HOrse Sense NOn-Profit Board Members

---

Kristin has taken her horsemanship lessons back to the youth. A UC Davis Graduate, educator

and leader by nature, teaching youth has yielded widespread learning-by-doing over the last 16

years. Teaching has become her life work. Kristin has worked within the SLV School system K-

12, local Homeschool Charter schools including Ocean Grove Charter, Girls scouts, 4-H, and her

own program Horse Sense Education and Advocacy for over the last 25 years. As the Santa

Cruz County Outreach Coordinator, 4-H Incentives and Recognition Committee Chair member, past County Council President, and Modern Woodmen’s Youth Services Leader it is Kristin’s goal:

Keep youth programs thriving in our area. Her Mustang horse Twilight has been her

confidant in the ways of working with horses from their point of view. He has helped shape his

human such that she values a different way of working with animals and humans.

 Cara advises the Horse Sense Non-profit board on business communications strategy. Her background includes 25+ years of PR and marketing experience working with businesses across the globe. Cara has enjoyed horses in her life since she was five years old when she got her first pony, an Appaloosa with no spots named Oops!  Since her early days of riding dressage, cross country and stadium jumping, she now enjoys the trails the most. An avid animal lover, Cara is passionate about raising awareness of the benefits of a vegan lifestyle, love and respect for all animals and the joys of time with equine friends. 

Debra Means has been an avid animal lover all her life. She has created horses in her life since she

was 10 years old. In 1988 when she bought her first horse, a Polish Arab named Babec. 

Since, she has dabbled in endurance, trail, obstacle competitions, horsemanship camp and cow working clinics. 

Debra has worked for State Parks for 20 years and for as many years been involved in Horse Patrol, Equine Evacuation; horse and animal rescue.

Above all, Debra loves trail riding/ horse camping.

In 2015, a friend told her about an emergency donkey rescue in Los Gatos. She “rescued”

two of them, a 5 year old mom and a 2-month old baby with the intent of finding them a good

home. They found a good home with Debra! She has been an equid lover ever since learning

the distinct differences between equines.

In 2018, she rescued a mustang. She trailered the mustang to a horse trainer bud who also had

a mule amongst her many other horses. This trainer friend asked Debra if she’d like to ride the

mule since she never had before. The HUGE grin Debra could not hide from her thrill of

riding this mule named Peppy. As a result, Peppy has been in Debra’s life ever since.

 Debra believes she is now an equid convert.

Rachel is 24 years old and has a lifetime of horse experience.

After growing up in our program Rachel began teaching with Horse Sense Education and

Advocacy when she was 15.

Rachel loves working with children and seeing when they "get" something.

She loves spending time with the horses as much as she can.

Rachel is attending San Jose State University and studying to be an elementary teacher.

Thank you, Rachel, for your continued dedication and commitment to Horse Sense

Passionate well-being advocate, healthcare provider, and lifelong animal lover, my background includes being a teacher, physical therapy aide, massage therapist, chiropractor and critical care nurse. 

Growing up in a coastal community in Southern California, I had a small urban pet sanctuary

consisting of dogs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, fish and birds. I learned about the

human-animal bond and the mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and

animals as I was learning to walk and still in diapers. This relationship is influenced by behaviors essential to the health and well-being of both, including emotional, psychological, and the

magic created in the physical interactions of people animals and nature. 

Over my summers I went to dude ranches with the family and summer camp at Rawhide Ranch,

riding horses daily and learning about these stunning beautiful and majestic beings. Trail riding whenever the opportunity arose, I experienced the beauty of Wyoming, and Hawaii on horseback in the summer and Tahoe in the snowy winter.  My love for horses has never faded

and blossomed again over the last two years. Formal lessons weekly and co-oping a mare lead

me to devote my time and energy to Horse Sense Education and Advocacy Non-Profit bring

under resourced individuals to a place to experience the magnificent bond of human and horse in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Healing, growing, education, evolution, of the human and the horse spirit together is the goal. 

Welcome to the journey and enjoy the ride.

Katelyn is 24 years old and has had the joy of being around horses her whole life.

She has competed in Vaulting, Pony Club, Gymkhanas, 4-H, Carriage Driving for Ag History Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, parades, and participated in many equine related community service events.  

She started teaching at 15 and strongly feels that greatest reward for an instructor is when the student loves working with horses as much as the horse enjoys working with them-- when it ALL just clicks and becomes natural. 

She gets most of her joy when her students can ride better than her.

 She is all about building people up to their fullest potential with confidence and skill.

Katelyn is currently Studying Criminal Justice in hopes of being a greater service to the communities around her.

 Health and wellness enthusiast. Passionate about holding space and providing guidance for ones self journey. My heart is especially drawn to all my four legged companions and those I’ve yet to meet. The founder and creator of the Felton Mercantile and CC Apothecary. Holistic Healer with an emphasis on women’s wellness. Santa Cruz born and raised, living in the SCM mountains for the last 8 years.