Chris has been involved with the program since 1986 when her daughter, Lindsey, began hippotherapy at the age of 2 to aid her low muscle tone characteristic of Down Syndrome. Over the next 17 years, her role changed from parent to volunteer to instructor and to board member, but always an advocate for the program, having witnessed first-hand the benefits riding had provided for her daughter. In 2004, tragically Lindsey passed away from leukemia after only a month-long battle; she was 10 days shy of her 20th birthday. Lindsey was successful at getting the whole family involved with horses, participating in 4H horse shows with her brother and sister and the family horse, Twizzle. Horses not only aided Lindsey’s health but Chris also credits Twizzle with helping the family with their grief from their loss. Feeling such passion for the program that had helped her family, Chris decided to pursue the General Manager position and began in November 2008. Chris feels that she couldn’t be luckier, being able to do what she loves!

Chris is the Montgomery County Special Olympics Equestrian Team Head Coach and looks forward to the county show and state games each year. Chris holds the Professional Association on Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) certification in Equine Specialist in Mental Health Learning and is a Certified Instructor .

Chris is a co-investigator and instructor for the Riding Free Pilot Study and Program for adolescents with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Chris and Twizzle continue to work and grow together as a team. They competed in their first event in the fall of 2013, but also enjoy trail riding through Evansburg State Park.