There are some talented people who passionately run our little organization. Get to know the folks who make HorseSense possible.
Samantha Hall
Executive Director
Sammi joined the HorseSense team January 2018. After working several years in the media industry as a print journalist, she switched gears and found a worthy use for her communication skills: raising funds and awareness for stellar nonprofits.
Sammi earned her Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications from Winona State University where she studied Journalism as her major and Spanish as her minor. A mother and wife of an Army combat Veteran, Sammi cares deeply about our country’s military and giving back to our servicemen and women, and their families. She is passionate about animal welfare and ethics, and believes wholeheartedly in animal-assisted therapy.
Christy Lowell, CTRI, ESMHL
Operations Manager
Christy has been a part of HorseSense since March 2016. She has always loved horses and began taking lessons and showing when she was in her teens. While attending college, Christy was a part of the UW-L Equestrian Team and competed in IHSA competitions. She qualified for Regional and Zone finals as an undergraduate and as an alumni rider. Christy also teaches riding lessons at a local stable in La Crosse and was the coach of the UW-L Equestrian from 2014 to 2019. She enjoys all aspects of horses including the daily care, training, riding, teaching and showing. Christy has her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work with a minor in Gerontology from Viterbo University.
Awarded PATH International Region 6 Credentialed Professional of the Year (2020)
Sam Harding, CTRI
Program manager
Sam first got involved with HorseSense Fall 2017 as a volunteer. After quickly falling in love with the program, she expanded her involvement by becoming an intern during the Summer of 2018. Her passion for HorseSense only grew from there. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse December 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Sam remained committed to HorseSense as an extra set of hands during lessons and around the barn. Her support was so significant that we dubbed her our “Program Assistant.” When the opportunity presented itself for Sam to take over as Program Manager, she was an obvious choice. Sam has always had a love for working with horses and people and HorseSense has given her the opportunity to do both.
Ashley Adams, CTRI
Lead Instructor
Ashley has been involved with HorseSense since Fall 2012 in various volunteer and staff roles, including volunteer, Volunteer Coordinator, Program Manager and now Lead Instructor. She was certified through PATH International as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) in 2017 and taught hundred of lessons before pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity abroad in 2020. Ashley remained with HorseSense during this time as a contracted instructor and would come back and help out with lessons when she was in town. She is excited to be back at HorseSense to help further the mission and watch the program grow!
Our Instructors
Rachel Vik, CTrI
Rachel started riding horses when she was only eight years old. She has been teaching riding lessons for over four years. In May 2012 she graduated from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Rachel is happy to be able to combine her love of horses and share the joy of riding with people of all abilities!
Brooklynn Scholze, CTRI
Brooklynn has been involved with horses throughout her life and enjoys her time in the arena with Horse Sense as both an PATH Intl. Registered Level Instructor and mentor. Brooklynn has a diverse equestrian background ranging from barrel racing and hunter jumper, to saddle seat and dressage as well as showing in the Natl. Arabian horse circuit.
Elizabeth Micheel, CTRI, ESMHL
Liz has been involved with horses since she was very young. Her childhood horse, “Barry” was one of the horses used in first session back in 1989! Returning to the organization some 20 years later, she now enjoys teaching lessons as a certified PATH instructor. Liz has a Master’s degree in Biology with a Physiology emphasis and she is very passionate about riding with a mind toward the anatomy and biomechanics of both horse and rider.
Sloan Komissarov, CTRI
Sloan has been working with HorseSense since spring of 2011 and became a PATH Riding Instructor in 2013. Sloan has been riding horses throughout her life and taught summer riding lessons for 5 years before joining HorseSense. She enjoys sharing her love of horses through her teaching at HorseSense. In addition to horsemanship, Sloan also has a professional background in art history and librarianship.
Our Barn Cats
Named after where they were found, these adorable feline friends help around the farm and love meeting our riders and their families!
Basement
The Social Butterfly.
Attic
Spunky and fun!
Cellar
Our expert mouser.