Horses of Hope

     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 the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH INTL).  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.   

Shelly McColmShelly McColm

Executive Director/Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

  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 SweetonVallerie Sweeton  

Head Certified Therapeutic Riding/Driving Instructor/Physical Therapist 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 PATH registered instructor since 1997 and a PATH 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.  

Mycah McColmMycah McColm

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor/Show Team Hope Coordinator/Equine Experiential Education Specialist

McColm has been a volunteer for Horses of Hope for ten years and is currently a certified PATH 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. 

Doug Willard

 Doug Willard, Equine Experiential Education Technician

  Doug brings a variety skills and experience to our team.  He served in the US Army from 1988-1992 serving as a telecommunications operator.  He has an Associates of Arts degree from East Carolina University.  Doug has experience working with special needs audiences in several capacities.  He has worked as a special education para-educator and also as a community support worker mentoring and tutoring at-risk youth as well as assisting adult clients develop healthy social and living skills. 

Phyllis KellyPhyllis Kelly, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Phyllis has been involved with Horses of Hope from its beginnings.  Phyllis is a lifelong horsewoman who has ridden many different disciplines, including side-saddle.  She has performed at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo with a side-saddle drill team!  She become a PATH INTL Registered level instructor in 2005.  Phyllis has worked for many years as an interpreter for the deaf and been involved with missions and ministry all over the world, having travelled to Africa twice. 

Leah Rose

Leah Rose

 Leah is a Social Work major at Pittsburg State University and is currently completing her senior year as an intern at Horses of Hope.  She has worked with horses for 5 years and worked with children with ADD/ADHD and Autism for 2 years.  Leah always has had a passion for animals and found her passion to work with persons with disabilities when she was employed at a mental health center as an attendant care worker. 

Our Therapists

Tammy Lux, PT  

Support Staff

 Sandford Qualls, Barn Management

Jim Harper, Barn Management 

Will Morris, Assistant Show Team Hope Coordinator 

Kim Blankenship, Arena Assistant