horsemanship, she also teaches English as an adjunct instructor, first for Whatcom Community College starting in 2010, and then for Austin Community College in 2023. She currently lives in Kyle, Texas, with her two boys, husband, and herd of cacti. If you catch her at the right moment, she’ll tell you more than you want to know about werewolves.
Angel
Angel, previously known as Sweet Cheeks, is an 11hh Hackney x Shetland Pony mare, born in 2007, that joined the herd in 2017. Angel is our one-eyed wonder who lost her right eye to glaucoma in 2021. She was voted as our Horse of the Year 2023.
Apple
Apple is a 13.2hh Haflinger mare, born in 2006, that joined the herd in 2018. She knows a handful of party tricks, including picking up a hula hoop and throwing it over her head.
Arianna Roman
Arianna is our Adaptive Riding Director, CTRI, and most importantly Earl’s mom. She has spent a decade in the field of non-profit work, making the world a more inclusive place for people with disabilities and at-risk youth. Her mission is to support and guide her team of Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors and Equine Specialists so they can continue to change lives through the power of the horse.
Outside of her work at the Ranch, Arianna enjoys spending time with her partner Jeremy and their cat Miss Beans. She is an avid fan of anime and comic books: a quintessential nerd.
Avalon
Avalon is a 15.2hh American Warmblood mare, born in 2001, that joined the herd in 2012. She has been at the Ranch the longest out of all our horses – since the beginning! This brave girl came to the Ranch after escaping the Bastrop Fires of 2011. Avalon was our Horse of the Year in 2018.
Belle
Belle (Belarus S Fire) is a 16hh Hanoverian x Arabian mare, born in 1999, that joined the herd in 2018. This flashy girl was a three day eventer (cross country jumping, show jumping, & dressage) before coming to the Ranch. Belle was voted our Horse of the Year in 2022. Belle currently lives full-time at our satellite location, Sage Recovery Villa.
Bo
Bo, previously known as Rocky, is a 15hh Tennessee Walker gelding, born in 2000, that joined the herd in 2014. Bo currently lives full-time at our satellite location, Sage Recovery Villa.
Calloway
Calloway (My Texas Chrome) is a 16hh OTTB (off the track Thoroughbred) that joined the herd in 2023. He is leased to our program by Alexa Ball.
Casper
Casper is a 15.2hh Quarter Horse gelding, born in 2010, who joined the herd in 2023.
Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown is a 16hh American Paint Horse x Clydesdale gelding, born in 2002, that joined our herd in 2021. Charlie has one blue eye and one brown eye.
Crystal Merkel
Crystal Rodriguez
Crystal is the Healing with Horses Board President and Mom to Zaria Rose who has been a client at the Ranch since 2016. Crystal has been volunteering at the Ranch for the last 8 years and has loved watching the Ranch grow.
Outside of her work at the Ranch, Crystal is a highly successful businesswoman that often finds herself coaching and mentoring other professionals, especially women, to their path that brings them the most fulfillment. The life lessons Crystal learned and was taught have evolved into the ability to help others see their true potential and the ability to have faith in the vision for their future. Crystal loves traveling and spending time with her family, including their miniature poodle Prince.
Dash
Dash (Dashing to Starlight) is a 16hh Foundation Quarter Horse gelding, born in 2008, who joined the herd in 2023 after retiring from the Austin Mounted Police Department.
David Lafreniere
Lt-Colonel David Lafreniere (Canadian Army Retired) is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. He is passionate about Equine-Assisted Learning and blending it with his prior experience and training as a facilitator. During his 25 years of military service, he held a variety of command and staff appointments where he was responsible for facilitating and training leaders to lead, organizational development, military training and education, and mentoring both personal and professional growth.
As a specialist in ISTAR and a subject matter expert in Ground Maneuver Reconnaissance (Light Cavalry), David is an Afghanistan War veteran. After returning from Afghanistan, he was the president of several Boards of Inquiry investigating military suicides where he made significant recommendations to improve processes to better serve soldiers with operational stress injuries. His last appointment before retirement was as Commanding Officer of a Reconnaissance Battalion. In this capacity, he grew the strength and morale of his unit. He trained and mentored leaders to move into senior positions utilizing new methods that became the standard throughout the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. He has experience facilitating joint military, inter-agency, multinational and public operations.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Business Studies Certificate, a Postgraduate Degree in Casino Management, a Journalism Degree and attended Seminary. Some of the several pursuits in addition to his military service include nearly 10 years in Casino Management. He also worked in Emergency Management and Disaster Assistance for both the military and the Red Cross, including facilitating and leading Emergency Management Training and was a Certified Emergency Management Instructor. David has managed volunteers and been a Youth Pastor for the United Methodist Church. He has worked with the homeless running soup kitchens and rotating shelters. David has been married for more decades than his wife, Leeanne, allows him to admit to. He has two daughters who he co-facilitated coaching and mentoring in their personal growth who are now flourishing as strong and successful young women. He considers himself a secular Buddhist and enjoys time with friends, collecting watches, wildlife photography, reading spy novels and watching spy movies.
Davina Merkel
Davina is our Finance Manager & also a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist. She joined the herd in 2013.
Dusty
Dusty is a 16hh Appaloosa gelding, born in 2008, who joined the herd in 2023. You can’t miss his gorgeous spotted snowcap coloring that quite literally looks like a dusting of powdered sugar.
Earl Grey
Earl is our resident Mule, born in 2015, who joined the lesson program in 2023! He is leased to the program by Arianna Roman.
Gold
Gold is a 15.3hh Registered Solid Paint gelding, born in 2016, who joined the herd in 2023. Gold was a halter show horse before coming to the Ranch.
Hannah Cohen West, PTA
Hannah started at the ranch in 2017 as a volunteer and became a staff member in 2020. She started riding horses at the age of 7 and competed in the Hunter/Jumper/Equitation disciplines for 15 years. Hannah has a big love for animals which led her to earning a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Tarleton State University where she competed on the college’s club equestrian team. Hannah is always accompanied at the ranch by her big goofy dog Stetson.
Outside of the ranch, Hannah works as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Hannah’s favorite thing about her jobs is that she is able to have a positive impact on those she works with.
When not working Hannah enjoys running, hiking with her dog, and traveling with her husband Cody.
Hercules
Hercules is a whopping 18hh Belgian gelding, born in 2007, that joined our herd in 2021 after retiring from the San Antonio Mounted Police Department.
Joel Wyrtzen, LPC
Joel is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning who joined the herd in 2022. One of his first horse riding experiences ended in an all out gallop to the barn after a nice calm trail ride at the age of 6. His appetite for thrills and horses has not diminished since. He has been working in the trauma therapy, addiction, and emotion regulation field for 18 years in inpatient psychiatric, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care.
Joel’s passion is assisting clients in learning how to be in the moment in their own bodies, while experiencing their own emotions, thoughts, and power. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife and now 3 adult children, as well as playing soccer, fly-fishing, and reading.
John D’Andrea
John has 35+ years experience in the Aerospace, Heavy Equipment/Agriculture, and High Tech industries doing operations, product development, manufacturing, supply chain, and business process design. Additionally, for the last 25 years he also worked in non-profit space as a volunteer, board member, and now Executive Director of Healing with Horses Ranch.
John is a motorsports enthusiast with numerous 2 and 4-wheeled projects in work at all times. John got involved with performance driving 20 years ago, and regularly attended track day events for many years. He completed time trial events and is a performance driving instructor.
In addition, John loves spending time with his wife and kids and looks forward to passing on his car addiction to his grandchildren.
Karen Perkins
Karen is a certified life coach with a deep passion for helping others transform their lives. She is not only certified in trauma-informed yoga therapy, but also in Equine Yoga Therapy, a unique approach that combines the healing power of yoga with the wisdom of horses.
As a Holotropic Breathwork Facilitator and Equine Facilitator of Learning and Coaching, Karen has honed her skills in guiding individuals through transformative experiences. With over 35 years of experience in horse disciplines such as hunter/jumper, endurance, and trail, she has developed a deep connection with these magnificent animals. For Karen, working with horses is not just a profession, but a soul calling and a privilege. She believes in the profound wisdom that horses possess and considers it an honor to integrate her years-long training in healing modalities with her life-long love and reverence for horse wisdom.
Karen’s involvement in Healing with Horses Ranch (HHR) began as a volunteer in 2020. Karen joined the board in 2022 and is also a staff member at HHR working primarily as a group facilitator providing therapeutic equine services to members of Austin’s addiction recovery community.
In addition to her extensive training and experience, Karen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. When she’s not working, she loves spending quality time with her family and friends. She also enjoys the vibrant wake surfing life in Austin and dotes on her two adorable dogs, Lola and Tiger Lily. With Karen, you’ll find a compassionate guide who combines expertise, intuition, and a genuine love for helping others on their journey towards healing and personal growth.
Email: karen.perkins@healingwithhorsesranch.org
Katie Hange
Katie is a CTRI that joined our herd originally as a volunteer in 2016. She was elected to the Board in 2020.
Katie Mikulcik
Katie is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor that joined our herd in 2019.
Laura Summers
Laura is our Equine Coordinator and a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She grew up in northern New Jersey and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2013 with double degrees in Fashion Entrepreneurship and Italian Studies. At UMass, she rode on the Equestrian Team and the Drill Team, started her art and design business, and met her partner. Laura has called Austin her home since 2015 and was a volunteer at Healing with Horses for two years before becoming an employee in 2022. She’s been riding for over 20 years and in her spare time loves hiking, gardening, sewing her own clothes, reading, drawing, singing to her cats, and rearranging her house.
Lauren Higgins
Lauren began volunteering at the ranch in April 2016, after visiting an open house one rainy day and eagerly inquiring about volunteer opportunities. As a recent transplant to Manor, hearing of an opportunity to work with horses was a lifelong dream come true. She found every opportunity to spend her free time, outside a full-time job, volunteering. In Fall 2019, the opportunity arose for Lauren to join staff as the Volunteer Coordinator and the rest is history. In her current role she’s enjoyed being a catalyst for individuals much like herself to find their place at the Ranch and to help guide and train them with a volunteer’s first-hand perspective.
Lauren loves animals of all kinds and surrounds herself with a variety of pets, including a rabbit, budgies (parakeets), a leopard gecko and two dogs. You have likely met her dogs, Orla and Bernie, here at the Ranch. Lauren has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and always loves to seek out the intersection of art and nature; having a history of working for science, nature, and arts-based educational non-profits since 2009.
Maggie Anderson
Maggie is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Sugar’s mom. She joined the herd in 2021.
Marchelle Scarnier-Surplus, PhD
Marchelle is an educator and PATH Intl. Certified ESMHL, working in Equine-Assisted Learning at HHR since 2023. She has over 20 years of teaching experience, combined with a long-held passion for Equine-Assisted Services. Marchelle’s first volunteer experience at a therapeutic riding center in 2006 introduced her to the powerful potential of the horse-human connection to promote emotional well-being and personal development. Marchelle seeks to provide a compassionate Equine-Assisted Learning atmosphere, where people feel safe to authentically be, to reflect, and to step outside their comfort zone in the spirit of growth. Marchelle was formerly an Associate Professor of Psychology at Concordia University Texas. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Arizona, where she researched shame, guilt, and prejudice.
Marchelle is a wife and mother. In addition to her family and friends, she loves her dogs, horseback riding, and lifelong learning.
Michael Starr, LCSW, RPT
Michael is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Registered Play Therapist who works with our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy clients. Michael has loved horses since childhood and was thrilled to join the herd at Healing with Horses in 2022. She works with children, teens, and adults, and may be a good fit for your family if you or your child is experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, or loss. She also specializes in working with youth showing behavioral difficulties at home or school, those who have experienced a traumatic or difficult event, and youth or families experiencing difficulty adjusting to a life change. When she’s not seeing clients, Michael loves singing, swimming, hanging with her cats, or playing with her rambunctious toddler.
Minnow
Minnow, our Calico princess, joined the herd in 2021 by showing up to the Ranch and deciding it was too good to leave. You would never believe she used to be feral, terrified of humans, and uncatchable, because she now enjoys a good belly rub and all of the attention she can get.
Mouse
Mouse, affectionately named after the job she gave herself, joined the herd in 2019. Like her adopted sister Minnow, she wandered onto the property one day and decided to adopt us. You can usually find Mouse curled up in a variety of places, including but not limited to: a cushion, cat tree, stack of saddle pads, box of tools, feed bin… if it fits, she sits.
Oreo
Oreo (Monastery Overture) is a 8.2hh Miniature Horse mare, born in 2008, that joined the herd in 2012. Oreo got her registered name by being bred & raised by a sisterhood of nuns in Bastrop. She is our smallest equine with one of the biggest personalities.
Patty D’Andrea
Patty is the founder of Healing with Horses Ranch. Starting with a love of children and horses, she wanted to engage with a community of like minded people when she and her family moved to Texas in 2001. She started as a volunteer at another center and was told that she needed to become an instructor because she talked too much! That started her journey! In 2004, Patty did become a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and kept on learning and trying to improve. She is now a PATH Intl. Advanced-level CTRI and Equine Specialist. She founded Healing with Horses Ranch with the encouragement of her husband John in 2011 to share the healing powers of horses. Her mission today is to train others so that they too can share the same passion of horses in a safe, effective, and empathic way.
Patty has always loved horses, dogs, cats, and well… all animals. She loves to travel and explore nature. She is mom to her shadow dog Ranger, princess pony Bailey, elusive cat Hootie, and John’s cockatiel Cricket. But mostly, she loves her husband, their two children, and their 4 grandbabies who call her Neigh Neigh!
Peach
Peach, previously known as Kate, is a 13hh Haflinger mare, born in 2010, that joined the herd in 2017. She was trained as a cart pulling horse originally. Peach was our Horse of the Year in 2019.
Rebekah Fookes
Rebekah serves as the Development Director as well as a CTRI at the Ranch. She joined the team in 2018, initially as a volunteer while balancing her long-time job at Amy’s Ice Creams and pursuing her Bachelor’s degree. She graduated during the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic in May 2020, earning a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin in Applied Learning & Development with minors in sociology & social work. Rebekah became a CTRI in 2021 and eventually took on the full-time role of Development Director in 2023. With many years of experience working with youth, she is dedicated to empowering young people to discover their voice and harness their strengths. She loves how horses excel at this process in ways humans can’t! Her mission at the Ranch is to inspire generosity from the greater Austin area (and beyond!) in order to ensure that access to the magic of equine-assisted services continues to grow and thrive.
Rebekah grew up taking riding lessons starting at the age of 6. Her grandma is the reason her love of horses flourished by putting her on the back of a horse before she could walk. She spent many of her childhood summers helping her grandma drive cattle on horseback in the Teanaway Valley in central Washington. Rebekah competed in equestrian activities through 4-H and rode on her high school’s equestrian team outside of Portland, Oregon. Though she has tried pretty much every event you can think of, she always loved English-style events the most, particularly jumping and dressage.
Outside of the Ranch, you’ll typically find Rebekah relaxing with her partner, 2 Siamese cats, and mini Goldendoodle, enjoying a good show or cooking. She loves astrology, art, interior design, and being in the sun.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a strawberry roan 13hh Quarter Pony. She was born in 2013 and joined our herd in 2021 after retiring from her career in Show Jumping.
Sheri Moore
Sheri is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning who joined the herd in 2021. She grew up with Quarter Horses and can’t remember a time when she didn’t love them and every other animal on the planet! Sheri has degrees in Anthropology, Journalism, Psychology and Art, and a Master’s degree in Art History. Sheri loves to teach and volunteer. She has taught NAMI classes, English as a second language, robotics and art. She has worked with at-risk children at Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA, Open Table, Boys and Girls Club, and CASA. Additionally, she has served as a coach, team manager, judge/appraiser and challenge master with First Robotics and Destination Imagination. She has counseled adults as a Stephen Minister and earned her Distinguished Toastmaster award. Sheri currently volunteers with Austin Wildlife Rescue, Dog Alliance and Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society. She serves as a docent and gallery teacher at the Blanton museum.
Sheri is a horse mom to Be’er, Martini and Zac. She adores her dogs, Kahlua & Remy Blue and her cat, Mimosa. Sheri has an amazing daughter, Dominique, and a wonderful and generous son, Dylan.
Horses changed Sheri’s life as a child, and again as an adult. She wants to show others the pure joy and healing power horses bring us. Her most critical mission is to give back to the horses that give so much to us. Sheri is working on completing her certification in equine and canine acupressure and Masterson Method Massage. She plans on helping therapy horses live their best lives!
Stu
Stu is a 14hh Paint Pony gelding, born in 2002, that joined the herd in 2020. He is a retired trail horse from the Hyatt Regency Resort in Bastrop.
Sugar
Sugar is a 15hh Quarter Horse mare, born in 1996, that joined our herd in 2021. She is leased to our program by Maggie Anderson, and currently lives full-time at our satellite location, Sage Recovery Villa.
Sweet Pea
Sweet Pea is a 10hh Donkey john, born in 2006, that joined the herd in 2016. When he came to the Ranch, he was dropped off, unbeknownst to us, with a hoof to shoulder-length cast, because he was hit by a car! Sweet Pea then worked his way back to health to become our “Horse” of the Year in 2021.
Zoe Lacey
Zoe is our Client Coordinator and a CTRI. She began as a volunteer in 2015, falling in love with the work the ranch does and the benefits it provides everyone who steps through the barn doors. She quickly realized the power of a horse in helping people to recognize and grow their confidence and resilience. Zoe knew she wanted to help others discover this powerful relationship with horses, so she became a CTRI in 2021. In 2023, she took on the role of Client Coordinator where she enjoys getting to know all of our clients and supporting their participation in our life-changing programs.
Outside of her work at the ranch, Zoe has a Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences and enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and camping, playing with her pup, Arlo, and working on various art projects. You can check out some of her art work on the Ranch’s shavings trailer (a collaborative art project with other volunteers) and the 2023 volunteer t-shirt.
A Standard of Excellence
Healing with Horses Ranch was founded in 2011 as a Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Intl). In 2018, our program and facility was voluntarily peer reviewed by a PATH Intl. site reviewer and met the accreditation requirements became a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center.