Our Two Legged Members

Paula Karen, MLS

Paula has prior experience in counseling, facilitating and supporting the personal growth and healing of various groups and individuals. She celebrates the natural healing, inspiration and magic when people and horses connect. Paula is currently enrolled in the Touched by a Horse certification program. Watch for the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method to be included in the Spirit Horse programs soon. Paula raised and trained her two equine co-facilitators, Firefly and Spirit, from the time they were yearlings and has been a guardian of horses for over 17 years. Firefly is a Quarter horse with a very sensitive nature. Spirit is a mustang gathered from the Wyoming wild.

Julie Benham, RN, BSN

Julie has witnessed firsthand the healing capabilities of spending time with horses. SHA is a way to incorporate her life-long love of horses into her desire to help others and give back to the community. Software test engineer by day, Julie spends her free time working with kids from the community so they, too, can experience the wonder of horses. Samwise and Valkyrie are mustangs she adopted from a Wyoming herd, and John and Mercedes are her two rescued horses.

Pam Thode

Pam’s credentials include certifications in energy work, horse abuse investigation, PATH INTERNATIONAL instructor, and horse trainer in the centuries old Spanish tradition. Pam works as an independent contractor teaching riding instruction to peoples with disabilities. She mainly works with people who have fear issues and want to gain confidence through and with the horse. She also trains horses to become that stable companion in the arena or on the trail. Pam loves the yearlings and is dedicated to promoting welfare in the training and treatment of bringing young horses to saddle. Pam has successfully brought many babies to saddle in the very proven consistent Spanish tradition of “no buck.” Pam starts horses, she does not break them. Pam loves to teach and has put on many clinics along with her partners; Buddy, TJ, Dora and Chiquita.

Lyla D. Hamilton, Ph.D.

Lyla is an independent business consultant, researcher and author. Her interests include nature and spirit, the human-animal bond, entrepreneurship and leadership. As godmother of Chiquita, a Medicine Hat mustang, she has participated in the youngster’s training since 2008. She was instrumental in the rescue and placement of three other mustangs, including one from the famed Pryor Mountain herd. An avid hiker, Lyla has been active in the SHA’s programs promoting safe sharing of trails by equestrians, hikers and mountain bikers.

Our Four Legged Members

My name is Chiquita. My enchanting color is strawberry roan. I’m a mustang filly–maybe four years old. I was born into a wild herd in Southern Colorado and caught by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management when I was about a year old. I don’t have a birth certificate, so I’m not quite sure of my age. I’ve learned to carry a saddle and a rider, which is fun. From a very early age, I’ve been a therapy horse. I’ve even visited a nursing home where I brought sunshine to the people living there and demonstrated my trademark bow.

Samwise is a mustang from the Salt Wells HMA near Rock Springs, WY. He was adopted in 2007, and was probably a little less than a year old. Sam is a curly, which shows up in his coat as well as his ears, mane and tail. Sam is a jokester.

My name is Spirit. I’m a gray and white pinto mustang who was separated from my herd in Stewart Creek, Wyoming, when I was just three months old. Before I was a year old, I began to assist in equine-assisted learning classes. Along with Chiquita, I encouraged youngsters to participate in the 2009 summer reading program at the Louisville Library. They logged more than 14,000 hours. I’m about five years old. I’ve completed saddle training and am learning to be a trail horse. My other job is to be a mustang advocate and ambassador.

Valkyrie is a mustang and was born in the wild. She’s from the same herd as Samwise. Val was adopted as a yearling and has developed into a beautiful, people-loving, snack-stealing, bossy girl.