Staff

The Kids & Horses facility in Minden, Nevada, is a PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) Premier Accredited Center.

Our instructors are certified and have training through PATH International, an international organization that provides leadership, operating standards, safety rules, regulations and insurance coverage for approved centers. Kids & Horses offers one-on-one individually tailored riding lessons to improve strength, coordination and self-esteem of students. We would like to introduce you to the people who make miracles happen at the Kids & Horses ranch!

Lisa Fletcher - Program Director/Instructor

Lisa is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She earned a BA in elementary education with a minor in special education from the University of New Orleans. Prior to her work with Kids & Horses Lisa taught elementary school for seven years. After moving to Nevada she worked as a special education aide for two years and served as a Girl Scout leader for three years. In 1999, Lisa met Sam and he recruited her to volunteer at Kids & Horses. After five years with the program she became a PATH Level One Registered Instructor and in 2006 took on the position of Program Director. Lisa feels the reward for being a part of the program is seeing miracles happen between the students and their horses. To Lisa, Kids & Horses is not a workplace, it is a family and she is proud to be a part of such a special family.

Judy Holt - Instructor

Judy Retired from State of Nevada as the Budget & Finance Director, Supreme Court of Nevada. She also served as Administrative Services Director, State Department of Personnel and was a member of the governing board of the Public Employees Retirement System. Judy's equine experience includes breeding & showing, AQHA, APHA, hunter/jumper competitions, carriage driving and combined driving competitions. Judy is certified by PATH as a registered instructor and was Equine Manager for Kids & Horses for three years.

Barb Morningstar – Business and Volunteer Manager 

Barb retired early from the State of Nevada to accept her “dream retirement job” at Kids and Horses.  After volunteering Sunday afternoons the past three years at Kids and Horses, she knew that was what she wanted to do -- “There is nothing like seeing the day to day benefits of the program for the kids I’ve been involved with in lessons.”  At the State, she served as Personnel Officer and Management Analyst for the Department of Taxation, after previously working in Human Resources at Douglas County School District and in California at Pacific Gas and Electric Company.  Barb did not have the opportunity to be around horses until she and her daughter adopted their first mustang in 2001, now owning two, and cannot imagine life without these wonderful animals.

Sheila Schwadel - Instructor

Registered PATH instructor, I volunteer my time to teach every Tuesday afternoon. It has been really gratifying to see the progress in my student riders, some who were afraid to go near a horse the first time, yet now groom, saddle and independently ride! I have had horses for 30 years. I am a Real Estate Broker serving both South Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley areas and I also volunteer with mustang rescue and training.

Bambi Spahr - Instructor

Bambi Spahr is a PATH-Certified Therapeutic Equine Instructor (CTEI) and a lifelong horsewoman experienced and trained in both Western and English riding disciplines. She has successfully shown in Hunter, Equitation, and Jumper competitions and competed in Western 4-H club events as a child. Bambi has a B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.A. from the University of Connecticut, and she spent the last 10 years of her career in executive management positions. Upon moving to Reno, she was fortunate to develop a good friendship with Laurie Roberts, who was looking for a riding companion. It is through this friendship that Bambi was introduced to the field of equine-facilitated therapy. Working in the field, Bambi has discovered her new passion: using horses to help adults and children with mental health, emotional, or behavioral challenges. “It has been so rewarding to work with my clients and see the significant progress they have made while working with horses,” says Bambi. "I now see the opportunity to combine my lifelong love of horses, over 23 years of management experience, and a desire to help others - the perfect job!"

Cynthia Valentine - Equine and Special Programs Manager

Cynthia currently owns a small horse facility/home in Minden. She owns five horses and cares for seven others on her property. She has several able bodied riding students ranging in age from 6 to 67 years old. She is a USHJA (United States Hunter Jumper Association) Certified Trainer, District Commissioner of our local USPC (United States Pony Club) for 10 years, until 2008. She shows her Morgan horse in 3-day eventing (dressage, stadium, and cross-country).

Alexis Roman Hill - Executive Director

Alexis previously worked as sales supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival after a three-year stint as a city planner in Sparks. She earned a BA degree in political science from Texas A&M and has completed a MPA masters degree in public administration at University of Nevada.  Alexis’ primary responsibilities are implementing a consistent year-round grant writing program, a year-round corporate and philanthropic sponsorship program, manage year-round fundraisers, to coordinate aggressive volunteer recruitment and pursue other potential revenue sources. The main goal of Kids & Horses is to provide world-class instruction to as many students as possible. Our immediate, short-term goal is to increase our number of students from thirty-one to forty-five.  Alexis is thrilled to be a part of the Kids & Horses team!