Cristi learned that a horse has more to offer than just a strong back to ride when she was a small child. She spent many summers under the watchful eye of her Uncle Sam who was a rodeo cowboy. She has owned horses her entire life and knows the true gift they have to offer humans.

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).

Patti began volunteering at Bethany’s Gait in August, 2017 as a horse care volunteer, mucking and throwing hay. By 2019, she had become the Volunteer Ambassador for Bethany’s Gait. And then, 2020 happened!

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.

Kaycie has had a love of the Lord, and horses since she was a little girl. She prayed often that someday she would have the opportunity to have horses of her own. Growing up her parents found ways to get her around them, and she got a taste of their ability to reach peoples hearts and minds at a therapeutic riding program she volunteered at for 6 years.

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.