Leadership Team

Sandy 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.

Casey grew up on a small horse farm adjacent to what is now the Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna, Georgia. Weekends were spent on their family farm in South Georgia where they raised cattle and Tennessee Walking Horses. She has practiced several equine disciplines and competed in shows throughout the Southeast. Her favorite place to be is on a scenic trail ride with good company, native plants, and a surefooted horse. For more than a decade Casey has served in the non-profit sector. In 2022 she was fortunate to work with Atlanta Public Schools where she fell in love with education and working with children. She is very excited to be part of Chastain Horse Park’s mission to empower individuals of all abilities through life-changing relationships with horses. In her downtime, you can find Casey on the baseball or softball fields of NYO pulling dugout duty for her two children, walking her dogs around the Chastain Park loop, or digging in the garden. You may even catch her renovating homes in the area with her husband! Casey will be joining Emma and Lindsey in Volunteer Services supporting the organization in all aspects of our mission.

Lindsey grew up riding in Florida in the saddle seat discipline. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Georgia State University and will graduate from UGA Gwinnett in 2025 with 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.

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.

Eli grew up in Atlanta and after graduating UGA in 2013, they spent a decade in Washington D.C., working with nonprofits and advocacy organizations. After swapping Georgia pines for D.C. office buildings, they are thrilled to be back home and part of the Chastain Horse Park team. Eli fell in love with horses at Girl Scout camp and couldn’t be more excited to spend their days at the barn. In their spare time, you can find them with their partner and pup, Hooch, walking the Beltline, finding the best coffee in Atlanta, spending time with their family, and rooting on the US Women’s National Soccer Team.

​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 started taking horseback riding lessons in the hunter/jumper discipline when she was 6 years old. She actively rode and competed in local shows throughout her elementary, middle, and high school years. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she competed on their IHSA Hunt Seat Equestrian Team. It was during her high school years that Michelle was first introduced to therapeutic riding. She volunteered as a sidewalker, horse leader and barn coordinator at a therapeutic riding center in Bel Air, Maryland throughout both high school and college. She loved it so much that she decided to pursue becoming a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. In August of 2015, Michelle was awarded a scholarship from The Equus Foundation for her commitment to volunteering in the therapeutic riding field, which covered the cost of pursuing her certification. Once certified, Michelle continued teaching therapeutic riding lessons part time. In March of 2018, Michelle was offered a full-time position at Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as their Programs and Instruction Coordinator. In this role, Michelle taught therapeutic riding lessons on a weekly basis and managed the therapeutic riding operations and administration, including rider scheduling, chairing the annual horse show, conducting special camp programs, and managing day to day lesson operations. Michelle was in this role for over three years. In 2021, Michelle received a Graduate Assistantship to pursue her master’s degree in Nonprofit Management at UGA in Athens. After graduating in December 2022, she moved to Tucker, GA where she currently resides and works full time as the Assistant Development Director at the nonprofit organization, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, or FODAC. Michelle is excited to be working again with students and teaching therapeutic riding lessons as a part time therapeutic riding instructor at Chastain Horse Park.

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. Christina is currently working for Amedisys Home Care Services and My Heroes Therapy. 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!"

Whitney was born and raised in Southern California. After receiving her teaching credential at Cal State San Marcos in 2007, she began her career as an educator. Shortly after moving to Atlanta with her husband in 2009, she discovered her passion for working with and advocating for disabled students and their families. In 2012, Whitney received her MA in Special Education and Behavior Analysis. It was during that time she was introduced to the world of hippotherapy which soon led her to volunteering at Chastain Horse Park. Volunteering at CHP gave Whitney a first hand look at the countless ways in which the therapeutic nature of horses paired with the unique needs of any student, can create life changing results. Whitney has served in a variety of learning support roles including Lead Teacher at a Title 1 public school, Inclusion Specialist for those with developmental disabilities, Learning Specialist for students with a variety of learning disabilities, Orton Gillingham certified classroom educator, and Board of Directors at International Dyslexia Association of Georgia. Outside of CHP, Whitney likes to travel with her family, see live music, practice yoga, and read.

Brianne Savage started her career in 2005 with an associate degree in physical therapy assisting. She worked for Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for most of her career, starting in outpatient as well is inpatient within the hospital system. She quickly added Certified Lymphedema Therapist and LANA certifications to her accomplishments. Brianne loves horses and always wanted to learn to ride, so in 2010 she started taking English Saddle seat lessons on Morgan horses and quickly started doing low level showing for fun. She returned to school to complete her bachelor's degree in applied science, graduating in 2015 with the distinction of summa cume laude, all while working full time and being a foster parent. She adopted her two oldest children in 2014 and 2015. Her youngest son, Chase, now 10, has cerebral palsy and upon pursuing as many opportunities as she could for him, found a local barn who offered hippotherapy as an option for PT treatment in addition to clinic therapy. Chase absolutely loved his therapy every week, and immediately upon arriving at the barn, became happy and smiley. He greatly improved in trunk control and strength during his 4 years at this facility. Shortly after finishing his last season at the barn, Brianne came up with an idea, along with her husband, to start her own work as a therapist incorporating equine movement in her treatment toolbox. She attended her training through the AHA and became Certified in hippotherapy in May of 2022. In June of 2020, our nonprofit Chasing Hope Therapy Foundation was founded and in July 2022 we opened our doors to our first patients in LaGrange, Ohio. in March 2023, Brianne's husband accepted a job offer and their family relocated to the southside of Atlanta. She is currently working on her master's degree in healthcare administration and in her free time loves being home with her 4 kids (ages 17, 10, 4 and 2), working with her horses , and relaxing with a good book during a rainstorm when she gets the chance.

Andrea received her bachelor’s degree in fine art from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. After graduating, she worked for several years as a freelance photographer, doing everything from product shots to photojournalism for local newspapers. While on a photo assignment at a skilled nursing facility/assisted living community in Brooklyn, she discovered occupational therapy and quickly realized she had found her calling. She became an occupational therapist in 2022 after close to ten years as an occupational therapy assistant working with the pediatric population in a variety of settings. She began working at AboutPlay as an OT assistant in 2018, then returned to school at Georgia State University at the start of the pandemic. She is thrilled to be back at About Play, working as an OT with some of the most skilled and passionate OT professionals she has ever come across. She has received additional training in hippotherapy, Brain Gym, Handwriting Without Tears, is a Reiki Master and is working towards getting her certification in the Haller method, among others. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, watching Matlock, doing yoga and meditation, making arts and crafts and being outdoors as much as possible.

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

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.

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.