About Us

Jen Donahue

Jennifer “Jen” Donahue currently serves as the Specialty Programs and Outreach Coordinator for Equest in Wylie/Dallas Texas and has served Equest in the past as Head Instructor and Education Coordinator. She has also worked with SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers, Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding Center in Lubbock, TX, Greater New Orleans Therapeutic Riding Center in LA and founded Pointe Celeste Therapeutic Riding Center in Port Sulfur, LA. Jen holds her Masters of Science Teaching plus thirty hours of graduate work in education from Loyola University New Orleans.

Jen’s evolvement with PATH International includes: Advanced Instructor, Level III Driving Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, Lead Evaluator Faculty Member, Site visitor, Driving Faculty, Registered
Mentor and serves as the State Chair for Texas. Jen currently serves on the PATH Intl. Accreditation Sub-Committee and Driving Sub-Committee. She loves life, people, horses, photography, painting, and being in nature.

Calle Poindexter

Calle Poindexter is the founder and owner of High Point Nonprofit Services, a company based in Albuquerque, NM that serves as a centralized hub for EAAT centers and nonprofits to collaborate resources and increase each organization's impact on the community. She is also the former Executive Director of The Riding Therapy Center (RTC) of Victoria, TX and a PATH Intl Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor since 2010. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University, her Master of Public Administration from Sam Houston State University and was a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie National Champion Equestrian Team from 2004-2006. She is currently the LSTEN Board President, teaches private veteran and civilian clients with her one-of-a-kind Ashva Yoga program (Horsemanship + Mat Work), and has served on several Boards and Committees such as the PATH Intl. Standards Task Force, Junior League of Victoria, Therapeutic Living Services, Nave Museum, Best Buddies New Mexico Advisory Board, to name a few.

Karen Somma

Karen Somma has loved horses all her life and was blessed to own her own horse as a teen. After graduating from SMU with a BFA (Studio Art) degree and working for attorneys for 20 years, she was raising her son and searching for a new direction in life. In 2008, she volunteered as a horse leader/sidewalker at SIRE in the Houston, Texas area and immediately fell in love with the EAAT industry. Karen earned her PATH Registered Level Instructor certification in 2011 quickly followed by Equine Specialist in Mental Health/Learning and Mentor credentials. She currently serves at JoyRide Center in Magnolia, Texas as the Therapeutic Riding Program Manager and CTRI assisting people with disabilities to gain strength, increase communication skills, develop confidence, and have fun through interaction with those magical creatures known as horses.

Melissa Flowers

I can’t imagine my life without horses! I began riding at the age of ten, at a small therapeutic riding center outside of Houston. After high school I started volunteering & helping teach riding lessons. Since then, I have worked at another therapeutic riding center in Magnolia, Tx., serving for ten years in the roles of riding instructor and teaching in our pre-vocational program based on the grounds of the riding center. Currently, I work at a pediatric therapy home care company. The love of my life is Duchess, my quarter horse mare whom I have had the pleasure of partnering with for the last five years.

Kimberly McDonell

I began riding while living in Scotland, and competed in show-jumping (indoor and outdoor), working hunters/show ponies, hunter trials, as well as joining pony club, foxhunted and participated in gymkhanas. In 1988 I moved to Houston, where I stayed involved with pony club, aging out with my H-A certification. I competed throughout Area V (eventing) through the preliminary level, and through first level dressage within region 9. While in pony club we volunteered at SIRE (Hockley) to clean tack, where my parents later donated my brothers pony "Zippy" where he lived and worked until his retirement. In 2009 I began volunteering at SIRE's Hockley site, then going through PATH certification in the spring of 2011 I began working part time with SIRE shortly after certification, I also have my ESMHL. I am still involved with pony club as a chief horse management judge, and have held a number of leadership positions at the local and regional level. I graduated in 2006 from Sam Houston State University with a degree in History, and currently teach world history and government/economics at the high school level just west of Houston.

Rachel Royston

2023 Conference Host Chair

Brittany Rogers

Brittany Rogers is the Program Director at Runnin' WJ Ranch which is a PATH Intl. premier accredited center in Texarkana, Texas. I have been at Runnin’ WJ Ranch since the beginning; handing my dad nails when this place was built and volunteering in class and in the barn, to now acting as Instructor and Program Director. I absolutely LOVE my job and all the students and volunteers that I get to come in contact with every day. I am truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful organization and thank God every day! I am a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. I was recently chosen to be in Four State Living Magazine Fabulous 40 and Under. I am married to Jason and have two boys, Jaxon and Jase, that keep me busy. I am on the board of Texarkana Down Syndrome Society and Maud Youth Football Association.

Shayna Bolton

I’m originally from Massachusetts where I started taking riding lessons when I was 8 years. I mainly worked with Morgan horses and competed in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Western Pleasure and even a few saddle-seat events. Fast forward 15 years, two kids later and several relocations, I started volunteering at SIRE. I knew right away that becoming an Instructor was something I wanted to do. Once I was a certified instructor, I worked part-time until my youngest graduated from high school and then left my career in HR/recruiting to accept the Site Manager position with SIRE’s Spring location. Even though it was a huge adjustment leaving a corporate office position, I’ve never regretted it for a minute. I’ve loved having the opportunity to work in the therapeutic horsemanship world. I love to travel, be with family and eat good food!

MG Tindall

MG Tindall serves as President/CEO and Board Member of Inspiration Ranch and has been on staff there since 2010. With more than 25 years in non-profit, her focus is increasing benefits to our community by creating lasting partnerships with key community stakeholders. Her strengths are strategic planning, leadership, and problem-solving.

Before joining the ranch, she was the Director of the Children's Ministry for Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, IL. While at Willow Creek, MG was a member of the Top 50 Leaders.

She is a native Houston and studied Special Education at Texas Tech University. MG is married to John Tindall and has two children, Kali and Cole.

Sandra Hayes

Several years ago, I was filled with anxiety and low self confidence and at school I had no friends. That's when my mom found Annie. Annie was my very first riding instructor. I remember getting to her house and seeing Ginger in the pasture. In that moment, the animal that I loved so much suddenly, caused me a lot of anxiety. I questioned, would I be able to do this and did I really want to do this. Ms. Jen and the volunteers at Equest worked hard to develop my riding skills. I've learned to breath through my anxiety. I've found my self working harder in school, because I believe that I can do the work. I am smarter, faster, and better. I am living my dream of jumping up to 3 foot and I love it. I can’t wait to jump higher and higher.

Riding has allowed me to participate in competitions, go places and meet a lot of people. I've had a lot of success and I've learned that if I can control a 1000-pound animal, I can do anything else. Sometimes it’s hard work that I don’t want to do, but I love being able to cuddle with the horses. My goal is to become a riding instructor and instill in students what Ms. Annie and Ms. Jen have instilled in me. They were the first people who told me I COULD, and I did! I cannot imagine not riding and I plan to do so if I can.