Staff
Melinda, Shelly, Vallerie, and Mycah
At Horses of Hope the staff has more than 100 years of combined experience in the field. Our therapeutic riding instructors are all certified or are in-training through NARHA. The majority of the Horses of Hope staff members are at Level 1 certification through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, and continue to grow professionally through continuing education opportunities.
Horses of Hope currently has several therapists on staff, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and a speech pathologist.
Shelly McColm
Executive Director/Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor/Therapy Technician
McColm brings nearly 30 years of experience to Horses of Hope. In the world of therapeutic riding, she is sought as a presenter and speaker on a national level. McColm is a two-time graduate of Kansas State University with master’s degrees in human development and family studies. McColm is educationally prepared to fully understand and work with the needs of the clients, their families, volunteers, and the staff in the many programmatic offerings at Horses of Hope, including certification completion. Preparedness met opportunity as the many years served as a Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist and an Educational Cooperative Specialist experiences supported her commitment to co-found and develop the successful therapeutic riding program - Horses of Hope Riding Center Inc. nearly ten years ago. McColm has a commitment to provide unique, innovative and invaluable programming while helping people of all ages and bringing enhancement and enrichment to local communities.
Vallerie Sweeton
Head Certified Therapeutic Riding/Driving Instructor/Physical Therapy Assistant/AHA Level 1 Certification
Sweeton has committed her life to exploring the connections between human and horse. She is the co-founder of Horses of Hope Riding Center Inc. She has been a NARHA registered instructor since 1997 and a NARHA certified driving instructor since 2002. She has obtained the Level 1 Certification with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. She is sought as a presenter on a national level and has consulted and appeared in numerous national publications such as: Western Horseman, The Trail Less Traveled, Quarter Horse Journal and The Trail Rider. Part of her desire and commitment to improve Horses of Hope involved going back to school to earn an associate degree as a physical therapist assistant. Sweeton earned her degree in July 2007 and currently holds a permanent license as well as being an American Hippotherapy Level 1 Therapist. Her college studies included how the horses' movement normalizes the movement of a person with movement dysfunction.
Melinda Keithley
Program Coordinator/Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Keithley has been a program coordinator for three years with Horses of Hope. She manages the Horses of Hope - Missouri, Inc. facility located in Buffalo, MO, which is an affiliate site with NARHA. Melinda is currently a certified NARHA riding instructor and able bodied riding instructor. She has worked for the last three years with physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists that are certified thru the American Hippotherapy Association in assisting with therapy strategies that benefit clients of all ages with all types of disabilities.
Mycah McColm
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor/Speech Therapy Technician/Show Team Hope Coordinator
McColm has been a volunteer for Horses of Hope for ten years and is currently a certified NARHA riding instructor and able bodied riding instructor. Mycah competes at the state and national levels in American Quarter Horse Association Shows and was named top ten in the nation at Youth Quarter Horse World Show in 2004 and 2005. She has many professional associations in the livestock and horse industries, including the American Vaulting Association.
Our Therapists
Robert Behnke, PT
Dee Blakemore, OT
Jan Bonnivier, PTA
Suzanne Dieckhaus, OT - AHA Therapist
Nancy Drake, PT - AHA Therapist
Tammy Lux, PT
Mary Neal, OT, SLP - AHA Therapist
Vallerie Sweeton, PTA - AHA Therapist
Support Staff
Barbara Covert, Instructor Assistant (CTRI Pending)
Sandy Qualls, Instructor Assistant (CTRI Pending)
Steve White, Instructor Assistant (CTRI Pending)