Executive Director

Margot Petersen

Margot, a Spokane native, spent much of her career in financial services before bringing her heart for service to Free Rein. She has volunteered as a CASA Guardian ad Litem, foster parent, and board president at FailSafe for Life. Margot enjoys travel, time at Priest Lake, and is the proud mom of an adult son and two dogs.

Program Director, PATH Intl. CTRI & Mentor

Katie Smith

Katie grew up in the Spokane area surrounded by horses, from time spent at Playfair racetrack to 4-H and trail riding. She began volunteering at Free Rein in 2010 and became a PATH certified instructor in 2013. Katie is passionate about the life-changing impact of therapeutic riding.

Equine Manager, PATH Intl. CTRI

Natalie Steilling

Natalie began her therapeutic riding career as a volunteer and has worked as an instructor at PATH Intl. centers in Washington and Idaho since 2011. She holds a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation and an A.A. as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, and enjoys trail riding and training her horse in dressage.

Program Coordinator

Erin Shine

Erin grew up in Spokane, where her love of horses began with her mom. A lifelong animal lover, she discovered their true healing power after a life-changing experience in 2008. In her free time, Erin loves summers at Lake Pend Oreille, winter skiing, and spending time outdoors.

Military Horsemanship Coordinator, PATH Intl. CTRI, ESMHL

Julia Pond

Julia began volunteering at Free Rein in 2016 and became a certified instructor in 2022. She has ridden since age 8, with experience in 4-H, hunter-jumper, trail riding, and horseback field events. Julia lives in North Idaho with her husband, three horses, and a dog.

Instructor, PATH Intl. CTRI & Mentor

Janelle Rubright

Janelle began volunteering at Free Rein in 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and has ridden horses her entire life. Janelle lives with her husband and two horses, and enjoys camping, hiking, skiing, and farming hay. She loves seeing the impact Free Rein’s horses have on riders and volunteers.

Instructor, PATH Intl. CTRI

Sara Ash

Sara has loved horses since childhood and began volunteering in therapeutic riding at 15. She joined Free Rein in 2020 and became PATH Certified in 2025, while pursuing a master’s in occupational therapy following a career as a mining geologist.

Instructor in Training

Stephanie Gass

Stephanie began volunteering at Free Rein in 2021 after six years at Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in California. A lifelong horse lover and former elementary teacher, she enjoys combining her passions for learning and adventure through therapeutic riding. Stephanie loves traveling, reading, gardening, hiking, and riding.

Instructor in Training, Barn Team

Andrea Dietrich

Andrea’s love of horses began in early childhood, despite a memorable allergic reaction. She began volunteering at Free Rein in 2013 and hopes to become a PATH certified instructor. In her free time, she enjoys trail riding with her horse, Apollo.

Barn Team

Shelby Knapp

Shelby has loved horses since childhood and helps feed and care for Free Rein’s horses several times a week. She enjoys getting to know each horse’s personality and has one of her own. In her free time, she likes reading, riding, and spending time with friends.

Barn Team

Jade Feryn

Jade came to Free Rein with hands-on experience from McKinlay & Peters Equine Hospital where she worked in both internship and stall-care roles, gaining practical skills in horse handling, biosecurity, daily clinical operations, and providing high-quality animal care.