EquiFriends Instructors - sharing their energy and heart
- Michelle DeVries, part-time Instructor
- Laurie Grow, Registered Instructor
- Emily Lawrence, Advanced Instructor
- Trisha Shoff, Registered Instructor
If you are interested in employment opportunities with EquiFriends, please contact us at employment@equifriends.org. We are always searching for qualified NARHA-registered instructors.
Michelle DeVries, Program Director & Head Instructor
Michelle brings more than 2 decades of experience in the world of horses to her career in therapeutic equestrian activities here at EquiFriends. From starting young horses under saddle to riding dressage and competing in eventing to teaching Pony club, 4H and dressage, she has certainly found a niche here at EquiFriends.
Her commitment to therapeutic equestrian-based activities has led her to complete the second level of NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) certification for instructors, Advanced Level. Additionally, she holds her CHA certification. Michelle brings a successful style of teaching to the program, making her lessons fun as well as educational for all students and staff that she teaches.
In Michelle’s mind, EquiFriends provides an abundance of opportunities for growth, healing and development for the riders, volunteers and staff involved in the program.
Laurie Grow, Registered Instructor
Laurie first volunteered at EquiFriends in her youth, and later joined the team as part-time staff in 2004. Then in 2007, she became a full-time staff person. She graduated from St. Andrew’s College in North Carolina with a B.A. in Therapeutic Horsemanship. During her educational quest, Laurie obtained her Registered Instructor certification under NARHA, the north American Riding for the Handicapped Association. She worked in a variety of therapeutic riding, hunter-jumper, and dressage barns in both Washington and North Carolina. Seven years ago she began her riding career; starting our western, now riding hunter-jumper and dressage. Outside of EquiFriends, Laurie is often found rowing, running, rock climbing, swimming and hiking. She finds inspiration in the changes she observes in her riders.
Emily Lawrence, Advanced Instructor
Emily was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota but raised in Belfair on the Hood Canal. She began working for EquiFriends in January 2003 when EquiFriends was in need of a Saturday Instructor. In 1999 she obtained her advanced certification at High Hopes TRC in Connecticut, also holds an AA in Criminal Justice from Olympic College, and is currently a UW student pursuing a major in Urban Studies and a minor in Environmental Science. Along with teaching therapeutic riding, Emily has worked on a Standardbred racing farm training and caring for the horses, and currently, works for the Washington State Patrol. In her spare time she likes to draw, garden, sail, practice schutzhund dog training and is a black belt in karate. Emily finds inspiration watching someone learn and execute a skill or idea, and seeing their smile because they know they just did something special.
Trisha Shoff, NARHA Registered Instructor
Trisha is a Registered NARHA Instructor since 2005; and also has a 2005
degree in Social Work from the University of Washington. She has been
putting both her educational tools to work for the last year down at Little
Bit Therapeutic Riding Center and has now joined the EquiFriends staff.
She comments that the big draw of the EquiFriends program is both the calm atmosphere and the strength of the staff. Trisha brings her riding and teaching experience to the EquiFriends program as well as her extensive knowledge of cultural diversity and her background in social work.
When asked what EquiFriends can give back to the community, Trisha replied, "EquiFriends provides the community an opportunity to share in the accomplishments of others."