Our Staff

Pete S

Executive Director

Pete was born and raised in the North-East of England and moved to the US in 1998. Pete has worked in several non-profit organizations and has been in successful capital campaigns to secure land and building/development of the projects. Pete has worked in Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Washington. He has vast experience in leadership development and strategic planning. Pete has his Bachelor of Education in Elementary Teaching, specializing in PE and Outdoor Education. Pete became a citizen of the US in January of 2020.

Katie S

Adaptive Riding Program Director 

Katie grew up in the Spokane area, she spent her toddler years with her relatives at the local racetrack (Playfair), was involved in 4-H, showed horses and rode lots of miles on the trails. Katie started as a volunteer at Free Rein in 2010 and became a PATH certified instructor in September 2013. Seeing the benefits of therapeutic riding is what keeps Katie here at Free Rein. 

Kate M

Military Horsemanship Program Director 

Kate was born on Whidbey Island-where the passion for horses started as a young age. Kate was active in 4-H and FFA. Kate came east to Cheney, WA in 2002 to attend to Eastern Washington University.  Kate believes in the power of a horse for youth, adults, and military veterans. Kate owns horses, cattle, a dog/cats and loves to garden.

Alyson G

Equine Manager

Alyson has lived in Spokane her whole life and has pursued opportunities to be around, with, and on horses since she was seven years old. She volunteered with Free Rein in 2014 and 2015 and then continued to try out all sorts of disciplines in riding and showing horses. Alyson attended Carroll College in Helena, MT and graduated with a degree in Anthrozoology. Alyson owns a horse and a dog. She enjoys trail riding, being outside, and puppy raising for service dog organizations.

Janelle R

PATH Certified Instructor & Mentor

Janelle came to Free Rein as a volunteer in 2020. She has a Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a love for horses. She has ridden all her life and has two horses on her property with her husband. They have three grown children and enjoy camping, hiking, skiing and farming hay. Teaching classes brings her great joy to see the impact our horses can make on each rider and volunteer that comes to Free Rein.

Andrea D

Barn Team & Instructor

Andrea's earliest memory was the first time she ever rode a horse. A severe allergic reaction ensued, yet she only started crying AFTER her parents took her off the horse! A few years (and allergy shots later), she received her own horse, and the rest is history! Andera began volunteering at Free Rein in 2013 and considers it her second home. Her ultimate goal is to become a PATH certified instructor! In her spare time, you can find her exploring the trails on her horse, Apollo.

Kate B

Barn Team

Bio Coming Soon!

Mark M

Military Horsemanship Specialist

Bio Coming Soon!

Sara A

PATH Certified Instructor

Sara has been horse crazy since she was a toddler and finally convinced her parents to lease her a pony when she was 10. She began volunteering with a therapeutic riding program in Southern California when she was 15 and has been involved with various programs worldwide since. After moving to the Silver Valley of Idaho from England with her husband in 2020, she began looking for a new therapeutic program to get involved with and found Free Rein. She’s excited to be working towards becoming a PATH certified instructor with the wonderful students, volunteers, staff, and horses at Free Rein. Sara worked for 10 years as a mining geologist but is now back in school at EWU getting a master’s degree in occupational therapy.

Stephanie G

Instructor In Training

Stephanie started volunteering at Free Rein in August 2021 after 6 years volunteering and instructing at Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in California.  A love of horses started for Stephanie as a toddler. Elementary school teaching and a love for guiding children to love learning and adventure was her career.  After retiring, it was a great joy to discover the combination of horses and helping riders of all ages and abilities through therapeutic riding.  She feels it is a privilege to work with the Free Rein clients and to grow and learn along with the amazing staff at Free Rein.  She loves to travel, read, garden, hike and of course ride.