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2026 Conference Speakers
From Survival to Safety: What Neuroscience Teaches Us About Equine Welfare, Recovery, and Trust
Dr. Steve Peters, Equine Neuroscientist
Dr. Stephen C. Peters, Psy.D., ABN, is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and internationally recognized equine neuroscientist whose work bridges modern neuroscience with practical horsemanship. With more than three decades of experience in brain research and clinical practice, Dr. Peters has become known for helping riders, trainers, veterinarians, and horse owners better understand how the horse’s brain influences behavior, learning, stress, welfare, and performance.
He is the founder of Horse Brain Science Clinics, where he combines neuroscience, live horse demonstrations, and equine brain dissections into engaging educational programs taught throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Dr. Peters has presented at veterinary hospitals, universities, and major equine events internationally, including the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Dr. Peters is the author of Horse Brain Science: The Neuroscience of Ethical Horsemanship and co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship, a pioneering work that helped introduce neuroscience into modern horsemanship conversations. He is also co-author, with Mark Rashid and Crissi McDonald, of A Horse’s Life: The Neuroscience of Equine Welfare, currently the #1 bestselling horse book on Amazon. His newest book, Horse Brain Science Simplified, releasing in October 2026, is designed to provide an accessible introduction and foundational understanding of equine neuroscience, helping everyday horse people connect brain science to safer, kinder, and more effective horsemanship.
TIFFANY RING, Founder, Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue
Tiffany Ring is the founder of Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue, a South Dakota–based organization focused on rehabilitation, responsible placement, and advancing thoughtful equine welfare. With nearly two decades of hands-on rescue experience, Tiffany has worked with hundreds of horses, many requiring complex medical care.
By day, Tiffany brings more than 30 years of experience in marketing and web development, a background that informs her approach to communication, systems, and sustainability within rescue work.
Her work is guided by a belief that responsible rescue is not about rigid rules, but informed, compassionate decision-making. She is the creator of the No Wrong Answer protocol, a framework designed to help rescues navigate difficult decisions with clarity—grounded in their values, available resources, and a clear, honest assessment of each situation.
Tiffany is passionate about encouraging more honest, respectful conversations within the rescue community, recognizing that most decisions are made with good intentions. Her work focuses on empowering rescues to make thoughtful decisions based on their own values and circumstances, while encouraging a culture of understanding and respect for differing approaches.
The Unwritten Contract: Building Social License in Equine Rescue
DR. REBECCA HUSTED, Professional Emergency Response Educator
Rebecca Husted edited and co-wrote the first textbook on Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue in 2008. She is a decorated army combat veteran, and she holds a PhD in Animal Physiology from Clemson University. She is a support firefighter and incident safety officer for the City of Gray Fire Department. She has been training Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue techniques across the US and internationally for over 25 years. She has published numerous critiques, techniques and journal articles on a variety of technical subjects in large animal disaster and emergency rescue, horse barn fires, trailer wrecks and heavy rescue of large animals, and equine behavior in these scenarios. She was appointed Chair of the Technical Committee of the NFPA Code 150 – Animal Housing in 2025, and contributes to equine/livestock welfare committees and others defining technical competencies for large animal response around the world.
The Mission Beyond the Moment: Succession Planning for Nonprofits
SARAH GAINES, Director, BoardWalk Consulting
Sarah Gaines is an executive search consultant and advisor to nonprofit organizations, with extensive experience supporting leadership transitions across the social sector. She is a Director with BoardWalk Consulting, where she partners with boards and executive teams to recruit and support senior leaders. Sarah is proud of the work she does with BoardWalk, whose mission is finding leaders that matter for missions that matter.
Sarah brings deep expertise on succession planning, leadership onboarding, and organizational alignment. Her work emphasizes practical, governance-informed approaches that help organizations prepare for both planned transitions and unexpected leadership changes, ensuring continuity of mission and impact.
Preventing and Addressing Equine Cruelty and Neglect: Lessons Learned from Research and the Field
DR. REBECCA (BECKY) NIEMIEC, Associate Professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University
Dr. Niemiec is an Associate Professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University. She has served as the manager of the Bureau of Animal Protection for the state of Colorado, where she and her team addressed domestic animal mistreatment throughout the state. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has led stakeholder processes and conducted social science research focused on the human dimensions of conservation and animal protection. Dr. Niemiec has a PhD in Environment and Resources from Stanford University and B.A. in Ecology and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.
Advocacy for Equine Rescues
SCOTT BECKSTEAD, Government Relations & Policy Director at American Wild Horse Conservation
Scott Beckstead is a policy director, educator, and nationally recognized advocate for equine protection. He serves as Government Relations & Policy Director for American Wild Horse Conservation, where he leads the organization’s federal legislative and regulatory advocacy, working with Congress, federal agencies, and coalition partners to advance humane, science-based policies for America’s wild horses and burros.
Over the course of his career, Scott has practiced law, was elected mayor of a small Oregon city, served as a federal and state lobbyist, taught animal law and wildlife law at Willamette University College of Law, and held senior leadership positions with leading animal protection organizations. His work has focused on advancing legal protections for both wild and domestic equines through legislation, litigation support, public policy, and public education.
A lifelong equine enthusiast, Scott has spent decades studying equine welfare and wild horse and burro management on America’s public lands. His work on the wild equine issue has involved advocating for reforms that replace costly helicopter roundups and long-term confinement with humane, on-the-range management strategies. He is a frequent speaker on equine welfare, public lands policy, and animal law, and has trained law enforcement officers on equine cruelty investigations. His work is driven by a commitment to ensuring that horses, burros, and other equines are protected through effective laws, sound science, and compassionate public policy.
JOANNA GROSSMAN, PH.D., Equine Program Director and Senior Advisor at the Animal Welfare Institute
Dr. Joanna Grossman joined the Animal Welfare Institute in 2014 and, as the organization’s Equine Program Director, oversees AWI’s campaigns, litigation, and legislative advocacy pertaining to horses – both wild and domestic. She was previously AWI’s federal policy advisor, advocating for a wide range of animal protection issues on Capitol Hill. Her writings and work have appeared in numerous national media outlets, and her chapter on political advocacy was published in the Routledge Handbook of Animal Ethics. Joanna holds an A.B. from Princeton University and studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Oxford before earning her PhD from Harvard University. While completing her doctorate, she worked on legislation impacting animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and for Congressman Jim Moran, former chair of the Animal Protection Caucus. Joanna serves on the advisory boards for Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Predator Defense, and Sinergia Animal. Originally from rural Texas, Joanna lives in the DC area with her husband, three kids, and their rescue dogs.
CHELSEA PEREZ, Senior Program Manager for Equine Protection, Humane World for Animals
Chelsea Perez is the Senior Program Manager for Equine Protection at Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International) where she leads federal and international efforts focused on horse slaughter, horse racing reform, and enforcement of the Horse Protection Act to eliminate soring.
With a lifelong connection to horses, Perez has experience spanning equine care, training, breeding, management, and welfare advocacy. Her background includes involvement in Pony Club and eventing, along with competitive dressage training and preparation at the Paralympic level, giving her firsthand insight into horse care and welfare across multiple sectors of the equine industry.
Prior to her work in animal protection, Perez served as an Enforcement Officer with Canada’s Competition Bureau, where she worked on complex legal investigations, regulatory enforcement, evidence management, and compliance matters. She now brings that combined legal, investigative, and equine expertise to advancing equine welfare policy, enforcement, and public education. Perez has presented nationally on horse welfare, regulatory challenges, and systemic issues impacting the equine industry.
The Future of Equine Placement: Community-Based Models That Work
KATHLEEN BOBBIO, Founding Director, Virginia Partnership for Horses
Kathleen’s lifelong involvement in the equestrian world, spanning professional training to entertainment, eventually revealed a deeper truth: the intangible, universal bond between horses and people. This realization, so obvious in hindsight, led her to professional work in the mental health field and involvement in several equine-assisted programs. Her formal education and real-world practice as a counselor became a helpful segue into the equine welfare world. In 2011, Kathleen lost her heart horse and made the hasty, fateful decision to adopt her first senior rescue mare. That mare, and all the rescues that came after her, began to paint a picture of both the good and the bad of the equine rescue system, prompting Kathleen to take on a variety of roles within the Virginia rescue community. Today, she leads the Virginia Partnership for Horses, a passion project she launched in 2024 to provide an official spotlight and collaborative platform for the organizations dedicated to protecting Virginia’s horses. One of the most impactful initiatives in this organization has become the Virginia Direct Placement Program, which seeks to divert the overwhelming load of owner surrender requests coming into the rescues by providing a bespoke safety net service to every owner who seeks assistance rehoming their equines.
TINA CORMIER, Head of Equine Programs and Training, Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
Tina Cormier is the Head of Equine Programs and Training at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, where she leads intake, training and rehabilitation, and placement for more than 40 rescued horses. Her work focuses on developing thoughtful, horse-centered pathways from arrival through adoption, with an emphasis on restoring both physical soundness and emotional stability.
In addition to overseeing the training and rehabilitation program, Tina leads intervention efforts designed to keep horses out of the rescue system, including feed assistance and owner-to-owner rehoming support. She works closely with partner organizations, veterinarians, and trainers to expand capacity and improve outcomes for horses across the region.
Tina is deeply committed to education and regularly teaches clinics for staff, volunteers, animal welfare agents, and the broader equine community. Her work is grounded in the rehabilitation of the physical, emotional, and behavioral impacts of neglect and abuse, with the goal of preparing horses for safe, lasting placements.
BRITTNEY VALLOT, Owner Assistance Manager, Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Brittney Vallot is the Owner Assistance Manager at Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), where she leads the organization’s Owner to Owner (O2O) Program, a nationally recognized initiative that supports horse owners in crisis by providing guidance, resources, and responsible transition options for their horses. Originally developed from a statewide program she helped build from the ground up, the Owner to Owner (O2O) Program reflects Brittney’s central role in transforming a grant-funded concept into a fully operational service that continues to evolve and expand its impact. With nearly two decades of experience in equine welfare, including years managing the care of large rescue herds and overseeing farm operations at DEFHR, she brings both practical expertise and systems-level insight to her work. Brittney specializes in helping owners navigate complex and often emotional decisions around rehoming and end-of-life care, combining compassionate support with education-driven solutions. A frequent speaker and educator, she has presented at conferences and events across the nation, and has been featured in multiple industry publications and podcasts. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Maryland and offers a thoughtful, experience-based perspective on equine welfare, ownership responsibility, and sustainable outcomes for horses in need.
Financial Transparency Builds Donor Trust & Increases Giving
PRASH KOTHARI, Founder and President of Non-Profit Books
Prash Kothari, CPA is the founder and president of Non-Profit Books, a specialized accounting firm dedicated exclusively to nonprofits. With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and Form 990 compliance, Prash helps mission-driven organizations build strong financial foundations so they can focus on advancing their causes.
Through Non-Profit Books, Prash works closely with nonprofit leaders across the United States and internationally, with a particular focus on animal welfare organizations, sanctuaries, and rescue groups. The firm partners with networks such as the Homes for Horses Coalition and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, along with other animal welfare organizations.
Prash and his team help nonprofits address common financial challenges, including messy or outdated books, limited financial transparency, and the need for financial reporting that donors, and boards trust. Non-Profit Books supports organizations with accurate bookkeeping, financial reporting, payroll, and nonprofit 990 compliance—helping leaders gain clarity and confidence in their numbers.
Prash is passionate about helping animal welfare nonprofits build sustainable operations so they can provide the highest level of care for the animals they serve. His goal is simple: remove the financial stress from nonprofit leadership so organizations can focus on what matters most—their mission.
Better Beginnings: The Lifelong Impact of Weaning Practices
ANN HEPWORTH, Senior Trainer and Adoption Coordinator, Best Friends Animal Society
Amelia Perrin is the Senior Communications Manager for American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), where she combines her passion for horses with her commitment to advocacy. Amelia believes deeply in the power of storytelling. She led the AWHC’s investigation into the Bureau of Land Management’s Adoption Incentive Program. Her efforts brought significant congressional and media attention to the issue, resulting in a front-page New York Times exposé.
She is currently pursuing a degree in journalism with a minor in creative writing at the University of Oregon and is a proud dog mom to her rescue pup, Mac.
NINA EKHOLM FRY, Director of Equine Programs at University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Nina Ekholm Fry is the Director of Equine Programs at University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection and a faculty member in the Graduate School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is the faculty coordinator for the Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Social Work MSW specialization and leads the post-master’s Equine Interactions Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program. For the past 15 years, her work has focused on horses and other animals in human services, specializing in the inclusion of equine interactions in psychotherapy and counseling. Nina is active in the equine welfare community in the United States and consults on equine behavior and facility design nationally.
