Our Staff
Trish Gross
Executive Director
Trish grew up in a small town in Michigan with a dream of riding horses but as with many things, life intervened. After earning a BS in Engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Trish founded a company where under her leadership as President and CEO,the company grew aggressively over 12 years culminating in a successful exit in 2012. Since 2012, she has been paying it forward and is currently on the board of the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship at Chapman University, is an Entrepreneur in Residence at University of California Irvine and Chapman and a board member for a number of high potential start-ups.
While re-locating to Atlanta in 2015, Trish and her family discovered Chastain Park and fell in love with the area. She is passionate about the benefits of horsemanship for riders of all abilities and is equally passionate about helping companies reach their highest potential. It is her vision for CHP to become the model recognized throughout the US for bringing together riders of all abilities into a single community benefiting from the healing power of horses.
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Lisa Anderson
Head Trainer and Program Director
Lisa Anderson has been training and showing horses and teaching riders since 1980. After graduating from Columbia University Lisa began her professional career as a hunter and jumper trainer at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL where she was based until 1992. After catch riding a colleague’s event horses, Lisa began a second career as an event rider which led to her competing at the advanced level, riding for two years with Olympic coach Jack LeGoff at USET headquarters in S Hamilton, MA and being named 6th leading event rider in the United States in 1989. She remained active on the eventing circuit until 1996, winning divisions of Rolex*, Essex*, N GA* and placing at Radnor**, Rolex**, Atlanta** and Fair Hill***, competing over 30 different horses at the preliminary level and above and coaching hundreds of students in clinics across the country.
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Lisa returned to the hunter and jumper disciplines in 1997 where she trained out of Grove Place Farm until 2011. During this time she returned to her roots training juniors and amateurs at A shows, finding her eventing experience and flatwork skills beneficial in improving the basics of her clients’ hunters and jumpers. During this time she trained multiple clients, in many cases seeing them from the short stirrup through upper level jumper divisions and national competitions.
From 2011 to 2016 Lisa coached the University of Georgia NCAA Equestrian Team, as the over fences specialist where she recruited and coached some of the most accomplished young equitation riders in the United States, including Medal and Maclay Finals winners. During this time UGA won the SEC Championship and became the NCEA National Champions.
Lisa is currently Head Trainer and Program Director at Chastain Horse Park in Atlanta, GA and teaches the American Forward Riding System. She holds USEF R licenses in Hunters, Equitation, Jumpers and Eventing and is an active judge across the United States.
Kelcy Rainer
Therapeutic Program Director
PATH Intl. Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor with PATH Intl. CTRI certification, Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Originally from New Orleans, Kelcy grew up competitively showing nationally and internationally in the saddle seat discipline. She earned a spot on the United States World Cup Saddle Seat Equitation Team in 2002, served on three other Invitational World Cup Teams and competed in South Africa where she captured three gold medals and one silver medal.
It was in college, at the University of Georgia where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Art History, that Kelcy was first involved as a volunteer at a PATH Intl. Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies program Kelcy has been a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor since 2008 and earned her Advanced Certification in 2016. She served as the Volunteer and Development Coordinator at Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association for several years before she moved to Atlanta in 2011. Kelcy joined the CHP team as an instructor in 2012 and became Therapeutic Program Director in 2014.
Lorin Middelthon
Director of Development
Lorin grew up in Pennsylvania, outside of Valley Forge National Park, and began riding horses at age 10. When her family moved to Singapore in 1982, she continued her riding pursuits there until the age of 16 when other interests took over, but her love of horses never waned.
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After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Actuarial Science, her career turned toward finance, and she worked in Wealth Management over the next 23 years, earning her CFP® and CPWA® designations.
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Her daughter began taking riding lessons at Chastain Horse Park in 2009 and the love affair with the amazing community of Chastain Horse Park began.
Emma Fiala
Volunteer Services Coordinator,
CTRI in training
Emma grew up in St. Louis, Missouri riding horses from the age of six through her high school years. She graduated early from high school and moved to Wellington, Florida where she worked as a working student and competed at a high level. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing. During her time at University of Georgia, she competed on the NCAA Equestrian Team for the hunt seat discipline. UGA Equestrian won the NCEA National Championship Title during her time on the team.
Immediately following graduation, Emma worked as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Estes Park, Colorado for the summer and fall season.
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Emma will be joining the team as Volunteer Services Coordinator in January 2023. She plans to work towards her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor credentialing. Emma is passionate about what CHP does and is excited to help serve the community.
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Megan Flanagan O'Brien
Therapeutic Program Coordinator
Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning, CTRI in training
Meghan was born in San Mateo, California before moving to Atlanta, Georgia in 2008. At the age of four, she took her first riding lesson and was hooked. When her family made the move to Atlanta, they were introduced to Chastain Horse Park where she continued her Hunter Jumper riding career. During her junior year of high school, Meghan homeschooled and moved to Ocala, Florida to train and compete at a high level. Meghan took home rankings at USET Finals, Medal Finals, Washington
Finals and Maclay Finals.
In 2014, Meghan was recruited by the University of Georgia’s NCAA Equestrian Team. She was a member of the team for her four years competing as an Over Fences rider. During her time on the team, UGA Equestrian won four SEC Championship Titles. Graduating with a degree in Financial Planning, she remained at UGA to pursue her Master’s Degree in Financial Planning. During her Master’s Program, Meghan was the Graduate Assistant for the UGA Equestrian Team,
helping with competition coordination, team practices and athlete compliance. Throughout her time in school, Meghan continued to compete with her own horses in the Hunter Jumper circuit and to this day, continues to compete.
Following her graduation from Graduate School, Meghan worked for Goldman Sachs as a Financial Planner. During her time there, she focused on Tax Planning and Asset Allocation. After spending time away from the horse world, she realized that she wanted her passion of horses to become her
career. That is when she found a spot at Chastain Horse Park as Program Coordinator. She is currently working towards her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor credentialing so she can expand her knowledge and impact on CHP’s Therapeutic Program.
Lori Barefoot
Barn Manager
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Lori is one of six children from a very close knit family. She has been involved with horses since she was bitten by the bug at the age of 12. Riding mostly for pleasure, she did local showing as a child riding mainly hunters and jumpers but also showed in open shows in western and saddle seat. As a matter of fact, she actually showed at Chastain Park in the 1970’s! Since then, she has been an avid trail rider.
After graduating from St. Pius X High School in 1979, Lori went right to work as a Veterinary Technician for a small animal veterinarian and continued riding. After marrying, convinced her husband to join her in riding as well. She worked for 12 years as a Veterinary Technician with Equine Veterinarian Dr. Hugh Worsham who was a great teacher and mentor.
Alberto Galindo
Facilities Manager
Alberto, born in the city of Bogota, Colombia, met his passion for horses at a young age, dedicating all of his free time to training at different equestrian centers including the Bacata Club and the Equestrian Club of the National Police. Scoring impressive results in national competitions won him placing in the Equestrian Federation of Colombia.
With the goal of improving his horsemanship skills, Alberto enrolled in the Equestrian Center of the National Police where he earned a degree as an Equestrian Instructor.
In his professional career Alberto became a Certified Public Account at the University of Manizales, all the while continuing to pursue his passion for horses as a hobby.
Upon moving to the USA with his family, Alberto was able to newly embrace his passion for horses and now in a professional capacity as the Facilities Manager at Chastain Horse Park.
Margie Good
Administrative Coordinator
Having worked in the travel industry for most of her life and owning an agency in Georgia for 9 years certainly prepared Margie for her role as the administrative coordinator for both the school program and Horse Lovers Camp, among other duties. A pride in good customer service and a love of horses and children has also made the role of Pony Party coordinator one of her favorite jobs at CHP. Her love affair with Chastain Horse Park began in 2004 when she followed in her daughter’s footsteps and started volunteering with the Therapeutic Program. Since then she has also been lucky enough to ride in both the Therapeutic and School programs, own and board a horse at the barn, and assume many other roles when needed. In her spare time Margie enjoys collecting college degrees and is currently studying Modern Hebrew.
Christian Wilson
Business Manager
A native New Yorker from the New York City area, Christian got her Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. After years of dealing with cold weather and
snow, she moved to sunny, Atlanta, Georgia. Christian has 12+ years of Accounting experience in the public and non-profit sector and enjoys working at Chastain Horse Park because of its
mission and its commitment to serving others.
Lindsey Delgado-Harris
Volunteer Services Assistant
Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Lindsey grew up riding in Florida in the saddle seat discipline. She is graduating this May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Georgia State University and heading to UGA Gwinnett in the Fall to pursue a Master of Social Work. She plans to seek licensure as a counselor, gain her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning credentials. Lindsey hopes to grow with Chastain Horse Park as they pilot the Equine Assisted Mental Health program. Outside of CHP, Lindsey and her wife have their hands full with two young daughters.
Sandy Webster
Manager of Therapeutic Program Development
PATH Int'l Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Sandy Webster is a PATH Intl. Master Instructor, CanTRA Coach, Canadian Equestrian Federation Level 2 Eventing and Dressage Coach. She is an enthusiastic Instructor of Therapeutic Riding, Horsemanship, Equine Assisted Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL), Interactive Vaulting and Carriage Driving. She is a PATH Intl. Evaluator for the Registered, Advanced and Master Instructor Certifications. Sandy has attended 2 Paralympics and 3 World Championships as the Canadian Paralympic Dressage Team Coach. Sandy was the Program Director and Executive Director of CARD, an exceptional program in Toronto for over 23 years.
After becoming a 2-time cancer survivor, Sandy chose to spend the past 17 years building and staffing therapeutic riding centers, mentoring instructors, and consulting coast to coast in the United States and beyond. Sandy was awarded the prestigious PATH Intl. James Brady Award in 2012 for her impact on the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy industry across North America. Sandy spent two years working with the Ministry of Education in Singapore to create a unique equine based core value program for pre-teens, which successfully lowered the suicide rate 70%. In 2019, Sandy was awarded the Silver Buckle “Life Without Barriers Award” for her impact on therapeutic riding programs in Northern California. Her passion is helping the EAAT industry grow while developing best practices to change people’s lives with the help of well-trained volunteers and our best friends, the horse.
Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship Instructors
Gabriella Hartz
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Gabriella is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). Her first introduction to Chastain Horse Park was in 2017, when she completed her practicum hours for certification. She has always had a love of horses but did not start actively riding until she was 14 years old. She has been a dynamic volunteer at Chastain Horse Park’s Therapeutic Program for over three years and has been serving an important role of "lesson captain". Since 2018, Gabriella has coached the Douglas County Special Olympics Equestrian Team. She has a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate working toward full licensure by completing a designated amount of supervised clinical counseling hours. Eventually, Gabriella would like to combine her love of equines and professional background by conducting psychotherapy here at CHP. This is a practice of incorporating horses by skillfully integrating the qualities of the horse or equine environments within individualized plans of care benefiting patients and clients.
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Jessi Hasler
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Originally from Miami, Jessi grew up outside of Athens Georgia and spent most weekends and holidays at Southern Cross Ranch where she would trail ride with her family and friends. Due to health challenges in high school, Jessi had to take a 5-year break from horses but the love of them never left. As her health
got better, she rekindled her love of riding. In May of 2021, Jessi graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an Emphasis in Child Life. During her last year and a half of
college, Jessi spent the majority of her time at the ranch where she rode, helped out with new horses, and did barn chores. This is when she decided to pursue equine therapy with her love of children and the knowledge she gained from her degree. After graduation, Jessi moved to Atlanta, GA to complete an
internship at Chastain Horse Park, where she started and completed the process to become a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. When Jessi is not teaching, she spends her time riding her own horses and competes with friends in multiple disciplines such as roping, cutting, and jumping. Jessi is also pursuing her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in the hopes of helping families through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
Madeline Heaner
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Madeline has been around horses for as long as she can remember. Originally from Franklin, Tennessee, Madeline grew up on a horse farm that raised Tennessee Walking Horses. There she began riding at the age of 5. During her elementary school years, she took hunter/jumper lessons to help build a solid foundation for riding.
Madeline graduated from Samford University where she earned a bachelor's degree in Finance. She was also a member of the women's track team.
A couple of years after moving to Atlanta, Madeline had the opportunity to volunteer with Chastain Horse Park. Pairing service to others and horses was a perfect match for Madeline's passions. She has volunteered with CHP for 4 years and is very excited to have obtained her CTRI. She looks forward to serving in this role!
Madeline lives in Roswell with her husband, Gardner and dog, Hattie. She enjoys traveling and showing her horses.
Kingsley Sawtelle
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Kingsley, a native Georgian, began riding at 5 years old and started taking lessons at 7 years old. She has trained and competed in hunters, eventing and her current primary focus, dressage. Her experience, as a working student with many different professionals in the industry over the years, has helped develop her riding and horsemanship skills. Kingsley started volunteering as a leader and side-walker at an equine assisted services center when she was 13 years old. Her experience coaching several teams to Special Olympics and assisting with therapeutic riding lessons, encouraged her to pursue becoming an instructor. Kingsley gained her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor designation in September 2020. Kingsley also teaches at a therapeutic riding center in Cartersville, GA. She is also in the process of attaining her Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning certification. In May, she will graduate from the University of West Georgia with her bachelors in communication
Our Therapists
Brent Applegate, MPT
Physical Therapist & Owner of My Heroes Therapy
Brent Applegate began his career as a physical therapist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, working in multiple environments from acute care to CIRU (Comprehensive Inpatient Rehab Unit) to Day Rehab Programs to Outpatient services. Due to his horsey upbringing he was tasked in assisting a CHOA 'hippotherapy' pilot program where, thanks to the dramatic impact he saw with his patients, he fell in love. He began the My Heroes Therapy program out of Chastain Horse Park in 2005 and has never looked back. In 2011 he moved his family to Colorado to begin a second program out of Colorado State University but returns regularly to directly oversee the therapy programming and personally provide services at Chastain. He loves snowboarding, biking, hiking, forcing his kids off their phones under threat of abandonment, and is a terrible fisherman. More than anything he loves watching the impact his program and the Chastain therapeutic program have on the children and adults that they serve.
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Michelle Winer, PT, MSPT, HPCS
Physical Therapist, AHA Level 2 & Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist
Michelle earned her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 1999. She worked in public schools in Maryland and Massachusetts for many years providing therapy services to children with a wide variety of special needs. After leaving Massachusetts, Michelle spent a few years being a full-time mom to her 4 children and then returned to her first passion, helping children learn to use their motor skills to the best of their abilities. Michelle has taken many continuing education courses over the years, including treating Idiopathic Toe-Walking, use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (specifically for the pediatric population), and Linked: Breathing and Postural Control. Michelle has taken the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Level 1 and 2 courses and has tested to become certified as a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist. Michelle had a poster presentation at the 2022 AHA conference about the use of Hippotherapy in a patient with Long Covid. Michelle grew up going on trail rides with her family and learned about hippotherapy when she was a college student. The ability to include hippotherapy into her patients’ treatment plans fulfills a lifelong career goal.
Michelle Dawson, MPT
Physical Therapist,
AHA Level 1
Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science in 2015 and Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2018 from Missouri State University. While in PT school
she was introduced to equine assisted therapy and the benefits it can bring to the pediatric population. Michelle has worked in a variety of settings including private practice, outpatient clinics, home-based therapy, and rehab hospital. She has a particular passion for neurological disorders and incorporating animals into practice. She has completed her AHA Level I certification and is looking forward to continuing her education in hippotherapy to enhance the lives of her patients through this
unique modality at CHP.
Bella Orden, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist,
AHA Level 1
Bella has loved horses and animals all her life. She grew up riding in Massachusetts where she has been involved in English pleasure, hunter/jumper, and eventing disciplines and has worked and taught at several stables over the years. Bella has a master's degree in occupational therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia and has a particular passion for trauma-informed care and incorporating animals into practice. Bella is excited to begin incorporating the horse into her practice at Chastain Horse Park and growing with this amazing team.
Emily Eckemoff, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist,
AHA Level 2
Emily earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2013. She worked as a special education PreK assistant for one year before taking the leap into Occupational Therapy. Emily moved to Georgia in 2016 and graduated with her Master's in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University in 2019.
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While in OT school, she observed equine assisted therapy outside of her internships. Emily worked in a pediatric outpatient facility for two years before transitioning to inpatient at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish-Rite. She currently works part-time at CHOA. Emily has experience with sensory based approaches to feeding, modality certified and has completed the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Treatment Principles I & II. She is excited to incorporate a holistic sensory based experience while treating outside and with horses. Emily joined the My Heroes Therapy Team at Chastain Horse Park in January 2023.
Sherry Niekamp
Occupational Therapy Assistant, AHA Level 1
Sherry was born and raised in Cape Coral, Florida and recently moved to Georgia. She graduated from Keiser University with a degree of Occupational Therapy Assistant. Sherry attended equine summer camps growing up and enjoys riding any chance she gets. She has worked with the pediatric population in the school and clinical setting. Incorporating horses into therapy has been a dream of hers since she was young. She spent time shadowing and volunteering at Special Equestrians in Buckingham, FL. She completed her AHA level 1 certification and looks forward to expanding her knowledge and helping those in need at CHP.
Christina Perez, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant, AHA Level 1
The horseback riding bug bit Christina at age 10. She's originally from Miami, Florida and has been riding and competing ever since. She has competed at all the major horse shows across Florida in the hunter/jumper discipline. In High School, Christina started volunteering for a local program that offered hippotherapy. Christina stuck with volunteering all through school. She gained her bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Florida, associate of science-physical therapy/therapist from Keiser University and made her way to Georgia, where she most recently attained her Bachelor of Applied Science-BASc, Neuroscience.
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Christina is currently working for Amedisys Home Care Services and My Heroes Therapy.
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Christina has four dogs and a wonderful spouse who is supportive of her career and equestrian lifestyle. She states that "riding is my therapy! There's no greater reward than changing lives and making positive outcomes for children and people of all ages. As a lifelong equestrian, I am absolutely thrilled to be able to combine my career and love of horses!"