Addisen Painter

Lead Summer Camp Instructor, Horse Care Manager

Addisen started her journey with horses in her early twenties through volunteer work in horse care. She now owns three horses and enjoys trail riding and horse camping with them. She is on track to complete her Associate’s Degree in Animal Science with a focus on Horse Management at Linn Benton Community College in Albany by June 2024. Currently, she is considering pathways to advance her education.
Addisen joins the Solid Strides team as our Lead Summer Camp Instructor and Horse Care Manager and is excited to share her equine knowledge and passion!

Blue Newswander, Summer Camp Instructor

Blue grew up loving horses and waiting for the minute they were old enough to start lessons and gained a competitive background in dressage and show jumping. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Cultural Anthropology, Blue entered the social work field and has been working with underserved and at-risk youth on the streets and in psychiatric mental health care.

They spent years working with youth of all backgrounds and developmental abilities, teaching them life skills and therapeutic skills while meeting them where they’re at. Blue is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns and hopes to help other queer youth feel welcome in the equine world, while also showing all youth that they are capable and worthy of self-advocacy, connection, and mindfulness. They look forward to working with Solid Strides in their fundraising efforts, cultural awareness and equity dedication, and as a Camp Instructor!

Sonia Altenhoff, Instructor

Sonia Altenhoff is a lifelong horse person, who began riding lessons at the age of 8.  Her passion for dressage led her to join Katie Ebbage’s program in 2015 with her then two-year-old Haflinger, Rio. Sonia has spent the last 7 years immersed in horse welfare-based education, learning the methodology on a broad variety of horses, and working at the facility to mitigate the expenses of horse sports.  Sonia brought Rio along with herself to schooling 3rd level dressage, as well as cross-training over fences, on the trail and out on the cross country course.  Sonia was the Assistant Instructor for Solid Strides’ summer camps in 2021, and serves as an instructor in the lesson program when she is home from Mt. Holyoke College, where she rides on their dressage team.  Sonia loves forming connections with the students and watching their partnerships and communication with the horses develop as they progress. She is incredibly excited to work with those who want to learn about horses and open up opportunities in the sport which has been historically exclusionary. In addition to teaching lessons, Sonia will return as an Instructor for Solid Strides Summer Camps in 2022.

Katie Ebbage, Executive Director

As a lifelong horsewoman and passionate trainer/instructor of 20+ years, Katie has both experienced and witnessed barriers to entry to horse sports. In an effort to create a safe space for all horse people and reduce barriers to entry, Katie took the opportunity to assume Solid Strides from Founder Alison Weston, and is working to build a viable model for all to participate.

Katie is focused on building trust, community relationships, and partnerships to increase opportunities for youth and families in our area, and to create a healthy, welcoming and supportive educational environment for anyone who is interested in pursuing a life with horses.

Katie is grateful for early partners, including Willamette Racism Response Network, Kids for the Culture, and Comunidad y Herencia Cultural.

Kris Dunne, Assistant Program Coordinator

Kris learned the significance of the horse/human bond well before she could read or write. During her youth she rode in Eugene Pony Club, Western Horseman of Oregon, and worked for a local Cutting trainer. When not in an arena you would find her and her pony in the mountains rounding up cattle, on a great adventure, or on the soccer pitch.

It was at Gonzaga University where Kris obtained her Teaching Degree and Bachelors of Education in Physical Education, played Division I soccer, and developed her horsemanship as a service of therapy. Here, she began volunteering at Changing Our Lives Together (C.O.L.T. – a non profit drug and alcohol program for inner-city youth in Spokane using Equine Assisted Psychotherapy) and soon become the Assistant Program Director.

Once graduated from Gonzaga University she became the Equine Program Director and part of the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy team at Morning Star Boys’ Ranch (Licensed Group Home and Residential Treatment Facility for boys). She traveled to Tennessee to obtain her Level 1 Certification from EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning). Kris stayed connected to soccer as well and furthered her playing career in Germany when living there for 3 years.

Kris states that her biggest joy has been as a homeschooling mother of her three children for the past 16 years. During this time she continued her soccer career as a Coach, obtaining her US National C Coaching License, and coaching at the Community College, Elite Clubs National League, Club, and High School levels. Her three children continue to play and have been called into Men’s National Team, Youth National Team ID Camps, and the eldest recently verbally committed on a full ride to University of North Carolina.

Kris is thrilled to be part of the Solid Strides Staff, bringing her passion for horses, humans, and athlete development to the program.