Meet The Team

Sonja Wingard

I facilitate connection…connection with oneself, animals, Spirit, and other humans. 
As a nurse I have had the privilege to walk beside thousands of struggling human beings. I am constantly amazed by the resiliency of the human spirit. I have been struck by the honesty and willingness with which horses and other animals call forth a human’s best self, inviting us to remove masks, and challenging us to live up to our own unique divine perfection. Here we can be unbridled by our past, any current belief systems or any diagnoses. I have witnessed rapid transformations of long-held blocks in a person's view of themselves and their emotional, physical and spiritual health when their energy is unblocked and flowing. 

Molly McKenna 

I am a Certified Riding Instructor through CHA and a Certified Equine Specialist with EAGALA. I am excited to be serving my community in this capacity. Horses and animals have always been an important part of my life, I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to learn new skills as I grow into my role at Unbridled Spirit. My favorite part of this job is that I get to watch people grow into seeing their own light, working through emotional struggles and letting go is essential to growing and I love empowering others to get there. We have amazing animals, volunteers and staff who keep this work moving forward, I love the team I work with and the message that we share. 

Hope Musselwhite

My name is Hope Musselwhite, I am currently an undergraduate student at Western Washington University where I am pursuing getting a bachelor's degree in psychology.  After I graduate, I plan on getting a masters in clinical mental health counseling and become a licensed therapist. After getting licensure i will be continuing on the pathway of doing animal assisted therapy. I have been working at unbridled spirit for about a year and a half now. I love getting to care for the horses and to get to know and work with all the kids that come through the program. Everyone is so unique and I enjoy getting the new experiences and lessons that comes with every person. A fun fact about me is that i love poultry, I raise a lot of pet birds. My favorite of which are geese. And in addition to working at unbridled spirit I am also the Poultry superintendent for the northwest Washington fair.

Sue Swank

I saw a little thing in the newspaper and put it on my frig for three or four years. Finally I signed up for a farm tour at CSL's Mind Body Spirit fair in 2015 and have been in love with these horses ever since and the miracles I witness.
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Carolyn Cox

Hi, I am Carolyn Cox, and I have been volunteering with this fantastic non-profit since February 2024, but officially got added to the Unbridled Spirit staff in the Summer of 2024. I have grown up here in the pacific northwest and continue to fall deeper in love with it by the day. What draws me to this work so strongly is the feeling of purpose I receive from knowing that I helped someone in need. I believe this life is greater than just you and I, and it takes understanding and empathy for others to truly accomplish great things. So, I strive to never hesitate when it comes to practicing teamwork, patience, or lifting someone up when they are down. And through this work, I get the privilege and honor to practice exactly that with all our great staff members, volunteers, families, students that come to the farm, and these incredible animals that have touched my heart in countless ways. A big goal I have for my future in mental health work is to go back to school later down the road and become a licensed mental health worker and work in recovery homes all over the country (or even world) that prioritize natural therapy such as art and music therapy, animal therapy, or even agricultural therapy. 

Lorna Shepardson

Lorna is a Mental Health Counselor with over 40 years experience in the social service field. Her life work has included working with people from all walks of life and all ages. Lorna finds great joy in supporting and watching the shifts that happen in a session, where kids and adults create healthy relationships with their equine partners, giving them the opportunity to create healthy relationships beyond the round pen. Lorna has lived in Whatcom county for 30 years and she resides with her 5 family members, 4 horses, 4 cats, 2 dogs and a green cheek concur parrot.