Meet Our Staff

 Kristin grew up riding competitively across multiple disciplines, gaining a deep connection with horses. From a young age she has loved the power, yet grace that horses can teach others. PATH certified since 2017, Kristin is passionate about sharing her love for horses with the next generation. She loves creating the same opportunities for kids that she experienced growing up—building confidence, connections, and lifelong memories through horses. In therapeutic riding sessions, Kristin finds joy in encouraging riders to be stong, brave and willing to try new activities. Kristin likes to make up new obstacle courses for her riders to navigate through, and share success with smies after fun sessions. 

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In addition, as a dedicated speech and language pathologist, Kristin is passionate about helping children communicate in natural environments, especially through the power of non-verbal expression. She deeply values the communication that goes beyond words and enjoys fostering this with the help of horses. Kristin is inspired by the intrinsic motivation that horses give children to engage, communicate, and grow in their unique way. Kristin loves working with children who use different modalities to communicate, but also finds joy and passion in working with adults.

Shelly joined the Young Hearts team in January 2024, bringing with her a deep love for horses and a profound belief in their unique ability to connect with people. In June 2026, she proudly stepped into her role as a therapeutic riding instructor, where she now directly guides participants through transformative equine experiences. For Shelly, the absolute best part of her day is witnessing firsthand the incredible breakthroughs and emotional healing that occur when individuals connect with horses within the therapy program.
When she isn't at the barn, Shelly loves embracing the great outdoors. She is an avid runner, a passionate reader, and an eager traveler who is always ready to explore new places. Above all, she treasures spending quality time making memories with her close family and friends.

​Ashley brings a lifelong passion for horses and over five years of dedicated experience supporting children with disabilities to the team. Her journey with horses began at just five years old, evolving from a childhood love into a deep professional commitment. To immerse herself in the equine world, Ashley spent several years working as a stable hand before advancing to the role of assistant riding instructor. Today, as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, she blends her extensive background in youth disability support with her equine expertise to create safe, empowering, and joyful riding experiences for all her students.