ROCK (Ride On Center for Kids), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides equine-assisted services to children, adults, and veterans with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges.
ROCK participants range in age from 2 to 90+ and see improvement in most aspects of their life — from muscle tone, strength, flexibility, and balance to cognitive, behavioral, communication and emotional improvements.
Serving Central Texas since 1998, ROCK’s mission is to improve independence and life skills in partnership with the horse. Our center is located on 60+ acres in beautiful Georgetown, Texas.
ROCK’s organizational vision is to be the trusted leader in equine-assisted services through research, education and programs. Serving an average of over 350 participants and their families every year, ROCK is recognized as a leader in equine-assisted services research.
ROCK is a PATH Intl. Premiere Accredited Center. Our programs include physical therapy, speech therapy, therapeutic horsemanship, ROCK On Veterans, and equine-assisted learning programs for schools, juvenile programs, and individuals.
In pursuit of ROCK’s core value of Excellence, ROCK was the recipient of Pioneer Level recognition in 2016 and Commitment Level recognition in 2017 by the Quality Texas Foundation. You can learn more about the Quality Texas Foundation here.
If you haven’t been out to visit ROCK, call 512-930-7625 to schedule a tour to see ‘Healing Thru Horses’ in person.
View ROCK’s herd of therapy horses.
View ROCK’s staff.
View ROCK’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board
Our Staff
Nancy O’Meara Krenek
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Director of Therapy & Research / Doctor of Physical Therapy/ Physical Therapist / Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist
AHA, Inc. Member Therapist
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Dr. Nancy Krenek has been a physical therapist since 1984 and since 1998 has specialized in equine-assisted services to children, adults and veterans.
She is the CEO and Founder of ROCK (R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids) in Central Texas (rockride.org) and also the Executive Director of the TAMUS Courtney Grimshaw Fowler Equine Therapeutic Program on campus in College Station, which has recently been sponsored by the ONE Health Initiative under the Texas A&M Biomedical Department of Vet/Med (courtneycares.org) Nancy is also a board certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist.
Besides serving participants through connection with the horse, she has been instrumental in over 24 research projects, with four being published in peer reviewed journals. Her passions are her husband Frank and their blended family of 7 children and 7 grandchildren. She enjoys painting, pottery making, hiking, biking, kayaking and air streaming.
Dorothy O’Neal
Chief Operating Officer / PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Dorothy has been associated with ROCK since 2006 as the parent of a current client. In 2009, she became a volunteer and in 2010 Dorothy became a PATH Intl. Registered Instructor. She has a degree in Special Education from the University of West Florida.
She taught children with Behavior Disabilities and Cognitive Delays while living in Florida and was a resource teacher in the Round Rock School District prior to having children. Dorothy and her husband, Ron, have lived in the Austin/Round Rock area since 1996.
Susan Finfer
Chief Financial Officer
Susan brings over 35 years of professional experience in both corporate and nonprofit environments to ROCK Ride on Center for Kids. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas, she became a CPA.
Prior to joining ROCK, Susan was Vice President of Finance at the Austin Community Foundation where her responsibilities included management of the financial, accounting, HR and IT functions. Before that, she was a plant controller at The Pillsbury Company.
Susan enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren, reading, traveling, hiking, playing card games, and volunteering.
Kristin Witcher
Program Director / PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Kristin started volunteering as a sidewalker/horse handler at ROCK in 2007.
She became a PATH Intl. Therapeutic Riding Instructor in 2008.
After being away from therapeutic riding for 4 years, Kristin has returned to ROCK.
Shannon Middleton
Safety and Education Director / Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist / Hipppotherapy Clinical Specialist / AHA, Inc. Member Therapist / PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor / Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Shannon joined the staff as an SLP in 2006 after volunteering at ROCK for 2 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Education with a specialty in Speech Therapy and a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders.
She has over 20 years of experience including working with individuals with Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, language disorder/delay, articulation/phonological disorder, cognitive impairment, stroke and head injury.
Karah Powell
Development Director
Karah has lived in Williamson County since 1996. Her three daughters are proud graduates of RRHS. Jackie is a manager at Dell, Rachel is an ICU nurse at Baylor Scott & White, and Samantha is case manager at Integral Care.
Karah is most proud of her 6 wonderful grandchildren (Tati, Elijah, Ronnie, Jaina, Landon, Mara Jade, and her GREAT grandchild Tamir), who attend schools in the Round Rock and Leander ISD and College! Karah uses her spare time to ring handbells in the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock, Jubilation, where she loves ringing the big base bells for over 24 years.
Karah has served on several committees in the community and enjoys spending time getting to know those around her. Karah is an active member of the Round Rock Kiwanis Club and the American Legion Post 174 in Georgetown and serves with them at their events. Karah also is a founding member of drops of grace, a Williamson County nonprofit dedicated to disaster recovery, rebuilding communities in the United States, and serving humanitarian needs in Africa and Nicaragua. Karah volunteers in Williamson County, TX through the VOAD and LTRC when disasters happen in WilCo.
Karah came to Central Texas in 1983 and was stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base as a Morale Welfare and Recreation Specialist. It didn’t take much for her to stay put in Central Texas once her military duty was over in the Air Force.
Karah holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Volunteer Management, Grant Writing, Communication and Marketing as well as Effective Fundraising from Nonprofit Austin at ACC.
Donelle Beal
PATH Intl. Registered Instructor / Program Director of Texas A&M Courtney Cares Program
Donelle grew up riding, training, and competing in both Walker County 4-H Horse Club and High School Rodeo. She started as a volunteer at “Classic ROCK” in 2000. Two years later she earned her Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification from NARHA and began working as an instructor. Following a long break from ROCK, while she followed her husband through three moves, she returned to the ROCK staff in 2012 to assist in starting the Texas A&M University Courtney Grimshaw Equine Therapeutic Program, where she currently serves as Program Director. Donelle earned a BS in Education from Baylor University and taught high school geometry and computer science in Round Rock ISD. Donelle is now a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor through PATH as well as a Certified Horsemanship Association instructor in both western and English. When she’s not in the arena, she is busy homeschooing her two daughters or riding her own horses.
Priscilla Lightsey
PT / DPT / MA / HPCS / AHA, Inc. Member Therapist / PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Priscilla Lightsey is a Physical Therapist who worked at “classic ROCK” before moving to Beijing, China in 2007. She is the director of the equine-assisted therapy program she founded in Beijing, China: HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment) (www.hopebeijing.org).
Her credentials include a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Master of Arts in Special Education, Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist and PATH Intl. Certified Instructor.
Mark Dial
Equine Manager
Mark’s first memory is sitting on a horse with his dad many years ago. He has been in the horse world as a cowboy ,trainer, manager coach and Equine Chiropractor and Equine Sports Massage Therapist.
Over the years Mark has either competed nationally and worked both nationally and internationally. While working in the Middle East he was the Chiropractor and Sports massage therapist of record for 2 world cup races.
Mark was also the coach for the USEF both senior and junior and young rider teams for 5 years ,this was at the Olympic level.
He enjoys working with horses and people. He also believes horses can teach us a lot. As a Bedouin once said ,the freshest you will ever breath is the air that passes between a horses ears.
Devon Felts
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor / Equine Assistant
Devon started at ROCK in August of 2014 as a PATH Certified Therapeutic Registered Instructor. She has been involved with our STAR program, our horse show team, and now is our Equine Assistant with the equine team.
Devon graduated with an associate’s degree in equine science from Colby Community College and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Kansas State University. She has been riding horses for over 30 years and has 6 horses of her own.
Devon grew up showing hunter/jumpers all over the United States and still tries to show when she can. When Devon is not at ROCK she teaches lessons at her own place and enjoys spending time with her family, horses, sheep, dogs, and cats.
Olivia Coleman
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor / Program Coordinator / STAR Program Co-Coordinator
Olivia moved down to Texas from New York in July of 2016 and quickly joined the ROCK staff as a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor in August of that same year. She has now been at ROCK for the last 5 years. In addition to teaching participants out in the dirt, she also organizes and runs the ROCK Rodeo, Summer Camp, and the STAR program for individuals interested in becoming a certified instructor.
Olivia has been riding and working with horses for the last 20 years and is lucky enough to own her own pony named Rain. When Olivia is not working at ROCK, she is usually out with her horse or relaxing with her husband.
Phoebe Miller
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Phoebe is from a small coal town in Southeastern Montana. She grew up around cattle and horses and graduated from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT with a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Science- Therapeutic Riding and a minor in psychology. Phoebe received her PATH certification in 2018.
Amanda Mott
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Amanda began riding horses at the age of 8, and has over 20 years of experience riding and working with horses.
She attended California State University, Fresno where she rode on their equestrian team, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Science in 2007.
Upon graduation, she began teaching riding lessons and quickly realized that it was her passion in life. In 2015 she relocated to Texas from California with her husband and son.
Amanda came to ROCK in 2016 as a volunteer and a participant in the STAR Instructor in Training Program, and received her PATH Intl instructor certification in 2017.
Amy Keck
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Amy’s life at ROCK started when she began volunteering here 2 years ago. She thoroughly enjoyed being around the clients, other volunteers, and horses so much that she decided to apply for the STAR program in 2016.
After a year of training and perseverance, Amy passed her examinations in August 2017 and happily accepted a position at ROCK in September.
Her desire as an instructor is to impart a lifelong love of riding and improved independence for her clients. She wants each individual to feel loved and accepted every time they walk into the House that is ROCK.
Heidi Derning
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Instructor / ROCK On Veterans Coordinator / Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Heidi is a PATH Intl. Registered Instructor and Recreational Therapist (TX Certified) who has had the great opportunity to be with ROCK since 1999. Over the years, she has worked as the center’s volunteer coordinator and as a full-time therapeutic riding instructor. She is passionate about and coordinates the Veterans program.
Heidi wasn’t born in Texas but got here as soon as she could in the 2nd grade! (Originally from Seattle) She has been married for 29 years to her ROCK supportive husband, Brett, and three grown children (Allyson, Kevin & Julia), son-in-law Brennan, three crazy dogs and one tough cat.
Kevin Bowers
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor / ROV Co-Coordinator
Kevin is a former Regional Environmental Operations Manager for Cleveland Environmental of San Francisco, California, a Division of Cleveland Wrecking, The World’s largest General Engineering Company specializing in Fortune 500 Demolition and Environmental Engineering Remediation Projects around the world.
He has studied Environmental Remediation at UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; studied Psychology at the University Of Texas, Austin, TX; and studied Psychology at The University Of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. Kevin had a 150 acre Ranch in Northern California where he bred and trained Domestic as well as Mustang Horses.
He also developed Kind and Wilde Ranch in Northern California, where inner city Youth from Oakland and San Francisco California could escape the dangers of the inner city and find the Peace and Tranquility afforded one by getting their feet in the dirt and working with Horses in a Beautiful and natural setting.
After moving back to Texas, he found his true calling while volunteering at ROCK Ride on Center for Kids. He went through ROCK’s STAR program, became a PATH certified instructor, and was hired to work at ROCK. He currently teaches therapeutic riding at ROCK and is the co-coordinator of the ROCK On Veterans program where veterans work with the healing powers of the horse.
Stephane Troxell
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Stephane is a native Texan and graduate of University of North Texas with a B.S. in Business. Stephane and her husband resided in Virginia before he retired from the Navy in 2014. As a Navy spouse, she began several programs for children of military families for 10 years.
Looking to get involved in something here in Texas, a friend introduced Stephane to the ROCK On Veteran’s program here at ROCK where she started out as volunteer. After experiencing the power of horse therapy, she knew this was the vocation for her. As a volunteer, Stephane and the Women Veterans entered the Chisholm Trail Community Foundation Fast Pitch event and earned $10,000 for the Women’s program here at ROCK. Stephane was eventually accepted into ROCK’s STAR program to prepare for certification as a PATH Intl. therapeutic riding instructor and began working here in 2019.
In her free time, Stephane cares for her two horses, a mustang named Comanche and a quarter horse named Whiskey as well as her four dogs. Stephane and her husband enjoy cowboy action shooting and are members of SASS (Single Action Shooting Society).
Betsy Kahl, LCSW
PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor
A native of Cleveland, OH, Betsy moved to Austin in 2016 and began spending time at ROCK as a volunteer. Betsy joined ROCK as a staff member in the summer of 2017. A PATH Intl. Certified Advanced Instructor since 2006, Betsy has taught lessons in New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas.
Betsy completed her undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame and earned her Masters of Social Work at Cleveland State University. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Betsy has studied and practiced Animal Assisted Therapy, and has been able to partner with horses, dogs, turtles, snakes, and skunks to connect with others and facilitate change.
When not at ROCK, Betsy enjoys playing with her two dogs, Bo and Lizzie, and learning new things with her horse, Stuart.
Amy Tripson
Logistics Manager / PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Mentor, CVA
Amy joined ROCK in January of 2021, bringing a variety of skills through her education and work experience at therapeutic centers large and small. With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s in Kinesiology, and 20 years of horse experience, therapeutic riding was a natural fit.
Amy obtained her PATH Int’l Registered Level Instructor certification in 2015 and after starting her journey in Colorado has since worked in Georgia, South Korea, Connecticut, and China. During her travels she has assisted two centers in achieving their initial PATH Intl. Premier Accreditation and enjoys process development and organizational planning. In addition to her PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor Certification, she is a PATH Intl Mentor, Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) and pursing her EdD in Leadership Studies. She is excited to apply her passion for problem solving and streamlining processes as a member of the ROCK team.
Brittney Brigham
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Brittney joined ROCK in November 2021, after graduating with a BA in Therapeutic Horsemanship from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC. During her time at St. Andrews, Brittney also interned for three summers with Good Hope Equestrian and Regenerative Farm where she helped transition them from their Miami, Florida location to their new home in Halifax, VA.
Originally from Miami, Florida Brittney enjoys taking ridings lessons, spending time on the water and her dog Dewey. Brittney received her PATH Intl. CTRI Certification from St Andrews in 2020 and looks forward to gaining more experience in specific teaching strategies while sharing her creative lesson plans with the ROCK staff. Brittney has 15 years horse experience and is excited to continue her passion for Equine Assisted Services while at ROCK.
Lauren Crabb
Physical Therapist Assistant
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Lauren is a transplant from Kalamazoo, Michigan who is a CTRI and physical therapist assistant. She began her journey in the therapeutic horsemanship world at the Cheff Center in Michigan during high school. She then went on to graduate from St. Andrews Presbyterian College with a bachelors in therapeutic horsemanship in 2010. She spent the past nine years working at different physical therapy clinics in southwest Michigan. She is very excited to be able to use her wide variety of experiences here at ROCK.
Outside of ROCK she enjoys anything outdoors, astrophotography and running with her Heinz 57 mutt!
Louisa Chandler
Volunteer Coordinator
Louisa joined the Volunteer Department at ROCK in January 2020 after 2 years of volunteering in the arena. She is a native Texan who attended Tyler Junior College before earning a BS in Communications from Mary Baldwin University in Virginia. She met her husband, Brad, while in school in Virginia. After getting married in Austin, they spent 8 years in the Air Force and then moved back to Austin where they raised their 3 children. Louisa served on the Board of Directors of several different non-for-profits in the Austin area where she managed membership and communications/social media.
Her lifetime love of animals led her to work in the veterinary field as a surgical technician before she and Brad moved to Georgetown in 2016. She’s been involved with 2 dog rescue groups in the Austin area for over 15 years – it is not unusual for there to be more 4 legged beings than 2 legged beings in her house at any given time.
When she’s not having fun in the dirt at ROCK, she can be found enjoying time with her family and pets, cooking, reading, gardening, and spending time at the family’s property in Weir. The beach is also a favorite place.
Susy Turnbull
Volunteer Coordinator
Susy Turnbull joined us in December 2022 coming to us from San Diego, CA. Her background is coordinating volunteers with the American Red Cross for twenty years and coordinating volunteers with the Poway Fire Department for seven years. Prior to working for the American Red Cross, Susy worked for ten years at a residential facility for adults and children with Developmental Disabilities. She graduated from San Diego Christian College with a degree in Counseling / Psychology. She enjoys spending with family here in Georgetown and visiting family in Oregon and Chicago. She is the proud mom of Beatrice the Cat.
Maddie Marrone
Volunteer Coordinator Assistant
Maddie joined the Volunteer Department in the summer of 2022 after her recent graduation from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. She was a member of the cross country and track teams and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitative Sciences with a pre-concentration in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Psychology. She was an active member in the UIW Special Olympics College Club. She served as their volunteer coordinator and facilitated connection between the student body and local Special Olympic athletes in the community.
As a North Austin Native, it was natural for her to head back home for a gap year as she prepares to apply to Doctoral Occupational Therapy programs in Texas. She is eager to join the ROCK Family and learn from some of the best in the field with aspirations to work within the hippotherapy setting after graduate school. Maddie hopes to add to the ROCK mission as she is committed to bringing a positive, energetic attitude to work. From day one she knew that ROCK was a special place and is excited to be a part of it.
When she is not at work, she enjoys family time, running, baking, gardening, and outdoor adventures!
Christina Clary
Marketing Manager
Christina Clary, better known as Tina, joined the ROCK team in 2020. She has over seven years of Marketing experience and brings a passion for storytelling and connecting communities.
A Coloradoan by birth, Tina grew up in the Northeast before she moved to Texas in 2007. In 2013, she graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor’s in History and eventually relocated to the Austin-area in 2015 after a brief detour through Corpus Christi. In her free time, Tina enjoys spending time with her husband and two cats, reading, drawing, camping, watching ice hockey and playing video games.
Rebecca Delich
Accounting Department Manager
Rebecca joined ROCK in 2016 at the recommendation of a friend who volunteered at ROCK. She’s a native Central Texan who has over 20 years of accounting/bookkeeping and payroll experience from her work in several companies and state government.
When Rebecca is not at ROCK, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, reading, traveling, and working on a variety of puzzles.
Mike Sanders
Facilities Coordinator
A 1974 Graduate of Texas A&M University, Mike was a charter member of Parson’s Mounted Cavalry and has a B.S. degree in Animal Science and spent several years in production agriculture on various ranches before joining his family flooring business which he eventually took ownership of. He grew up in and around building trades and after disposing of the flooring business in Llano in 2011, he and his wife Janet moved back to Georgetown where he started a one man Handyman business. Janet teaches Calculus and related math at Round Rock High School.
Mike became a volunteer at ROCK in the fall of 2014, Later on he cleaned stalls as a part time employee. Eventually he moved into the job of Facilities assistant, then in January of 2021 got hired as Facilities Coordinator when the job became open.
Mike says he has never worked at a more wonderful job nor with a staff and volunteers as terrific as those at ROCK. He continues to volunteer as a horse handler as time allows.
He enjoys all things outdoors especially if it involves critters. He also enjoys making music and writing poetry. He and Janet really enjoy working in their church especially where it involves mission work with underprivileged people and countries.
Todd Essary
Facilities Coordinator Assistant
Todd came to ROCK as a volunteer in 2016, working in-session with clients and instructors as a sidewalker. Eventually he became one of ROCK’s horse handlers, as well as serving on the equine conditioning and feeding teams, both of which he continues to do currently. Along the way, he has also helped with ROCK’s volunteer training and veterans programs, as well.
Throughout his life, Todd has been involved with programs for at-risk youth and persons with special needs, including Austin PD’s D.A.R.E. program, recording for the blind, missions to Guatemala assisting with medical, construction and education initiatives, as well as coaching Special Olympics in track & field and swimming.
With hopes of keeping and training horses of his own in the future, Todd says he jumped at the chance to work with Mike Sanders and learn the ropes of running a facility from one of the best in the business. Todd also expresses profound appreciation and respect for the healing environment that Nancy Kreneck and the ROCK team have cultivated from humble beginnings out of a pure desire to help others, and he continues to be inspired by ROCK’s ever-impressive story and positive impact on the community.
Todd also notes being grateful for the good fortune of contributing to the facility side of ROCK’s operations during the early stages of its expansion project, and the opportunity to gain invaluable experience by being involved in such a “from the ground, up” enterprise.
Chris Foret
Facilities Coordinator Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Our Board of Directors
2022-2023 Board of Directors
Chris Miller, President
Victor J. Bero, Vice President
Steve Shook, Treasurer
George Brightwell, Secretary
Patrick Breen, DVM, Past President
Bruce Bessner
Matthew Easton
Lenora Doerfler
Dan M. Gattis
Carter Hall
Craig Harris, Past President
Barrie Laing
Jason Martin
Judy McLeod
Patti O’Meara
Lindsey Roberts, Past President
Dana Smyth
Ron Swain
Stephanie Zinsmeyer
2022-2023 Board of Advisors
Patti Colbert, Chair
Barbara Brightwell
Ron Coleman
Michaela Dollar
Charles W. Graham, DVM
John Gustainis
Wayne Hurst, DPM, FACFAS
Frank Krenek
Hon. Betsy Lambeth
Edward Logan
Bill Mateja
Al Mowdy
Nolan Ryan
Reid Ryan
Ron Shelly
Email a board member at board@rockride.org
