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Our Commitment
The mission of the Equine Empowerment Center is to empower people to live their best possible lives through mindfulness, self-compassion and the healing power of the horse-human bond.
The Equine Empowerment Center, Inc. is a Utah Incorporated 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicate to providing equine-assisted services to facilitate empowerment and healing for veterans and the community.
We have been providing services for veterans for several years as a for-profit organization in collaboration with VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.
To ensure sustainability of services for veterans, expand services to the community and build an equine facility that is user-friendly for humans and horses, we have developed this nonprofit organization, Equine Empowerment Center, Inc.
Our programming is based upon our experience in providing these services, our certifications and involvement in the equine industry in general as well as our research in the field.
For more information on our research, click here.
Our psychotherapy incorporating horses offerings are co-facilitated by a licensed mental health professional. This ensures that we adhere to all professional and ethical standards for mental health treatment.
In addition to helping humans, the Equine Empowerment Center, Inc. promotes equine welfare. Some of our staff have certifications from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International, the Certified Horsemanship Association, and the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. These certifications guarantee that programming is offered in accordance with equine industry, standards and ensures safety for participants, staff and equines.
Here at the Equine Empowerment Center, Inc., our vision is to make the world a better place by helping people find purpose and meaning in their lives and reconnecting with their personal power.
Board of Directors
Lisa Finnell (President)
Founder and President of The Equine Empowerment Center, Equine Specialist, Lisa Finnell, was born in Erie, PA and at age 16 moved to Lincoln, NE. Lisa is extremely passionate and has been dedicated to horses her entire life. She has been riding since the age of 2 and is an accomplished horsewoman with a reputation for hard work ethic for her teams of horses and riders. Lisa is extensively involved with the Salt Lake City VA and is an approved government contractor and equine specialist for all veterans. She and her highly qualified Equine team have been providing therapy with the VA for the past four years. She has volunteered over 20 years of her life as a coach, trainer and mentor of all age horses and riders of all disciplines. Lisa has held an elected officer position on the board of directors for 15 years at a prominent Equestrian club in NE. The satisfaction she gains as a coach and mentor is seeing the best in every horse, every rider in every situation. Lisa has not only held an officer position but has been an extremely active participant in competition in all disciplines. She has extensive knowledge of operations, management, bylaws, 4H, judging, horsemanship, showmanship, equitation, endurance trail, ranch, roping, English, barrels, poles, speed events, play days, 5D barrels, breeding, training, bareback, pleasure, point systems, skijoring and packing out large game. She is excited about the opportunity to share her skills and has five therapy horses onsite. She looks forward to being part of the success of Equine Empowerment Center!
Allyson Taylor (Vice-President)
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah Allyson Taylor earned both her undergraduate and doctorate in nursing practice at the University of Utah College of Nursing. She completed her internship at the VA hospital and LDS Access Center.
Allyson is dedicated to help people improve their quality of life and overall daily functioning using a holistic, patient-centered approach. She has dedicated her life to exploring healing modalities.
Currently, Allyson works as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, treating adults in an outpatient setting. She prides herself on exploring possible treatment options with her patients and discussing what best meets each person’s individual needs. In this role, she mentors new graduates to ease the onboarding process and help build relationships. In addition, she is a physician assistant preceptor for Utah Valley University.
An experienced healer, she has been a licensed massage therapist for more than 20 years and has worked in various high-end spas across the valley.
Her lifelong love for horses, commitment to the healing process, and a deep passion for equine assisted therapy make her a perfect fit to help lead our organization.
In her free time, Allyson likes to spend her time outdoors, being active and enjoying natural beauty.
Bill Marchand (Secretary)
William (Bill) Marchand is a board-certified, academic psychiatrist and researcher. He was previously the director of the equine-assisted services program within the Whole Health Service at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. He is a Professor of Psychiatry (Clinical) at the University of Utah and an Adjunct Professor of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences at the Utah State University. He is also a long-tern mindfulness facilitator and practitioner as well as a horse person. He is certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Additionally, he is certified as a psychotherapy incorporating horses mental health provider by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. Lastly, he is certified as an English and Western Riding Instructor and Equine Facility Manager by the Certified Horsemanship Association. Bill has utilized his unique combination of skills in mental health, research, mindfulness and horsemanship to develop the Whispers with Horses training in mindfulness and self-compassion. This training is now offered to the community by the Equine Empowerment Center, Inc. Bill is excited to support the development of the Empowerment Center, Inc. as well as the continued use and development of Whispers with Horses to empower humans and horses to live their best possible lives.
Makena Finnell
I grew up on the back of a horse in a small town outside of Lincoln, NE. I’ve been a successful horse rider competing in 4H and hundreds of local shows consistently for 15 years. I was Junior President of the local horse club, Capital City Horse and Pony Club, in Raymond, Nebraska and have extensive experience in Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Ranch Pleasure, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Barrels, Poles, Keyhole, Figure 8, Trail, and Ranch Trail. I grew up having horses that were true “4H Horse Project” horses that needed extensive training in order to even begin to enter into a show ring let alone eventually be able to be shown successfully in every horse discipline any of the shows offered. Being able to take a free or low-cost horse with no experience and turn around and win grand champion events at shows gave me so much self-confidence and purpose. It also showed me how to have a lot of grace and compassion for myself, the sport and especially the horse. This gave me the drive and the passion to consistently work with my horses to become better show after show even at a young age. I’ve won hundreds of awards from buckles, trophies, ribbons to also receiving big hanging plaques custom made due to the enormous amount of top placings I earned. Most of them were from the local horse shows and from showing at the county fair every year. I also have experience and competed in districts and state competitions. I am most passionate about teaching all ages how to properly take care of horses for possible future ownership and share my knowledge of them. Horses have helped me through a lot of trials and tribulations in my life and I want to share them to possibly help others healing journeys as well! They are my safe space and animals I can rely on for whatever I might need. From having quiet moments to the most adrenalin rushing times of my life! I enjoy sharing this experience and love for them with others!