Our Board

Our Board of Directors is an amazing group of dedicated volunteers who provide leadership and promote our programs throughout the greater Spokane area. 

Dave T

President

My wife, Jan, introduced to me to Free Rein in 2014, I have enjoyed being a side walker and leader, as well as helping in maintenance and construction projects. I’ve been a volunteer Nordic ski instructor for Spokane Parks and Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Services at Mt. Spokane Nordic Ski Area since 1995. I began as a volunteer firefighter with Spokane County Fire District 4 in 1991 and now serve as a driver/operator for District 4’s Support Services team.  I’m honored to have been invited to join Free Rein’s Board of Directors in mid 2020. It’s an exciting time in a very challenging scenario but I’m surrounded by a great team of dedicated volunteers and staff.

Karin M

Vice President

Karin is a 30 year resident of the Spokane area. She received her BA from University of Washington in 1982 and in 2019 received a Masters in Counseling from Gonzaga University. Her involvement with Free Rein began with an invitation to our annual auction. She started volunteering in 2016 and joined the board the winter of 2020. Karin has had a life long passion for horses and spent many happy childhood hours on horseback. Adult life initially had no room for horses until her daughter developed her own deep passion for horses. She has gone from boarding, to being lucky enough to own a home where she can have her horses with her. She passionately believes in the healing power of horses and loves being able to share what she can to help Free Rein achieve its mission.

Sandy J

Founder & Secretary

Sandy first discovered therapeutic riding when she volunteered at the PETE program at WSU in 1991. When she returned to the Seattle area she began volunteering at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding. In 1998 she completed her degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant and took on her own clients at Little Bit. In 2002 she became a Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Later in 2002 Sandy, her husband and two kids moved to Spokane. After having another kid and then buying a young Fjord named Loki she decided that it was time to work on opening a therapeutic riding program in Spokane. In the summer of 2008 Free Rein was launched. Sandy moved back to the west side in 2019 and returned to Little Bit where she is a Physical Therapy Assistant and an Adaptive Riding Instructor. In her free time Sandy enjoys spending time with her husband and her three kids who are all now grown and out of the house. Their adventures include hiking, paddling, cross country skiing, being on the beach and traveling.

Amber H

Treasurer

Amber Hull joined the Free Rein Board as Treasurer in September of 2022. Growing up on a small wheat farm with horses she understands the impact a horse can have on a person. Amber has worked for AgWest Farm Credit for over 16 years. As VP Credit, her current duties include review and underwriting of large, complex, and/or high-risk credit requests with review of complete financial analysis. Amber attended Washington State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness with a minor in Animal Science. She is married with two children and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family: riding, camping, fishing, gardening and caring for her family’s dogs, horses, goats, and chickens.

Lindsay K

Board Member

Lindsay is a native to the area, having grown up in Dalton Gardens prior to attending Gonzaga University and receiving an undergraduate degree in Special Education. Lindsay was a special educator for several years in Post Falls before attending law school. She is now a transactional attorney, specializing in real estate and corporate law. Lindsay has been around horses her whole life, having grown up raising paint horses. She is thrilled to serve on the board of Free Rein and to have an opportunity to combine her passions for horses and the special needs community.

Amy L

Board Member

Amy Larson came to Free Rein in 2009 as the parent of a rider, Merete Larson. She saw firsthand the extraordinary joy and other benefits that therapeutic riding brought to her daughter and she has been involved with Free Rein ever since. Amy received her B.A. in sociology and anthropology from Whitman College and went on to graduate programs in education at Dominican College and Whitworth University. She has enjoyed teaching in schools in California, Washington, Japan and Costa Rica. She brings a love of learning, a personal and professional knowledge of working with special needs students, and a passion for Free Rein.

Amanda Lamp

Amanda L

Board Member

Dr. Amanda Lamp has ridden since she was 3 years old. She has had the great fortune to be a working student for 3 Olympic riders and has trained countless horses and riders in eventing and dressage, though she has ridden both western and English throughout her life. As a researcher, she also does human-equine interaction research to demonstrate the benefits of horses to the public. She started volunteering for therapeutic riding in 2006 and became a certified PATH Instructor February 2022. She greatly enjoys working with everyone at Free Rein.