HOrse Sense NOn-Profit Board Members
Kristin Praly Executive Director (she/her)
Brenda Tealer president Texas Director (she/her)
Kristin Praly Executive Director (she/her)
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 Char
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 Sloman Advocacy Director (she/her)
Brenda Tealer president Texas Director (she/her)
Kristin Praly Executive Director (she/her)
Cara Sloman, director of advocacy
Cara oversees the development and implementation of long and short-term goals to advance high impact strategic campaigns and projects with the organization. Her background includes 25+ years of executive leadership positions working with businesses across the globe. Cara has enjoyed horses in her life si
Cara Sloman, director of advocacy
Cara oversees the development and implementation of long and short-term goals to advance high impact strategic campaigns and projects with the organization. Her background includes 25+ years of executive leadership positions 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.
Brenda Tealer president Texas Director (she/her)
Brenda Tealer president Texas Director (she/her)
Brenda Tealer president Texas Director (she/her)
Long time horse owner and entrepreneur Brenda knows how to make an event fun and inviting.
She is the owner operator of Cadillac Custom Conchos and Tack.
She is married to a Veteran and values helping people through horsemanship.
If you're coming to Texas to see us, she will happily greet you.
Welcome to the Lone Star State!
Rachel Shupe Secretary (she/her)
Richi Solomon Bookkeeper/Treasurer (he/him)
Brenda Tealer president Texas Director (she/her)
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 Uni
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
Richi Solomon Bookkeeper/Treasurer (he/him)
Richi Solomon Bookkeeper/Treasurer (he/him)
Richi Solomon Bookkeeper/Treasurer (he/him)
I am Accounting Associate III for the Montana Center for Inclusive Education at Montana State University. I've been a Bookkeeper for over 20 years. I have been the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Temple Beth El, San Lorenzo Valley Middle and High Schools, and Mountain Community Theatre.
I love nature.
Deb Means Director Outreach (she/her)
Richi Solomon Bookkeeper/Treasurer (he/him)
Richi Solomon Bookkeeper/Treasurer (he/him)
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 year
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.
Maricia Williams Advocate (she/her)
Katelyn Praly Assistant director (she/her)
Katelyn Praly Assistant director (she/her)
Marcia Williams has been a life-long animal advocate, rescuing and rehabilitating numerous dogs, cats, and horses. Her daughter’s love for horses infected her and she spent 15 glorious years riding rescued horses.
After a 38 year career teaching elementary students, Marcia retired. She is now the owner operator of Marcia Williams Art,
Marcia Williams has been a life-long animal advocate, rescuing and rehabilitating numerous dogs, cats, and horses. Her daughter’s love for horses infected her and she spent 15 glorious years riding rescued horses.
After a 38 year career teaching elementary students, Marcia retired. She is now the owner operator of Marcia Williams Art, where she teaches, paints, and sells her watercolor paintings of the California coast.
Marcia is so glad to be part of Horse Sense Education and Advocacy, and enjoys giving back to the community by contributing her writing skills to the organization.
Katelyn Praly Assistant director (she/her)
Katelyn Praly Assistant director (she/her)
Katelyn Praly Assistant director (she/her)
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 re
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.
Cherme Wurtz Director (she/her)
Katelyn Praly Assistant director (she/her)
Cherme Wurtz Director (she/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 an
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.
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NEW NONPROFIT AIMS TO SPREAD JOY THROUGH HORS
Thank You to the owners of Felton Covered Bridge Equestrian Center
Pat and Tammy Boole
By: DREW PENNER
July 29, 2022
A woman who owns a holistic horse-riding business in Felton has launched a nonprofit to spread the joy of horsemanship to people who don’t normally have access to equines.
Kristin Praly established Horse Sense Education and Advocacy as a 501(c)3 charity earlier this year and is planning to offer a range of programs, including for veterans, children with families going through the court system and students of all ages.
“I’ve noticed that there’s more anger and divisiveness showing its true colors now, in this time and place, so I felt that it was important to bring acceptance, inclusivity and kindness to those that have been more subject to that anger and divisiveness than the average person,” she said. “How do you combat somebody’s anxiety, depression—wondering what’s happening to the world? Well, you bring in an animal that’s firmly grounded in the world.”
Praly, a former barn manager at UC Davis, has been operating out of Covered Bridge Equestrian in Felton for about a decade “Helping People Speak the Language of Horses,” as her website puts it. She forms a key cog in a storied boarding facility tucked away along the perimeter of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park that’s older than many of the community’s residents.
Through her “Horse Sense” lessons at the private facility, she focuses on highlighting the intricacies of the human-horse dynamic.
“I ask [people] to leave [their] troubles at the gate; I assure you they will be there when you get back,” she joked, emphasizing the importance of tuning in to the frequency of the horse. “If you’re busy in your brain thinking about everything else, that gets in the way of that relationship.”
She previously brought four-legged friends to Scotts Valley Unified School District elementary classes for show-and-tell and introduced a horse named Rusty to San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District students. Praly says as a nonprofit, she’ll be able to expand her outreach.
“We’ll be setting up a series of events, and we would welcome volunteers,” she said. “It’s about a higher purpose, and for that I need people to be a part of it.”
Patrick Boole, 80, has lived on the ranch since 1978 and runs it with his 71-year-old wife Tamara.
He says he’s glad to see Praly bestow the gift of horsemanship on the wider public.
“Horsemanship isn’t just hopping on a horse and riding,” he said. “It’s learning how to care for a horse’s welfare.”
About 80 horses currently live on the property, which functions as a community within a community.
“Most of the people in Felton don’t even know it exists here,” he said. “Owning a horse is quite a commitment. People down here that board, this is the majority of their free time that they have.”
Diane Gleason, 63, from Sunnyvale, was recently at the ranch for a Horse Sense lesson about how to wrap the legs of a Quarter Horse named Ginger to prevent injury.
“It’s not just getting on the horse’s back and riding,” she said, considering what horsemanship means to her. “It’s learning very, very subtle things.”
Chermé Wurtz, a 48-year-old from Felton, has been coming here for about 15 years, starting when her daughter fell for the equestrian lifestyle.
After her daughter moved away, she got a 19-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter named Cheyenne for herself.
Even though she’d been around horses for years, Wurtz didn’t exactly feel comfortable interacting with her new mare.
“I just wanted to get to know her from the ground up,” she said, explaining why she signed up for lessons with Praly. “Christine’s program made it really easy because she speaks horse.”
Wurtz says it took about a year-and-a-half to build a solid foundation with Cheyenne.
“Every stepping stone, something clicked,” she said. “I want her to know that I have her back.”
Wurtz says she hopes people outside their inner horse-lover circle will be able to experience a similar joy through Praly’s nonprofit.
“I really admire everything she does for the community with the horses,” she said. “She doesn’t bring ego to it. She shows up and she’s here for the horses.”
Kristin Praly established Horse Sense Education and Advocacy as a 501(c)3 charity earlier this year.