Hunkapi Herd
Hunkapi Staff
Terra Schaad MC, Director
Terra became the inaugural director for the Hunkapi Horse Program in 1999. Her extensive equine background includes;
competing at the Inter-Collegiate level for the Texas A&M Horse Judging and Equestrian teams and conducting research
on racehorses, while completing a B.S. in Animal Science. Following college she trained reining horses professionally
in Gainesville, TX where she began to see parallels between horse training techniques and interpersonal relationships.
Hunkapi gave Terra the opportunity to explore these finding further. Terra entered graduate school at ASU to pursue a
Master of Counseling degree in the Spring of 2002. While there, she took a special interest in group dynamics and family
therapy and created a curriculum that integrates horses into a family therapy session. In April 2006, she and
Debra Crews, Ph.D. concluded research investigating the differences in Self-Esteem, Anger, and Anxiety in adolescents
participating in either clinical group therapy or equine therapy. Terra credits horses for teaching her responsibility,
empathy, and communication and hopes that other children can acquire those same qualities through their experiences at
Hunkapi.
terra@hunkapi.org
Amanda Adams, Instructor
Amanda started working with Hunkapi at the beginning of June 2008. She worked as a horseback riding and horse camp instructor for two years in Texas before moving to Arizona in the summer of 2007. She is currently a student at ASU West working to receive a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Tourism Management. Working with horses has always been a dream for her. After teaching kids how to ride in Texas, she immediately loved the job and hopes to continue working in this field.
Tanya Missureli -Barn Manager, Book Keeper, Advance riding instructor.
Tanya has an Equestrian Science Degree from Stephens College in Columbia, MO. For the past twelve years Tanya has been involved with the production of The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. She is a Region 7 Show Commissioner for the Arabian Horse Association. Tanya is also involved with: Arizona Dressage Association, The Desert Horse Saddle Club, Gold Star Show Systems, and the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona. Tanya is rarely seen without here faithful companion, Stella Blue. Who is a 12 year old wolf cross that has become a fabulous therapy dog and is a well known figure at many of local horse shows.
Saundra Sherow, Instructor
Saundra is currently working on her Masters in Education with a concentration on Equine Assisted Learning through Prescott College. She is also in the process of becoming a NARHA Certified Theraputic riding Instructor. Saundra has an extensive background working with volunteers and children. She has a passion for horses and kids, which makes Hunkapi a perfect fit.
Chelsea Shiner
My name is Chelsea Shiner. I am currently an undergraduate student at Arizona State University. I am majoring in Therapeutic Recreation and minoring in Non Profit Leadership and Management. I plan on continuing my education with a graduate degree in occupational therapy.
I have been around horses since I have been nine years old and I absolutely love them! I have been working with therapeutic equestrian centers since I have been 15 and it is through all of my volunteering that I decided upon my field of study. Working with Hunkapi has been one of the most amazing opportunities I’ve had thus far. It has been such an incredible learning experience and I am so grateful to be part of this amazing team!
Rachel Sutherland
Rachel is an Arizona native who brings 20 years of equestrian experience to the team. While her passion is dressage, she has trained and competed in several disciplines, including hunter/jumpers, reining, English and Western pleasure and more. She worked across the US and in the UK as a groom for top competitors in Combined Driving, a sort of horse-drawn carriage triathlon! Over the years, Rachel has always sought out opportunities to coach new riders, help horse owners conquer training obstacles and continue to develop her own understanding of the equine-human relationship. Rachel’s teaching style blends safety, technique and equine communication skills with a fun, confidence-building attitude.
Cassandra Van Voorhees (Cat)-Lead Mare
Cassandra graduated from ASU 1997 with a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation. She interned that winter in Park City, UT teaching adaptive skiing for the National Ability Center. Upon completion that spring she and her now husband moved back to her home town in the Bay Area and worked as a project manager at a prestigious advertising agency for 9 years. In 2004, after giving birth to her second son, her and her husband decided to move back to the desert, buy a home and she embarked upon her most challenging job thus far, “stay at home mom”. In the summer of 2008 she met Terra while training for triathlons; during their long runs and bike rides Terra shared about her horse program and that is when she fell in love with the Hunkapi! The Hunkapi Horse Program it has reunited Cassandra with her love for horses, renewed her passion for working with children and allowed her to integrate a never ending mommy job with a new career.
Karen Williams, Instructor
Karen has been a NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped, Assoc.) registered instructor since 1998, having trained at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, CT, and then came out to Arizona from New England to start a mental health component at Horses Help Therapeutic Riding in Phoenix AZ in 1999. She has an M.Ed in Counseling and Psychological Services from Springfield College, MA, and is certified in school guidance counseling and both Arizona and New Hampshire. A counselor all her professional life, she was an adult learner to horses, but has been a lifelong enthusiast of anything equine. Additional interests have included a year of graduate study in Stockholm, Sweden; Coast Guard licensure to operate boats at marinas in N.H., and she has been a Reiki practitioner since 1992, using it on people, pets and horses as needed and appreciated!
