Long-time Northland Therapeutic Riding Center volunteer Shaney Othic was named Executive Director of the organization last week. She has fulfilled this position on a part-time basis. She will begin her duties full-time on August 1.

Shaney started volunteering at the Northland Therapeutic Riding Center in 2015 because she loved working with horses and helping people. She started as a Side-Walker and Horse Leader before becoming Vice President of the Board of Directors in 2017.

In 2019 the Riding Center Board of Directors appointed her as Executive Director.

This was a part-time position, and although she loved the job, working 20 hours at the center plus her full-time job was becoming exhausting. As the Riding Center began to grow, Shaney was taking on more responsibilities beyond managing staff and fundraising to keep up with the expansion. After talking about her situation with the Board this summer, they decided to make her the Executive Director in a full-time position.

“It is an absolute privilege to be entrusted with running such a magical and life changing organization,” said Shaney. “This is my great work, this is what I am meant to do.”

Shaney would like to see the Northland Therapeutic Riding Center continue to “We’ll start a capital campaign to become more equipped and run programs better,” She stated. “I would like to add more positions and riders for the programs and also increase our presence in the community.”

The Northland Therapeutic Riding Center, is a recognized 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2000 in response to a strong community need for therapeutic riding. Located in Kearney, Missouri, Northland Therapeutic Riding Center offers an environment where children, teens, and adults with physical, psychological, and behavioral challenges are overcoming obstacles and challenging conventions through nationally accredited and globally recognized equine-assisted interactions.

For information about how to become a volunteer, enroll in equine programs or donate, visit www.northlandtrc.org.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story