Meet Our Team, Our Horses, and Our Sponsors

Let’s start with our team. We are blessed to have very talented and committed team members at Bethany’s Gait, particularly because most volunteer their time (including those in leadership roles). Get to know a few of them below.

Our Team

While volunteering at a youth ranch in the early 90’s, Cristi met foster child Bethany and discovered the healing power that lies within horses. Fifteen years later, she left her 20-year career in Public Relations to found Bethany’s Gait Ranch, a program for foster children.
Drawing on her experience as the wife of a 24-year Marine, mother of a Marine Corps Aviator and a Navy Seal Candidate, today she has led the ranch beyond foster children to serve active duty, reserve and veteran military, first responders, and their families.
Cristi and two partners created a unique equine coaching method called Equine Facilitated Coaching & Wellness (EFCW) that focuses on equine communication and natural horsemanship techniques. This is the method used at the ranch. She holds a BA in Communications/Advertising and an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). She is a member of the North American Horsemen’s Association (NAHA), the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.), and Back Country Horsemen of Northern Arizona
(BCHNAZ).

Although regular in-person Volunteer meetings couldn’t be held, Patti kept everyone in the loop by writing our “News From the Herd” newsletter. She also likes to give out fun awards to the Volunteers. Patti has also begun mentoring in our Mustang-to-Wrangler program.
Patti was a life-long Chicagoan so still thinks 50 degrees is shirt-sleeve weather, however she will admit that the Bethany’s Gait pasture is windier than the Windy City.
A graduate of Elmhurst College, Patti holds a Masters degree in Organizational Psychology. She spent her career in the graphic arts business.

Shortly after, she met Josh ( BG’s trainer!) who taught her the invaluable basics of
horsemanship, and inspired even more of a desire to learn and see what these creatures could do.
Serving the Military/First Responder community was never on her radar until she was hired at Bethany’s Gait to be an interim trainer, and immediately caught the vision and passion. Since being a part of BG she has seen hearts open and heal through the horses being themselves, and the people allowing God to work through and in them, whether they know it or not. She looks forward to all the future holds for these incredible people and animals.

Our Horses
Most of our horses have been rescued from abandonment, abuse or neglect. At Bethany’s Gait they have a new lease on life, learning not only to trust humans again but to become an integral part of our team teaching leadership skills and healing emotional wounds.

Grace
Personality:
Grace is the epitome of a gentle giant! This sweet girl is 17 hands and 1500 pounds but as kind as they come. She is a 20+ year old Brabant Draft who is the newest to join our herd. She absolutely loves people, adults and kids alike!
History:
Rescued from a kill lot in Mississippi.

Vaquero
Personality:
Vaquero is a happy, solid boy who enjoys going out as much as he does relaxing in the pasture. He loves working cows, hanging with his best friend Tahoe, and playing with Moose.
History:
Casualty of a divorce. Has been used for cow work and extensive trail riding.

Daphne
Personality:
Daphne is our little greeter at the ranch. She loves horses and people alike and is always the first to welcome everyone. She is an “in your pocket” girl who will follow you everywhere!
History:
Rescued from a kill lot in Nevada fifteen minutes before slaughter

Tahoe
Personality:
Lil’ Miss Tahoe is the leader of our herd. She is a sweet, sassy girl who loves people and is especially good with kids. Vaquero is her best friend.
History:
Came to us after we helped evacuate her from the Santiago fire in California.

Moose
Personality:
Moose is the peacemaker on the ranch. He gets along with everyone and loves to play with the other geldings. He is a very calm guy and especially enjoys working with kids.
History:
Rescued off of Craig’s List in 2017 and was adopted by Kristen at Christmas that same year. Moose was formerly a pack horse in Idaho.

Mo
Personality:
Mo is a typical Morgan, very sweet and full of energy! She loves hanging with her best friend Daphne and munching on Apple/Oat cookies.
History:
Belonged to Pastor Tom. Has been well cared for.

Crystal
Personality:
Crystal is a very sweet, loving girl who is awesome with kids. She loves hugs and kisses on her muzzle and especially being groomed!
History:
Was left tied for days with hay and a bucket of water while her owner went to work in another city. Was rescued by a local resident who shared her with us.

Trigger
Personality:
Trigger is a charming, curious boy who likes to be in the middle of everything. He will turn anything into a toy and is always messing around when he’s at the hitching rail!
History:
Had the same owner the majority of his life who could no longer care for him. Has been in the Rose Parade three times and had police training.

Patron
Personality:
Patron is a very sweet, silly boy who loves to play with his horse friends but is gentle with people. He is an escape artist so he needs extra security on his corral. He is also very curious and will get into anything within reach.
History:
Very well-trained boy. When he got navicular he could no longer do the rugged trail riding his owner did. He wasn’t content to just hang out in his corral so came to us to have a job!
We have horses of various breeds and sizes in our herd.
All of the horses reside in Prescott where they are actively engaged in teaching Veterans and first responders leadership skills, and helping others heal from PTSD or integrate back into civilian life. They also work with spouses and children of Veterans and first responders.
Latest articles
Stepping Out in Faith…
mark2021-03-02T20:53:59-07:00Tags: Christian, faithfulness, fillies, God, horse|
It all started with a Facebook post two days before [...]