HeartStrides Therapeutic Horsemanship
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    • EAYPS
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    • Home
    • About Us
      • Our Story
      • Our Board of Directors
      • Our Team
      • Our Herd
      • Our Facilities
      • Our Partners
      • Newsletters
    • Our Programs
      • EAYPS
      • Operation THRIVE
      • The Next Mission
      • Other Programs
      • Testimonials
      • Calendar
    • Events
    • Give
    • Contact Us
HeartStrides Therapeutic Horsemanship
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Team
    • Our Herd
    • Our Facilities
    • Our Partners
    • Newsletters
  • Our Programs
    • EAYPS
    • Operation THRIVE
    • The Next Mission
    • Other Programs
    • Testimonials
    • Calendar
  • Events
  • Give
  • Contact Us

Board of Directors

HeartStrides is a nonprofit organization served by a governing board of directors. The board members volunteer their time to act as advisors and advocates of our mission and to assure proper allocation of funds. They also assist in garnering support and contributions on behalf of the organization to assure services retain the highest standards and remain financially accessible to our military personnel and at-risk youth. 

Meet Our Board

Kristy Dees, Founding Director

Kristy Dees, Founding Director

Kristy Dees, Founding Director

 Kristy is our “lead mare” and Founding Director of HeartStrides and owner of Healing Hearts Ranch. She is a PATH International certified riding instructor, a level two centered riding instructor, certified peer counselor, certified recovery coach and lead clinician for our programs. She is a huge advocate for recovery support in our community.  

Latrayl Murphy, President

Kristy Dees, Founding Director

Kristy Dees, Founding Director

Latrayl is a retired US Army Staff Sergeant. She is the mother of three (two boys and a girl), a very chubby cat and a dog. Her love for horses began when she was referred to HeartStrides for equine therapy in 2017. Latrayl has been a valuable member of our team ever since and joined the board to help move the organization forward.  

Deb Santella, Vice President

Kristy Dees, Founding Director

Deb Santella, Vice President

Info coming soon

Sue Brooks, Treasurer

Laura Vogel, Secretary

Deb Santella, Vice President

Sue has worked as a Substance Use Disorder Professional since 1994. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She has experience working with persons with Co-Occurring challenges throughout her career. Sue has been a foster parent in the past and is also an adoptive parent.

Laura Vogel, Secretary

Laura Vogel, Secretary

Laura Vogel, Secretary

Laura is the Training Coordinator for the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Family & Youth Justice Programs. She coordinates training opportunities for courts that hear child dependency cases and multiple statewide system improvement efforts. She brings a wealth of expertise in the trauma of family separation and trains locally and nationally on the harm of removal in child welfare. 

Dan Clark

Laura Vogel, Secretary

Laura Vogel, Secretary

Daniel Clark is the founder of Critical Concepts Consulting, a training and consulting company. He is retired from the US Army/Reserves after 30 years as a psychologist, and has worked for the WA State Patrol as the Department Psychologist for 25+ years. 

Micah Ragins

Micah Ragins

Micah Ragins

Micah is a Disability Rights Advocate and Civil Rights Investigator. He served in the

United States Army as an Armament Systems Chief Warrant Officer, Airborne

Paratrooper, and Wildland Firefighter. After combat deployments to Iraq and

Afghanistan, Micah used Equine Therapeutic Horsemanship to treat multiple service-

connected disabilities. He is a stroke survivor and a firm supporter of disabled

communities, victims of abuse, and military veterans.

Susan Strong

Micah Ragins

Micah Ragins

Susan Strong is the Executive Assistant to the Thurston County Prosecutor. She has been in the prosecutor’s office since May of 2011. She is active in her community and has served on many boards and

committees. She joined the

HeartStrides Board in 2022. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, horseback riding, traveling, water

activities, and is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, Sounders and Mariners.

Copyright © 2025 HeartStrides Therapeutic Horsemanship - All Rights Reserved.

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