ABOUT HORSES SPIRITS HEALING
In Loving Memory
Paul E. Gatzemeier (1950 – 2024)
OUR STAFF
Amanda Tusler
Program Director/Lead Instructor
Bachelors of Science in Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Psychology. She is certified through PATH Int’l and is CPR, First Aid, and AED certified.
Katie Meyer
Instructor
Katie Meyer is a Massachusetts native with a background in hunters, jumpers, and eventing. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Equine Training and Instruction from Rocky Mountain College. Katie is AED/CPR certified and is pursuing her PATH certification.
Nikki Hofmann
Instructor
Nikki is a born and raised Wyoming ranch girl who has spent a lifetime with horses. She has ridden on the ranch and trail, shown English and Western, roped a little, started colts, and currently trains and runs her own barrel horses. She comes to HSHI as a retired educator, having spent 30 years teaching and serving as an associate principal and principal.
Kathryn Sabol
Development Director
Kathryn (Kathy) Sabol serves as the Development Director for Horses Spirits Healing through the generosity of the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust. Throughout her career she has acquired experience across a wide range of educational and mental health-focused pursuits, working in leadership roles in two colleges and numerous programs for teenagers and young adults. Her development experience was acquired in numerous settings, including Riverstone Health, Billings Mental Health Center, and Rocky Mountain College.
Her colorful resume demonstrates a lifelong quest to expand her knowledge across a broad range of human experience and to provide a supportive environment to nurture education, recovery and resiliency among our most marginalized and vulnerable populations. She has a heart for veterans and has been active in suicide prevention activities across Yellowstone County, which is how she became acquainted with the good work of Horses Spirits Healing.
THE HERD
Alec
Bella
Cuzco
Dawn
George
Lulu
MasterCard
Milkshake
Taylor
Tyra
Wrinkles
THE BOARD
Barbara B. Skelton
PRESIDENT + COFOUNDER
Barb holds honorary doctorates from RMC and MSU-N, and is an owner of IEC and co-founder of HSHI.
Pretti Jois, M.D.
Board Member
Robert S. Crandall
Veteran
David Powell
Board Member
Colonel, US Army-Retired. He served from Viet Nam to Iraq. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), and three Legion of Merits (LM).
Dan Edelman
PHD, CPA
Dan was US Army military intelligence, disabled while deployed overseas. He is the former Chancellor, MSU Billings.
Darla Tyler-McSherry
Secretary
Darla is Director of Student Health Services at MSUB and is the founder of an initiative addressing mental health issues in the farm and ranch communitities.
Renee Reijo Pera
RHD
Renee is President & CEO of the McLaughlin Research Institute for Biomedical Research in Great Falls, MT. She is the Dean of Research for the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Montana. Her research is focused on neural biology.
Ty Elkin
Treasurer
Ty has 25 years of experience in banking and foundation management executive positions, in addition to nonprofit boardwork. MSUB has recognized Ty for his professional work and community involvement as a Distinguished Alumni.