Windsong Equitherapy - Lincoln, Nebraska

Our Instructors


	Christina Gottschall Rider Coordinator
	Christina has trained and showed horses for many years in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter/Jumper, Halter, and is currently learning Dressage. She has her undergraduate from Kansas State University in Animal Science and a Masters Degree in Natural and Applied Science with an emphasis in Equine Reproduction and In Vitro Fertilization from Southwest Missouri State University doing her research at our own Henry Doorly Zoo. As a grad student she taught classes in beginning horseback riding, introduction to horses, and taught sections of seminars dealing with Equine Reproduction and management. Christina has been involved in therapeutic riding since 1998 while in grad school, continued her involvement after she moved to Lincoln and became a certified instructor in 1999. She currently works at Methodist Hospital as an Embryologist Specialist and is the rider contact person for Windsong.

	Linda Ganzel Therapeutic Riding Instructor
	Linda grew up in Nebraska City riding horses all of her life and now works for Omaha Public Schools as an art teacher. Linda became a NARHA certified instructor in 2006 when she was volunteering with Power of the Spirit but continued with Windsong when that program ended. With her knowledge of horses and her experience in teaching, we are lucky to have Linda on the Windsong team. Her creativity and her calm personality make her an excellent match for our riders!

	AnnMarie Williams Volunteer Coordinator
	AnnMarie began as a volunteer with the Dream Catcher program in 2002, became a certified riding instructor in 2005 and continued with Windsong when we absorbed the Dream Catcher program. AnnMarie works at the University of Nebraska Lincoln with first year students in Learning Communities, serves as an academic adviser, and has the opportunity to teach one course a year. AnnMarie has been involved with horses throughout her childhood starting with horseback riding lessons, summer horse camps, and being active in 4-H. AnnMarie has stayed active in the "horse community" as an adult by continuing lessons and by being involved with Windsong Equitherapy. AnnMarie enjoys giving her time to Windsong Equitherapy by working with her assigned riders, their families, and the program's outstanding volunteers!

	Gina Schlater Instructor - in - training
	Gina has been with Windsong since Spring 2010. Gina has several Percheron's that she loves to ride and drive that she has shown at the Nebraska Horse Expo and hopes to do more competitive shows in the near future. She hopes to get her NARHA certification and eventually start her own program west of Lincoln. She has become a great asset to Windsong and we hope to utilize her knowledge into starting a driving program!

	Michelle Leaver Instructor-in-training
	Michelle started with Windsong in the Spring of 2009 and has been an intrical part of the program ever since. Michelle has had horses all of her life and has shown competitively in Dressage and Jumping and now likes to play around with her horse Reggie. Michelle has jumped in and started providing instruction to our more able bodied riders and has been our Special Olympics coach helping all our riders earn blue ribbons! Michelle's experience has been invaluable to the program and we are lucky to have her as a volunteer and instructor.