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Meet the Staff
Kendall Smith
is a therapist and equine specialist at Horse Sense of the Carolinas. Kendall received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Religion from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY and her Masters in Counseling from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Kendall has worked with horses in variety of settings, including a ranch in Steamboat Springs, CO, horse rescue programs, and therapeutic riding programs, as well as interning with a an EAP organization in CO. Kendall has clinical experience working with children, adolescents, individuals, families and couples. She has incorporated experiential education and wilderness therapy into her work in public health and as a school counselor. Kendall moved to North Carolina to intern with Horse Sense in 2008. She is continually amazed by the learning and growth that takes place in the arena.
Shannon Knapp
is founder and president of both Horse Sense of the Carolinas, Inc., and Horse Sense Business Sense, LLC. Shannon has worked with and taught horses and people for over 25 years. After 10 years teaching in college, she left academia and began working with abused & neglected horses. She began pairing "rescued" horses with people in 2001, and Horse Sense was formed soon after. She and her husband Richard continue to work with horses through horse rescue organizations and local humane societies and law enforcement.
Shannon is EAGALA Advanced Certified, a Parelli Level I graduate, and is the author of the book, Horse Sense Business Sense, Volume 1, an introduction to starting and running your own Horse Therapy & Learning practice, as well as numerous other resources for Horse Therapy & Learning practices. In addition, Shannon is a Graduate Advisor for Prescott College's Equine Assisted Learning program, & offers consulting services to those interested in starting their own Horse Therapy & Learning business.
Richard Knapp
is an EAGALA-certified practitioner, a Parelli Level 3 graduate, and a Parelli 2 Star Instructor. A Northern Ohio native, Richard graduated from the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs with a BS in Space Physics. After graduating from Pilot Training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX, he served as a flight instructor, air traffic controller, and FAA liaison, completing his military career in 1993. He worked as a contract software designer in Dallas, TX, &. now manages Meadows Town, LLC, a business for horse rehabilitation and development, instruction, and sales of Advanced Biological Concepts feed and supplements, Flint River Ranch organic dog & cat food, and organically grown hay.
Lori Araki works as an Equine Specialist at Horse Sense of the Carolinas, and her info is coming soon!
Becca Hoggard
is the Office Administrator of Horse Sense of the Carolinas, Inc. Becca graduated from UNC – Asheville in Business Management. She spent several years working in the mental health field as a one-on-one with special needs children, which led to a job in the Buncombe County School system. She spends her mornings working with the Title One program to encourage elementary age students’ reading and comprehension skills and to help them develop a love for learning. Working in these fields and seeing the impact those that care can have on the community, coupled with a passion for animals, has led her to the Horse Sense Farm.