Linda, our founder, is a Council Bluffs native who still considers Iowa home even though much of the year, she resides in Scottsdale, AZ, with husband Tyler.  An enthusiastic and longtime proponent of equine-therapy programs, in 2010, she established Kachina’s Place Equestrian Center in nearby Cave Creek, AZ, to provide these services to area individuals with developmental disabilities; she then served for ten years as its first-ever President and Executive Director.

Linda’s interest in assisting this population stemmed from the fact that of her seven siblings, both sister Mary Pat and brother Joe were born with Down syndrome.  Early on, they inspired her commitment to enhancing quality of life for those with special needs—something that Linda has accomplished throughout her life by taking part in various integrated and inclusive programs that share this goal.

For example, In Council Bluffs, Linda has served on the Board of Directors for VODEC (the Vocational Development Center); and she has participated in the Special Olympics and Buddy Baseball.  In Arizona, she was part of RLI (Reading and Language Intervention) for children with Down Syndrome; and Moriah, which matches special-needs clients with peer mentors who communicate and model age-appropriate behaviors in a structured, fun environment.

Linda and Tyler have two daughters—Molly and Emily, both of whom are married—and eight grandchildren, all living in Arizona.  She has said of her decision to refocus on Council Bluffs and found Horses Help SWI, “I spent my formative years here in southwest Iowa; it’s still my community, and I want to give back to it in a really meaningful capacity.  This organization is an ideal way for our whole family to do just that.”