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Our Staff

Click the photos for staff member bios. Click their name to send them an email.

Pat Kline has been the executive director of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope for 17 years after a brief time as the development coordinator. Pat holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services specializing in child guidance. She was employed as a teacher for 17 years in New Jersey, Ohio, and Kentucky. Pat is a lifelong equine enthusiast having participated in hunter jumper shows as a child and later in the Thoroughbred racing industry. She feels blessed to have had a front-row seat in the exciting development of CKRH from a seasonal program to a year-round nonprofit business with a secure, sustainable future.

Pat Kline

Executive Director

Jeannie Brewer is CKRH’s Development Director and returned to the organization in May 2019 after a five-year hiatus. Her professional career in fundraising and project management has found her working with non-profit organizations across Central Kentucky whose industries have included microenterprise development, health care, historic preservation, and the arts. She grew up learning to ride on a family farm and spent many weekends engaged in Pony Club activities, participating in local horse shows or three-day eventing at the lower level. She holds a BA in English from Hollins University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP.)

Jeannie Brewer

Development Director

McKenna joined the CKRH team in 2018 after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Rescue and Conservation Education. A native of Chicago, Illinois, McKenna worked at the Shedd Aquarium where she spearheaded the teen work-study program for inner-city youth. McKenna also interned at the Kentucky Horse Park in volunteer and outreach management before joining us at CKRH. She currently serves as the volunteer coordinator, social media manager, event liaison, safety coordinator, and IT technician for CKRH.

McKenna Toenies

Volunteer, Media, and Program Development Coordinator

A native Texan, Anna is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where she studied both Equine Science & Management and English. As an avid horse lover, she treasures the opportunity to combine her love for horses, people, and community service. Anna is a PATH Intl. certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and the CKRH Equine Manager. When not working at CKRH, you can find Anna riding horses, reading, and visiting her family farm in Texas.

Anna Montero

Equine Manager/PATH Intl. Certified Instructor

Toby joined the CKRH team full time in May of 2019.  Toby brings 20+ years of experience in therapeutic horsemanship spanning across centers in both Michigan and Kentucky to her role at CKRH.  Concurrent with her role as Therapeutic Programming Coordinator she is also a part time clinical instructor in the Occupational Therapy program at Eastern Kentucky University.  As an occupational therapist she was employed in orthopedic, industrial and pediatric rehabilitation facilities.  She brings that experience to CKRH with the intent of creating an in-house therapy program utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment modality.  Toby is currently pursuing a clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy.  Outside of her professional role, she and her husband raise cattle, horses and working stock dogs, provide horsemanship and ranch roping clinics and compete in ranch horse and ranch roping competitions.  Prior to marrying a working cowboy, she competed in dressage and low level eventing.   

Toby Cross

MOT,OTR/L; Therapeutic Programming Coordinator

Originally from Pennsylvania, Samantha has spent a lifetime with horses of various breeds and disciplines including dressage, hunter/jumpers, and competitive driving of draft horses. Samantha left Pennsylvania to attend Michigan State University where she received her B.S. in Animal Science before moving to Kentucky to pursue a career in the non-profit sector of the equine industry while completing her M.B.A. at Eastern Kentucky University.  Samantha has always had a love for teaching and her prior roles include running a YMCA Equine Program, serving as Fayette Co.’s 4-H Equine leader, and teaching a High School Equine program.  Samantha joined CKRH in September 2020 as the Equine Instructor for the STABLES program for Fayette County Public Schools and is working on her PATH Intl. Certification.  In her spare time, she re-trains her two off-the-track thoroughbreds and competes in Dressage.

Samantha Kline

Stables Instructor

Karen joined CKRH in January 2012 after a 23-year career as Executive Secretary of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association. Prior to that she served as the office manager of the American Saddlebred Horse Association. She has an extensive knowledge of the show horse industry and the organizations located at the Kentucky Horse Park. Karen breeds and owns American Saddlebreds and serves on the American Saddlebred Registry’s Board of Directors.

Karen Richardson

Administrative Assistant

Originally from New York, Emily has always had a love for horses. Emily started volunteering at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding in Brewster, NY when she was just 14 years old and realized that becoming an instructor was something she wanted to pursue. 7 years later Emily got her PATH Intl. Certification and in May of 2019 she graduated with a Bachelor of Technology in Therapeutic Horsemanship. When it came to picking an internship site Emily knew that Kentucky was the place to go. After completing her internship with CKRH, Emily joined the team full time as a PATH Int'l Certified Instructor.

Emily Nathan

Lead Instructor/Instructor in Training Lead

Emily grew up in Ohio where she fell in love with horses showing Rocky Mountain Horses as a young child then later competed in barrel racing and speed events as a teenager. With a degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Communications and a focus in Digital Arts and Media from Transylvania University, Emily loves to serve CKRH as the Program and Administrative Assistant creating marketing material such as brochures, flyers, and special event logos. In addition to this position, Emily is a PATH Int'l Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and loves to combine her passion for equines and academic experience in creative communication strategies to create fun and interactive lessons for participants of all ages and skill levels! Outside of CKRH, you can find Emily hanging out with her horse, Kip, who is enjoying his slow life as a retired barrel horse.

Emily Dent

Admin and Programming Assistant

JJ is a Lexington-native who grew up eventing and riding the trails. She began volunteering at CKRH with her mother when she was only 12-years-old. Becoming a part of the CKRH staff during the summer of 2017 was a big achievement in her life goals. JJ is a semi-professional photographer specializing in capturing images at horse shows. In her free time, JJ enjoys spending time with her two horses; one of whom was a rescue she nursed to health.

JJ Sillman

Equine Care Assistant

Part Time Instructors

Autumn is a West Virginia native who grew up trail riding and showing Standardbred horses at her family’s riding stable. Autumn is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where she graduated with a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Horses, Humans, and Health. Autumn is an occupational therapist and part-time PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She loves that she can combine both of her passions for horses and helping people in one setting. 

Autumn Baisden

MSOT, OTR/L, PATH Intl. Registered Instructor

Originally from southern Illinois, KC now calls Kentucky home. KC has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a master's of science in operations management from University of Arkansas. She is also currently pursuing a master's in education for counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky. Having spent the last ten years in the Navy as a Naval Aviator, KC is now pursuing her dream of becoming a counselor. As a PATH Intl. certified instructor, KC is able to combine a love of horses and helping individuals. When not in school or at CKRH, you can find KC on her farm spending time with her horses and dogs.   

Katherine “KC” Jensen

PATH Intl. Certified Instructor

My name is Sharon Parker and I have loved horses for about 65 years! I got my first pony when I was nine years old and have had horses since then. I have my own small riding facility, Parker's Livery Stable LLC, where I give lessons, do equine therapeutic activities, and take out custom trail rides and horse camping trips. I am certified through the Certified Horsemanship Association in English and Western riding instruction and am certified as an Instructor of Riders with Disabilities. I am also a therapeutic instructor with PATH International. I work part time at CKRH as well. I love what I do, and have enjoyed doing it since I retired from teaching Biology and Chemistry at the high school and community college level. I am filled with gratitude for the joy of horses in my own life and for getting to share that joy with all the beautiful people I see nearly everyday.

Sharon Parker

PATH Intl. Certified Instructor

Contracted Licensed Therapists

Toby Cross

MOT, OTR/L, PATH Intl. Certified Instructor EKU Clinical Instructor - Occupational Science/Occupational Therapy and Horses, Humans and Health Minor

Therapist & Equine Specialist Partner in Mental Health & Learning

Charlotte Hiler Easley

LCSW, ESMHL
Click on Charlotte's name to be taken to her website.

CKRH Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Adam.Bowden

Adam Bowden

President
Peter.Morresey

Peter Morresey

1st Vice President
BVSc, MACVSc, DACT, DACVIM, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
Amy.Owens

Amy L. Owens

Secretary
Keeneland
Adam.Campbell

Adam Campbell

Treasurer
CPA, Denali Stud

Board Members

MichaelBanahan

Michael Banahan

Godolphin
David.Beck

David Beck

CPA, Brandsetter Carroll, Inc.
Brad.Scroggin

Brad Scroggin

Stuart.Brown

Stuart E. Brown

DVM, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Susan.Bunning

Susan Bunning

Equine Equity Partners, LLC
Tom.Creech

Tom.Creech

The Creech Family, Charles T. Creech, Inc.
Douglas.John

John Douglas

Old National Bank
Elizabeth.Leatherman

Elizabeth Leatherman

CPA, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC
Kristina.Lu

Kristina Lu

VMD, Dipl. ACT, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Martha.Mulholland

Martha Jane Mulholland

Mulholland Springs Farm
Vicky.Myers

Vicky Myers

Rick.Nunnelly

Richard A. Nunnelley

Stoll Keenon Ogden
Kari.Simon

Kari H. Simon

Bon Marche, LLC
Johnson Chris (002)

Chris Johnson

Municipal Attorney, Kentucky League of Cities
Hester, Pete

Pete Hester

M.D, Lexington Clinic Orthopedics-Sports Medicine Center
Blank-Person-Image

Jason Wells, DVM

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Blank-Person-Image

Cindy Nelson

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Contact Information

PO BOX 13155
Lexington, KY 40583
Phone: 859.231.7066
Fax: 859.252.5016

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