Meet The HETRA Team

Lucy first joined HETRA as a volunteer in 2018 and became a full-time staff member in 2019 with a focus on grant writing. She became a certified PATH International instructor in 2021. She particularly enjoys sharing with others the powerful bond that is created between humans and horses through grant writing and public speaking within the community. 

Lucy graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s of Agriculture in Animal Science & Industry with an Equine Certificate. She then went on to obtain her Master of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a focus on Environmental & Agricultural Health, where she obtained the Outstanding Student in Public Health Practice award as well as an award for Outstanding Research Project. Lucy has a special interest in the concept of One Health, the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. She previously served as a Research Assistant at the Central States Center of Agricultural Health. She has also worked in the areas of veterinary medicine and volunteer coordinating. 

When Lucy isn’t at HETRA she enjoys spending time with her husband, cat, and rescue dog as well as reading, playing the piano, and horseback riding. 

Areas of Expertise: 

• Grant writing 
• Public speaking 
• Horsemanship 
• Continued giving campaigns  

Amy Chastain joined HETRA in May 2025 as a Development Associate, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. With a strong background in working with children and families with disabilities, Amy has a deep-rooted passion for making meaningful connections and building inclusive communities.

In her role at HETRA, she focuses on developing community partnerships, networking, event planning, and donor cultivation — all driven by her commitment to creating impact through relationships. Amy is a certified Nurtured Heart Approach® Instructor and believes in celebrating strengths over focusing on deficits, a philosophy she carries into both her professional and personal life.

Amy earned her degree in Family Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she was a proud member of the UNL Flag Line for all four years — and a dedicated Husker fan to this day. Outside of work, she has been married to her husband for 31 years, a proud mom of two grown sons and adores her role as a grandma to two wonderful grandchildren.

Raina Garcia joined HETRA in March 2025, bringing with her a rich background in marketing and a heart for mission-driven work. Originally from Southern California, she relocated to Omaha, Nebraska in 2010, where she launched her own marketing business. Over the next 13 years, she grew her firm, partnered with other professionals, and served clients across a variety of industries—including several nonprofits.

In 2023, Raina began stepping away from business ownership to focus more fully on nonprofit work. By 2024, she was serving as Marketing Director for a small organization supporting women survivors of human trafficking. Though the team was small and the work multifaceted, she concentrated on increasing brand awareness and driving engagement.

At HETRA, Raina serves as the Marketing and Communications Specialist, overseeing the organization’s external communications. She is passionate about sharing the heart behind HETRA’s mission and helping others discover meaningful ways to get involved—as participants, volunteers, or supporters. Through strategic storytelling, community outreach, and consistent brand visibility, she works to expand awareness and deepen community connection.

Raina is continually inspired by the compassion, knowledge, and dedication she witnesses each day on campus. From the barn to the arena, she sees the powerful impact of equine-assisted services—and the joy, relief, and hope they bring to the individuals and families HETRA serves.

Cassidy Fredrickson joined the HETRA team as a volunteer in 2014. Cassidy started working at HETRA in 2018 when she became a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and now also works as an occupational therapist since 2019. In addition to treating participants in our adaptive riding and therapy services programs, Cassidy is also involved with the Life Skills Program and oversees the Miniature Horse Onsite Learning Program and Miniature Horse Appearances.  

Cassidy has a Bachelor's in Rehabilitative Studies, with a Minor in Psychology and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from the College of Saint Mary.  She received the Who’s Who Among Students award as well as being a member of the Kappa Gamma Pi – National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society. 

When Cassidy isn’t at the barn she can be found boating, snowboarding, golfing or spending time with her boyfriend Dale and dogs Larry and Luna. 

Cassidy’s Areas of Consulting:

• Therapy Services 
• Adaptive Riding 
• Life skills 
• Miniature Horse Onsite Learning Program
• Miniature Horse Appearances

Kaiti Otte is an occupational therapist and project coordinator for HETRA. She became a certified PATH International instructor in 2021. Kaiti obtained her doctorate degree from Creighton University and has spent the majority of her professional experience in outpatient pediatric therapy settings. In addition to treating participants at HETRA, Kaiti coordinates much of the virtual programming including the release of over 10 successful webinars last year and assisting to launch HETRA’s educational initiative “Not Just a Pony Ride”. Kaiti also enjoys mentoring students that are interested in Equine-Assisted Services including undergraduate as well as professional occupational therapy students. When she is not in the barn at HETRA, you can find Kaiti catching some live music, working with her own young horse Fritz, or back home in western NE helping on her family farm.

Areas of Expertise:

• Pediatric participant consulting
• Sensory Dysfunction
• Virtual Programming 
• Undergraduate and Graduate student coordination. 

Whitney's very first encounter with HETRA was back in 2007 at our Blue Jeans and Dreams Event, there she knew what a special place HETRA was and wanted to be apart of it all. In 2008 she was hired on Part Time as our Volunteer Coordinator and then in from 2011-2012 she was with HETRA Full Time before moving to Arizona with her husband and 3 AMAZING children! Her employment background consists of mortgage and administrative, with 5 years experience in the nonprofit world - half of which was as one of HETRA's previous Volunteer Coordinators.

Whitney strives to live by the golden rule, as well as these two sayings:

• "Aspire to inspire, before you expire"
• "Live the way you want to be remembered."

Areas of expertise:

• Volunteer training program development
• Volunteer information management
• Volunteer scheduling

Diane joined HETRA Team in 2006 and became a PATH Intl Certified Instructor in 2012 and completed Amer. Hippotherapy Assoc. Levels 1 and 2. Diane is an Occupational Therapist and Program Manager of the Life Skills Programs. She has worked as an OT in a wide variety of settings from pediatrics to geriatrics. She has extensive training in orthopedic manual therapies, seating and mobility adaptives, home modifications, and certified brain injury specialist. 

Diane enjoys exploring in her kayak or hiking unknown trails usually with her pup. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Therapy Services
• Life Skills programming

Noah Bevington serves as the Volunteer and Administrative Coordinator at HETRA. Noah Joined HETRA in December of 2018. Noah grew up around HETRA and enjoys now getting to be in the office helping to coordinate volunteers and running the day-to-day session schedule.  Noah especially enjoys the instances where he gets to go down and help in the arena, seeing the smiles on the participant’s and volunteer’s faces.  When Noah isn’t at work he enjoys watching sports especially Husker Football, as well as hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities.  

Areas of Expertise:

Volunteer coordination
Day to day session scheduling
Administrative/Salesforce project’s
Master puzzle solver

Brittany is a therapist at HETRA who joined the team in July 2023. She holds an OTD degree and OTR/L license, bringing a wealth of experience to her role. She is a Army veteran and has been an Occupational Therapist for 1 year. 

In her free time, Brittany enjoys traveling, spending time with her dog, strength training and weightlifting. In addition, Brittany and her husband are also in the process of opening Starting Strength Omaha; a gym that focuses on using barbell training to improve longevity and independence. 

Gayle started at HETRA in 2023 after retiring from teaching for 29 years. She has multiple degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a Master of Science in Education with a Instructional Technology and Library Sciences endorsement, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Education specializing in English Language Arts.

In Gayle's free time she can be found reading, gardening, camping and hiking in the mountains.  

Cassidy has a unique perspective of not remembering a time before HETRA, she grew up around it! She was lucky enough to have HETRA be in her backyard from 2001 to 2014. She was a mock rider for training horses. In high school, she would pick up part time positions at HETRA such as support staff for life skills, feeding, horse leading, and barn maintenance shifts. In 2022, Cassidy joined the horse team as an Equine Operations staff member. Then in 2023, she became the Equine Operations Coordinator managing the day to day scheduling of horses, intake of potential horses, and training and conditioning of the herd. She is also a certified CTRI.

In Cassidy's free time, she enjoys going to horse shows. It's always an adventure to go travel to different states showing horses with her family!  She loves to show the hunter under saddle classes. Cassidy also enjoys attending sporting events and spending time with her two dogs. 

Areas of expertise:

• Manage day to day scheduling of horses
• Horse conditioning and management
• Intake and development of new horses

Emma Bunda is a part of our equine operations team. She began at HETRA in 2024. Emma moved to Omaha from the Chicago Area, where she worked at another equine-assisted therapy center. When we asked her what her favorite thing about HETRA is so far, she said "Getting to be around so many fun and happy people, as well as all the HETRA horses everyday!"

A couple fun facts about Emma: She has a horse back home named Buzz, and a Lab Rascal. Emma loves dogs and has fostered 7 dogs...so far!

Kelsey started at HETRA as a volunteer in 2016 also bringing in her horse, Galaxy. In 2022 she became a part-time stall member, feeder, and horse leader. Then she began her instructor training in 2023 and thus becoming an instructor in 2024. Kelsey is also a student at Oregon State University studying environmental science. And she has been working with horses for as long as she can remember!

Other than hanging out in the barn, she enjoys riding her other horse - Pilot, barrel racing, photography, and traveling. 

Areas of Expertise: 

• Feeding
• Leading
• Conditioning
• Instructor

Renee joined the HETRA team in 2018. She has an Exercise Science Bachelors and Doctorate of Physical Therapy both from Missouri State University.

"Being a physical therapist at HETRA is both challenging and rewarding. It challenges me to use horse movement in creative ways to help patients achieve goals. There are so many knowledgeable employees and volunteers that help me every day I am there. It is a great place I look forward to going every week."

In her downtime Renee enjoys painting, bible study, ultimate frisbee, waterskiing, and listening to podcasts about her favorite topics

Jessica grew up in Virginia and has lived in Omaha for 20 years. She started volunteering with HETRA in 2015 and quickly discovered her passion for working with horses and people. In 2021, she became a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI).

Jessica teaches adaptive riding and public riding lessons and leads volunteer trainings in grooming, tacking, and horse leading. She loves helping new volunteers and students build confidence, especially those with little or no horse experience. Watching someone grow from a nervous beginner to a confident leader is one of her favorite parts of the job.

Jessica also values lifelong learning and appreciates HETRA’s focus on education and growth for everyone. Outside of HETRA, she works as Manager of Communication and Branding for a software company. She holds a BA in 20th Century Literature from George Mason University and an MA in Literature from Truman State University, where she received the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for her work on William Blake’s poetry.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys board games, trivia nights, a weekly remote book club with family, and spending time with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.

Mercedes has been a volunteer at HETRA for eight years and a therapist for just over one year.  She has a Masters of Occupational Therapy, Bachelors of Science in Rehabilitation Studies and a Minor in Psychology from the College of Saint Mary.  

"I love being able to use the gifts of Occupational Therapy and horses in the same setting to provide treatment for a wide range of reasons! I have been blessed to grow with HETRA over the years. I love working for an organization who supports me as an individual and therapist.  One of the most rewarding parts of HETRA is hearing from parents that their child made visible improvements on certain deficits we had been working on. I love using a unique method of therapy to address deficits in new and different ways. Some riders come to learn new skills, some ride to heal or develop, and some ride to find the joy in life and I love to be a part of any journey!"

On her personal time Mercedes enjoys traveling, hiking, DYI projects, photography and spending time with family.  

Rita Borgstadt joined HETRA in 2009 as a Volunteer. In 2014 she became a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and then was certified as PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. In 2016 she joined the HETRA team full-time working as the Participant Intake Coordinator as well as continuing to teach riding lessons. She also works with a team of volunteers monthly training Grooming and Tacking to HETRA Volunteers. 

Rita graduated from UNL with a Bachelors's Degree in Elementary Education and Human Development and then received her Masters in Public Administration from UNO. 

Before coming to HETRA Rita worked for several nonprofit organizations working with troubled youth and individuals with Special Needs. I really enjoy working with people and make a difference for others, especially young people. 

In her spare time, Rita enjoys gardening, traveling, spending time with her family, and especially being with her grandchildren. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Administration/scheduling
• Volunteer Training
• Intake of Potential and New Participants
• Miniature Horse Appearances
• Adaptive Riding Instruction

Tom joined the HETRA team in 2002 as a Volunteer.  He became a PATH, Intl. Certified Instructor in 2004, earned his PATH, Intl. Driving Certification in 2004 and his Equine Specialist in Mental Health Certification in 2014. 

In 2007 Tom was awarded the PATH, Intl. Sis Gould Driving Award.  Tom has a Bachelor Degree from Chadron State College.  Tom has presented at numerous PATH, Intl. Region 7 Conferences.  In his free time Tom enjoys Horseback Riding, Cycling, and playing the guitar.

“I love working with the positive people who make up our staff and volunteers, plus helping and interacting with our students.”

Julie first started at HETRA in May of 2023. She received a bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders through UNO in 2000. And in 2002, received a master of science in speech-language pathology through UNL. Julie is a certified SLP through ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) holding her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC’s) for over 20 years. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist in NE and IA state.

In her free time Julie can be found riding her horses, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. She says she always had a passion for both horses and helping those in need. She feels extremely blessed to have the opportunity to combine her two passions at HETRA. She is looking forward to furthering her expertise and positively impacting people's daily communication.

Special interest areas:

• Articulation
• Expressive and receptive language
• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Stuttering
• Pragmatics
• Client and family support

Lynae McKay joined HETRA as a volunteer in 2018 and now serves as an Adaptive Riding Instructor.  Although she has loved horses her entire life, Lynae didn’t start riding until she was an adult, at the age of 35.  She continued riding lessons for the following 10 years in English riding disciplines and enjoyed both dressage and show jumping.  

Lynae has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and worked for years in hospital labs.  While raising her 4 children, she became passionate about education and decided to make a career change.  She has worked for 9 years as a Special Education Paraeducator, working with high school students who have intellectual disabilities and learning challenges.

In her free time, Lynae enjoys puzzles, teaching Sunday school, swimming, hiking, and spending time with her granddaughter.  She also enjoys music and plays the piano for the school choirs.
 

Rebecca started in August of 2023. She is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner with a Masters in Human Services-Community Counseling.

In her free time, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband, Brad and her two kids, Owin and Zoie. She also likes outdoor activities, reading, being a mom taxi for her kids activities, along with volunteer work.

Rebecca's area of expertise: 

• Trauma
• ADHD
• Autism
• Grief & Loss
• Stress
• Anxiety

Tara started volunteering for HETRA as a sidewalker in October 2021. In the summer of 2023 she joined our therapy team as a part-time occupational therapist. She has worked in the Omaha area for more then 23 years. Getting her Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from Creighton in 2000, and then becoming a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) in 2008. Later completing her post-professional doctorate (OTD) in 2017.

Tara has 3 teenagers at home so most of her free time is focused on keeping up with all of their activities. She enjoys reading, watching Husker football and volleyball, being outside, and spending time with family and friends. Tara has always loved animals, especially horses, and worked with horses for 4 years during college. She also has 5 pets and enjoys fostering dogs!

Her areas of expertise is spending most of her career as an OT in outpatient therapy clinics, working with people of all ages and conditions. Tara moved out of clinical life and into academia in 2015 when I joined the faculty at the College of Saint Mary Occupational Therapy program, where she still works full-time and serves as the Program Director. She's a specialist in upper extremity rehabilitation and enjoys helping people participate in their meaningful daily activities and roles to the greatest extent possible.

"I am so thankful to have the opportunity to work with HETRA. I love watching how riding a horse can have such a strong impact on a person's emotional, physical, and cognitive abilities!" - Tara Ruppert