Shannon Knapp

Shannon Knapp, founder and president of Horse Sense of the Carolinas, Inc., has worked with and taught horses and people for over 20 years. After 10 years teaching in college, she left academia and began working with abused & neglected horses. She began pairing "rescued" horses with people in 2001, and Horse Sense was formed soon after. She and her husband Richard continue to work with horses through horse rescue organizations and local humane societies and law enforcement, helping both horses and people find a better way. Horses have been a significant part of her personal journey, and she is honored and grateful to be able to share the horses with others.  Shannon is certified EAGALA Advanced as well as an EAGALA Mentor and in March 2007 she published her first book, Horse Sense Business Sense, Volume 1. In addition, Shannon offers consulting services to those interested in starting their own Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy business.

Credentials:  MA, Equine Specialist, EAGALA Advanced, EAGALA Mentor, Parelli Level I

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Kacey Cramer

Kacey Cramer is an Equine Specialist for Horse Sense, and entered the field of EAP/EAL in May 2003. She acheived her Parelli Natural Horsemanship Level 1 certification in October 2004, and became certified as an EAGALA Advanced Equine Specialist in February 2007. Additionally Kacey is an EAGALA Mentor. Kacey enjoys working with children and teens, and bringing equine assisted programming into school systems. In her spare time Kacey studies the Parelli Level 2 program with her horse Captain, and volunteers for a local eating disorder referral agency. Kacey is also the General Internship Coordinator at Horse Sense.

Credentials: MA, Equine Specialist, EAGALA Advanced, EAGALA Mentor, Parelli Level 1

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Laura Anthony, LCSW

Laura Anthony is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her career in social work began thirteen years ago in a nursing home setting. Since that time she has worked at several mental health agencies including Blue Ridge Center and New Vistas, was Director of Mental Health Services for the Department of Juvenile Justice in Florida, and is now a certified EAGALA Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist at Horse Sense. Laura's favorite past times include hiking, rock climbing, yoga, massage, book club, Jubilee!, and being around horses.

Credentials: MSW, LCSW, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist, EAGALA Certified

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Liza Sapir

Liza Sapir first became involved in the field of experiential therapy in 2000. First working in wilderness therapy and later in equine therapy, Liza has always been interested in the significant effects of interactive, metaphor-based intervention.  She has a Masters in Community Counseling, and currently serves as both a therapist and an equine specialist at Horse Sense. Liza is also a riding instructor at Biltmore Equestrian Center, focusing on integrating various forms of natural horsemanship. When not around horses, Liza is usually playing the fiddle or hiking somewhere as far from a road as possible.
 
Credentials: MS, NCE, EAGALA certified, Parelli Level 1

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Lisa Wheeler

Lisa Wheeler is the Practice Administrator for Horse Sense of the Carolinas, Inc. She is a Certified Physician Assistant and licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board. Lisa has been a PA for 13 years and over the last six years has gradually moved into full time administration, while still practicing as a PA part time. Prior to coming to Horse Sense, Lisa was the Program Manager for the Cherokee Diabetes Program, an internal medicine practice on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation. It was during a teambuilding workshop with the Cherokee Diabetes practice at Horse Sense that Lisa discovered the field of EAP and EAL and met a horse named Gus. After interning with Horse Sense and obtaining her EAGALA level one EAP certification, she was invited to join the herd, and the rest is history!

Credentials: MSEd, PA-C

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Josie Mosser

Josie Mosser is the Receptionist and Administrative Assistant at Horse Sense of the Carolinas. Originally from Chicago, she fled the big city and headed east for a college degree. After graduating with a degree in literature and biology from Marlboro College, Josie got married and moved from the Green Mountains of Vermont to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Having no prior experience with horses, Josie is happy to be learning from and connecting with these amazing creatures. In addition to working Horse Sense, Josie hikes in the forest, paints, and plays guitar in a heavy metal band.

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Richard Knapp

Richard Knapp, an Ohio native, entered the military via the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs. He graduated with a BS in Space Physics and entered Pilot Training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX. After several years as a flight instructor and an air traffic controller, he finished his military career in 1993. After a brief stint in the business world as a computer programmer, he and his wife Shannon moved to North Carolina along with their 6 dogs, many cats and (then) two horses, Masada & Susan Denero. He now manages Meadows Town, LLC, a horse rehabilitation and training business which also sells ABC horse products, Flint River Ranch organic dog & cat food, and almost-organic mixed grass hay grown here on the Horse Sense farm. He is certified Level 1 in EAGALA as an Equine Specialist and Parelli Level 2.

Credentials: MS, EAGALA Level 1, Parelli Level 2

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