Meet the Board

Sharolyn, founder of Ears Forward Coaching, has 15+ years in the EAS field as a Career and Leadership Coach. As a Life Coach and dually certified Human Social Services/Equine Specialist Facilitator with Pro-EFW Canada, who partners with Equine International on research projects, she is passionate about advancing industry standards and believes ongoing learning helps us better serve our horses and provide effective therapeutic services to our communities.

Founder and Director of Programs at EQuisdom Therapeutic Horsemanship Association. Karen is a PATH Intl – Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, a member of CanTRA. With over 17 years of experience supporting individuals with diverse abilities, Karen combines her formal education in kinesiology with personal experiences working with family members facing learning disabilities, brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Lisa has 50 years of equine experience and over 40 years coaching youth and adults with special needs. She holds a BA in Child and Youth Counselling, a Diploma in Equine Sciences, EAGALA Level 2 Certification, CanTRA Therapeutic Instructor certification, and is a licensed EC and Internationally Certified Riding Coach (BHS). Lisa is also a certified judge (Equine Canada & Horse Council BC), has served on Horse Council BC committees for 10+ years, worked 8 years in schools with a Teacher’s Assistant certificate, and owns Red Horse Equine Assisted Services.

For more than 25 years, Mike Waters has worked to build community. He has led and supported numerous initiatives that worked to develop, evaluate, and improve programs, services, facilities, and infrastructure. Mike is the former Executive Director of the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association and a current program volunteer and advisor to the VTRA Board of Directors. He lives and works in Rural Saanich with his family and Great Dane, Bergen.

Ashley started her journey to become a therapeutic riding instructor in the Lower Mainland at Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities in Langley, BC. In 2014 she moved to Kamloops to rise from a Session Coordinator to the Executive Director at Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association. Ashely is a certified CTRBI (CanTRA), a PATH IntI. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor (Path Intl CTRI) and is working on her Equine Canada Coaching certification as well as EAGALA Certified Specialist.

Simone is a Director with the Freedom Equine Association Non-Profit Organization.