Meet The Team
Horses & Donkeys
The equines in LEAD’s counseling and education programs are the heart and soul of the team. LEAD has a variety of horses, carefully screened for the programs. Each horse brings unique attributes to which certain clients may be able to relate. The job of the horses is to be themselves.
You can sponsor a horse! Learn more.
Horses & Donkeys
The equines in LEAD’s counseling and education programs are the heart and soul of the team. LEAD has a variety of horses, carefully screened for the programs. Each horse brings unique attributes to which certain clients may be able to relate. The job of the horses is to be themselves.
You can sponsor a horse! Learn more.
Staff
The human half of the LEAD team brings education, experience and expertise to the educational and therapeutic processes.
Ashley Belt – Barn Mananger, Equine Specialist
Ashley is an EAGALA certified equine specialist. She has over 20 years of experience with horses and holds a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science, Equine from the University of California, Davis. She has completed multiple externships at equine hospitals in addition to personal research she conducted at UC Davis which has expanded her knowledge of the internal works of equids.
The importance that horses have had in my own self-healing from trauma has made all the difference and I want to give that to others. I want other people to see how amazing these creatures are even if they don’t become “horse people”. I want to give them the tools to be able to deal with anything that life gives them because life gets hard. I want them to look back at our sessions and remember those feelings of being with the horses and I hope it brings them peace.
Melissa Morrison, LMFT
Melissa retains a true passion for her work as an MFT and believes that all of her clients deserve an empathic, professional approach. Working with people to identify and treat issues large and small provides her with great satisfaction.
She completed her practicum working with veterans at the Reno Veterans Center. Her early work as a licensed MFT-Intern saw her working with people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction issues. Melissa spent a considerable amount of time at the start of her career working with the underserved populations in Nevada’s rural communities. Melissa has worked as an MFT with multiple school districts in collaboration with students, faculty and parents to create solutions to the unique issues that children face both within and outside of the classroom. Her passion for working with Nevada’s youth led her back to the public school system, where her work focused on at-risk adolescents and their relationships with family, faculty, and administration.
Jeane Spada-Allgood, MA – Executive Director, Instructor
Jeane has been in the field of education for over twenty years, and has worked with Northern Nevada youth since 2008. She holds an Master of Arts in Youth Development, is Natural Lifemanship trained and an EAGALA certified equine specialist. She is a horsewoman and rider as well as a caretaker for multiple horses and donkeys. She understands first hand the power of horses as teachers, companions, and guides. Jeane co-founded LEAD with Horses to help children and youth to realize their full potential through the wonder of horses.
Louise Sutherland-Hoyt, LCPC, CCMHC, NCC, Volunteer Clinical Supervisor
Louise Sutherland-Hoyt is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who brings more than 22 years’ experience in the field of trauma to her work at LEAD with Horses. So many of the kids and families we work with have suffered such great losses in their lives and yet, we live in a culture that often overlooks our need to grieve these losses. When we are in the presence of horses with our suffering, however, the healing journey of the wounded soul begins. The horses seem to just stand by our side with strength and beauty and abide without judgment with our soul.
Louise has been trained in the practice of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, is EAGALA certified, and is passionate about the magic that unfolds in the presence of the equine and human soul. She is an award-winning educator and earned her Master’s degree and subsequent Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies at Cambridge College, Massachusetts. Louise retired from the state of Nevada Division of Child and Family Services in 2013, is a Veteran of the United States Army, Vietnam War Era, and provides workshops in healing trauma and tending to wounds of the soul.
Taylor Quinn, LMSW
Taylor has been a social worker since 2021. She currently works with foster care youth all across Nevada, helping them expand their connections and build relationships. Taylor has previous experience working in Hospice care, offering support to grieving families. Social work has allowed her to support others during hard times, and she hopes to use her skill set to help youth in Northern Nevada to develop coping skills and learn about their emotions. She previously worked in the veterinary field and has a love for all animals, especially horses. She believes horses hold sacred space for humans to process and heal from trauma.
Employment Opportunities
We are currently seeking an Equine Specialist to join our team. Contact Jeane @ 775-223-5181 or [email protected] for more information.
Volunteer opportunities also available.
LEAD with Horses Officers & Board of Directors
Debra Wurzel, President/Chair
Kris Perry, Vice President
Sonja Cuffe, Secretary
Jennifer Henry, Treasurer
Morgan Garcia
Elise Henriques
Lyndsay Lamberts
Lisa Menante
Chris Orr
Application for the LEAD with Horses’ Board of Directors