The Staff at Medicine Horse
(Click on a name to learn more about our staff)
Executive Director - Lynne Howarth
Program Development/EEL Instructor -
Psychologist/EAP Director - Dr. Margaret Johnson-Gaddis, PhD., EAGALA Level I
Head Therapeutic Riding Instructor -
Therapeutic Riding Instructor - Katie Meininger, NARHA Registered Level
Marketing Consultant/Webmaster -
Executive Director
Horses have been Lynne's passion for as long as she can remember, so pursuing a career that involved horses and humans was inevitable. Her introduction to equine assisted therapies was in 1987 at R.E.I.N.S. in San Marcos, California, where she volunteered her time as a therapeutic riding instructor.
Lynne joined Medicine Horse shortly after its beginnings at the end of year 2000, and worked her way throughout the years from Program Director to Executive Director. Lynne enjoys traveling and spending time with her two horses at her home in Mancos, CO.
Lynne joined Medicine Horse shortly after its beginnings at the end of year 2000, and worked her way throughout the years from Program Director to Executive Director. Lynne enjoys traveling and spending time with her two horses at her home in Mancos, CO.
Lynne says: "I like to think we are a family at Medicine Horse and feel thankful to be surrounded by our professional staff, volunteers and therapy horses, who give their all each and every day."
Psychologist/EAP Director
Resides in:
Mancos, CORole with Medicine Horse:
Vice-President, Acting Secretary, Program Committee, Director of EAP programsFavorite Aspect of Medicine Horse:
Working with a great team of dedicated peopleEducation and Training:
- U.C. Berkeley, Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, 1971
- Licensed Psychologist, California, 1973
- Licensed Psychologist, CO., 2000
- Certified Jungian Analyst, C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles, 1978 Certified Level I Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, 2003
- Staff Psychologist, Camarillo State Hospital, 1972-1979
- Private Practice, Clinical Psychologist, Ventura, CA. 1979-2006
- American Psychological Association
- California Association of Psychologists
- C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles
- Inter Regional Society of Jungian Analysts
- C.G. Jung Study Center of S. California
- C. G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles, Secretary, President
- C. G Jung Study Center of S. California, Admission Committee Chair
- Co-Chief editor, Psychological Perspectives, published twice yearly
Key Skills/Experience:
Degrees in Psychology, 36 years of experience as a therapist in private practice and in a mental health hospital setting, some practice as an EAP therapist.Fun Fact:
Hobbies: non-pro and amateur rider, National Cutting Horse Association, Skiing, downhill, and raising orchids and American Eskimo dogs.
Head Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Allison Klein is a NARHA-Certified Advanced Instructor. She began riding and showing hunter/jumpers in central Pennsylvania. When she moved to Durango, she was introduced to dressage as a working student at the Weaselskin Equestrian Center.
Allison began volunteering for therapeutic riding centers in 1992, at Horse Power Farm in Pennsylvania. In 2000, Allison obtained her NARHA Instructor Certification at the Fran Joswick Center in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Allison has been the Head Instructor with the Medicine Horse Center since it's inception in 2001. When she's not at Medicine Horse, she teaches Special Education at Durango High School. Her hobbies include running, riding her bike, skiing and spending quality time with friends at her home in Durango, CO.
Katie lives in Durango, CO. She began riding lessons in middle school with the local 4-H program - mainly English Pleasure and Equitation then followed with hunter/jumper training. She soon judged schooling shows and was the assistant coach for the Durango Southwest Silverado Drill Team.
She began as a volunteer for the Medicine Horse Center in the Fall of 2005. She loved working with the MHC staff and participants, so off she went to obtain her NARHA Instructor Certification in 2006. In addition to being an Instructor at MHC, Katie is also our acting Volunteer Coordinator for our programs in Durango and Mancos, CO.
Katie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Physical Education and Teaching from Fort Lewis College. When not working at MHC, she exercises horses for families in Durango who participate in Reining and Cutting.
Fun Facts: Katie spent time as a horseback riding trail guide in Jindabyne, Australia and feels it was one of the best experiences she has ever had. She also spent 9 years as a lifeguard with certifications in Red Cross CPR and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer). Her interests include tennis, long distance running, swimming, camping, rafting, dirt biking and horse jumping.
Erica Messinger is our Marketing Consultant and Webmaster. She started with Medicine Horse in the summer of 2005 as a therapeutic riding volunteer. She fell in love with the organization and headed to Buffalo, NY for a NARHA Registered Instructor workshop. Erica has worked as an instructor in both the EEL and EAP programs, as an assistant instuctor in the Theraputic Riding program, and formerly, as the Executive Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator. Erica is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Before coming to work for Medicine Horse, Erica spent 7 years as a public involvement specialist and customer service manager in Phoenix, AZ and Cortez, CO. She is currently working towards her Parks and Recreation Degree with an emphasis in Outdoor Education. Her hobbies include: rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, kayaking, traveling with her husband and son in their VW bus, and spending time at home in Dolores, CO.