Meet the Barn Crew...

Kat Heggen, LMSW
Executive Director

Kat Heggen is the Executive Director of The Barn.  Kat is a licensed Masters Social Worker.  She runs many Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy groups as well as overseeing the day to day operations at The Barn.

Jillian Rakow MA, LLPC, CI/CT
EAGALA certified
​Volunteer Coordinator

Jillian is The Barn's new Volunteer Coordinator, made possible by receiving the Alba Botanica Do Good, Do Beautiful grant.

Jilian Rakow began her career path as an American Sign Language Interpreter specializing in medical and mental Health settings. She earned her graduate degree in professional counseling and is now a Therapist specializing in experiential therapies. Jilian is EAGALA certified as both an Equine Specialist and a Mental Health Specialist. Jilian has ridden horses and  worked with trainers in multiple disciplines since childhood.  She  has extensive experience working with 501c3 charities and volunteers of all ages. Jilian joins our Team at The Barn along with Ledger, her BelgianXMorgan draft horse. Ledger is a “career changed” police mounted unit horse who began working as an equine assisted therapy horse a year ago and is also showing great promise as a Hunter/Jumper.

​Tracy Thompson, MA, LPC

Tracy Thompson is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with families, individuals, couples, adolescents and children. Tracy is certified as an Equine Assisted Mental Health Therapist using the EAGALA model.  She has been working in the mental health field for 10 years with all ages.   Tracy believes that the human experience is full of challenges and at some point in our journey all of us will need support along the way. Tracy uses a relational approach to counseling because she believes that meaningful changes happen when people can experience honest connection with self and others. She specializes in family relationships, childhood and adolescent mental health and helps people from an experiential holistic approach. Tracy feels honored to share in people's story and support them on their path towards healing, growth, and wholeness. Using the horses in therapy has added a new level of healing for the clients that she works with and it is a joy to be able to offer this approach. ​

Alexis Kendrick
​Doctor of Physical Therapy

Alexis Kendrick, founder of Harnessing Strength Rehab, LLC facilitates hippotherapy through The Barn.  Alexis Kendrick, Doctor of Physical Therapy, leads the hippotherapy program to perform physical therapy utilizing horses as a tool to improve coordination, balance and strength of children and adults. 

Alyssa ​Schilthuis
​MSU OT Intern

Alyssa is a student at Michigan State University studying Kinesiology.  She plans to go into Occupational Therapy and do hippotherapy. She is very excited about her internship at The Barn and this opportunity to learn more about the impact that horses have on people.  

Participate

EAL
EAP
Hippotherapy
Community Barn Time
Summer Therapy Groups
Summer Camps

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Contact us

The Barn for Equine Learning
3203 Timpson Ave SE
Lowell, MI 49331

phone: 616.690.0646

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