Strides to Success Staff
Debbie Anderson, ESMHL, CTRI
Executive Director
Debbie Anderson is the heart and visionary force behind Strides to Success. With over 40 years of leadership in the equine-assisted industry, Debbie has done it all—from lead stall cleaner, champion trainer to executive director—and leads every role with the same humility, humor, and heart that define her work.
As Founder and Executive Director of Strides, Debbie has built one of the nation’s most respected models for equine-assisted learning and therapy, serving as a hub for innovation, education, and professional excellence. She has devoted more than two decades of service to PATH Intl., including 10 years on the Board of Directors and four on the Executive Board, helping guide the direction of the global equine-assisted services community.
Together with Dr. Blair McKissock, Debbie co-founded HorseWork and helped create the PATH Intl. Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Facilitator Credential, establishing the first professional training and credentialing standard for EAL practitioners worldwide. Known affectionately as the “Boss Mare,” Debbie is also a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI), Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning (ESMHL), Certified Equine Interaction Professional in Education, E3A Corporate Trainer, and HorseWork Master Trainer.
Beyond her credentials, Debbie is a mentor to hundreds of professionals entering the field. She has an extraordinary ability to listen deeply, connect authentically, and help others turn their vision into action. Her leadership continues to inspire a new generation of facilitators to serve with integrity, purpose, and compassion.
Blair McKissock, PhD, CTRS, CTRI, EALF-Master, ESMHL
Director of Education & Research | Co-Founder, HorseWork Education
Blair McKissock has been part of Strides to Success for over 15 years and proudly serves as the co-founder (and official Shenanigator) of HorseWork Education. She leads all online education and training initiatives for Strides and HorseWork, helping professionals around the world learn to facilitate meaningful, evidence-based equine experiences.
A PATH Intl. Certified CTRI, ESMHL, and Master-Level EAL Facilitator, and Master HorseWork Trainer. Blair is also a Certified Master Method Equine Specialist, Certified Trauma Specialist, Certified Wellness Coach and credentialed to work with veterans and first responders and is a passionate Recreational Therapist. She is also a certified Yoga instructor. Has been known to bust out yoga poses on horseback.
Beyond her work at Strides, Blair is an associate professor of Health & Wellness Design at Indiana University and a published researcher dedicated to advancing the evidence base, ethics, and professional standards of equine-assisted services (EAS) and advocating for the role of Recreational Therapy in healthcare. She co-founded HorseWork with Debbie Anderson and together they serve as Co- Chairs of the PATH Intl. Equine-Assisted Learning Credentialing task force where she and Debbie work hard to bring the EAL credential to life and serve as EAL subject matter experts for PATH Intl. helping shape national training and credentialing standards.
Known for her contagious curiosity, humor, and passion for elevating the field, Blair continues to advocate for collaboration, consistency, and quality across all areas of equine-assisted practice.
Megan Hofeldt, EALF-ED
HorseWork Associate
Megan is an educator and program director with a diverse background including experience as a collegiate music professor. The Covid-19 shutdown led her to immerse herself in the equine world where she discovered that her skills in communication, teamwork, and resilience translated seamlessly to Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL). Now a certified HorseWork and PATH International EAL facilitator, Megan is dedicated to helping others connect with horses. She is based at Wild Dreams Ranch in Strum, Wisconsin.
Megan serves as a faculty member and the administrative coordinator for HorseWork Education which is our professional development training program. She takes great pride in supporting individuals across the globe on their journeys to becoming credentialed EAL facilitators.
Shannon Thomas, ESMHL
Instructor
Shannon Thomas started at Strides in April of 2019 caring for the horses and the barn a few times a week. Through her time working in the barn at Strides to Success she became interested in fulfilling the requirements to become a PATH certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She works with clients to build self confidence, trust, leadership skills, life skills such as focusing, paying attention, being a good listener, managing time, accountability and responsibility to name a few.
Kristy Smith-Parnell, LMHC, ESMHL
Instructor
Dana Amburgey ESMHL
Board President/ Instructor
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” -Winston Churchill.
Dana was the kid who leaned on the fence and watched horses in the pastures that surrounded her family home. Over the years her fascination and interest for horses grew into what has afforded and offered her opportunities to support, educate and provide service to others in need through Equine Assisted Learning (EAL). Outside of her “big girl job” in the pharmaceutical industry, Dana is a HorseWork Facilitator helping with educating others who are interested in learning more about Equine Facilitated Learning. A PATH International Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESHML) instructor, Dana works with survivors of trauma, human trafficking, veterans and those who just need a little help along their journey. Earning her associate degree in Business Law and Executive Administration Dana is also a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy. She serves as chairman of the board at Strides to Success and is humbled by the honor of receiving the Presidential Service Award for volunteerism
Mary Gilyeat
Office Manager
Mary’s childhood was highlighted by her longing for a horse under the Christmas Tree each and every year. She was thrilled when given the chance to have a horse of her own during her late teenage years. In her travels as a young adult and college student, she continuously sought out opportunities to maintain equine friendships. After 15 years in the field of Social Work, she moved to a new community, obtained her LSW, married and became a new mother. Feeling the equine tug at her heart once again, Mary was drawn to Strides in 2000 as a volunteer. In addition to helping with client sessions, she also began to help with a variety of office projects. Since that time, Mary became a Certified Quick Books User. She now feels blessed with a happy mix of serving Strides as an Office Manager, while continuing in her volunteer role with the horses.
Savannah Smith ESMHL
Instructor
Savannah Smith started at Strides to Success as a volunteer after hearing about the program in high school. After graduating, Savannah took the position as barn manager at Strides. The more she learned from her wonderful mentors, Debbie and Blair, the more she fell in love with the work. After a few years of living in North Carolina, Savannah is excited to be back at Strides in training as PATH certified equine specialist and Therapeutic Riding instructor.