Meet our team
Occupational Therapy Clinicians
Janet Weisberg, MS OTR/L HPCS (she/her)
Clinical & Development Consultant, Occupational Therapist
Janet is the founding director of Hold Your Horses. In 2011, Janet guided HYH to become a nonprofit entity that offered therapy services that partnered with the horse to help move lives forward from trauma and disability. She welcomed other therapy practitioners to work in the practice and regularly supervises occupational therapy students.
Janet Weisberg, MS OTR/L HPCS
Sheryl Butler, OTD OTR/L (she/her)
Licensed Occupational Therapist
At Hold Your Horses, Sheryl works with hippotherapy clients, and collaborates with mental health clinicians using the trauma informed co-treatment model for at-risk and traumatized youth, as well as clients with Autism. She also provides mentorship opportunities at Hold Your Horses to occupational therapists who are interested in expanding their practice to an equine assisted setting.
Sheryl Butler, OTD OTR/L
Sheryl Butler, OTD, OTR/L joined the Hold Your Horses team in 2016 as an occupational therapist. She is a lifelong equestrian with a passion for thoroughbreds, who has shown in the equitation and hunter divisions in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. Sheryl graduated from Georgetown University, received her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Saint Catherine University, and her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her 2023 Capstone, she articulated the role of occupational therapy in an equine-assisted co-treatment model for at-risk and traumatized youth. Sheryl and Molly DePrekel have been sharing the magic of “therapy with the help of horses” and the co-treatment model at conferences around the US, including the 2024 Human and Horses Research Foundation Conference in San Diego, and the upcoming 2025 ATTACh Conference in Nashville. At Hold Your Horses, Sheryl works with hippotherapy clients, and collaborates with mental health clinicians using the trauma informed co-treatment model for at-risk and traumatized youth, as well as clients with Autism. During the school year, Sheryl works as an occupational therapist in Wayzata Schools. Sheryl also provides mentorship opportunities at Hold Your Horses to occupational therapists who are interested in expanding their practice to an equine assisted setting for hippotherapy, or in the co-treatment model with mental health clinicians. In her free time, Sheryl likes to sleep.
Rachel White Robinson, OTR/L (she/her)
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Rachel is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in hippotherapy for children ages 2-10. She started at HYH as a therapy aide before completing her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Minnesota in 2020. She is passionate about the healing power of nature and the human-animal connection.
Rachel White Robinson, OTR/L
Rachel is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in hippotherapy for children ages 2-10. She was inspired by her Peace Corps service to change career paths from writing to healthcare. She started at HYH as a therapy aide before completing her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Minnesota in 2020. She has completed level one hippotherapy training with the American Hippotherapy Association as well as training in trauma-informed care. She is passionate about the healing power of nature and the human-animal connection. In her freetime she enjoys gardening, the outdoors, and above all spending time with her family and many pets.
Marlo McGregor-Michael, COTA (she/her)
Clinic Manager, Licensed Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Marlo joined the HYH team as Clinic Manager in August 2025. She is a licensed Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, with experience in direct care service with clients in a physical disability and mental health setting; and most recently as the Director of Rehabilitation for a Transitional Care Unit in Minneapolis. Outside of work, Marlo enjoys tending to her absurd amount of house plants and small flock of five hens, and taking her two dogs, Joey & Mia, for long walks.
Marlo McGreggor, COTA
Marlo joined the HYH team as Clinic Manager in August 2025. She is a licensed Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, with experience in direct care service with clients in a physical disability and mental health setting; and most recently as the Director of Rehabilitation for a Transitional Care Unit in Minneapolis. As a student with a heart for horses and humans alike, Marlo completed her level 2 field work under the mentorship of Founding Director, Janet Weisberg, back in 2018. She now comes equipped with a wealth of knowledge and skills as she returns back to the work she has always had a passion for. Outside of work, Marlo enjoys tending to her absurd amount of house plants and small flock of five hens, and taking her two dogs, Joey & Mia, for long walks.
Lauren Putnam, OTD OTR/L (she/her)
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Lauren is a licensed occupational therapist with professional areas of interest in mental health, trauma-informed care, and healing through the power of nature and connection with animals and humans alike! Her professional experiences as an occupational therapist include working in adolescent inpatient mental health and school-based settings across the metro area. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys baking, traveling, and being outdoors, but spends the majority of her free time with her 90+ lb lap dog Lola.
Lauren Putnam
Mental Health Clinicians
Carissa Brandt, PsyD LP (she/her)
Licensed Psychologist
Carissa works with individuals ages 16+ who are struggling with life transitions, self-worth, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, among other challenges. She tends to take a collaborative and experiential approach to therapy, tailoring interventions to best meet personal needs and preferences.
Carissa Brandt, PsyD LP
Carissa is a licensed psychologist who joined Hold Your Horses in January 2022. She completed her doctoral degree in 2016 through Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Carissa works with individuals ages 16+ who are struggling with life transitions, self-worth, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, among other challenges. She tends to take a collaborative and experiential approach to therapy, tailoring interventions to best meet personal needs and preferences. Carissa has found that the additional support from horses and nature often enhances the therapeutic process. She is beyond grateful for amazing animal (and human) assistants at HYH to help foster growth, healing, and emotional well-being. In her free time, Carissa enjoys horseback riding, spending time at the dog park, and traveling.
Kayla Forliti, MSW, LGSW (she/her)
Licensed Graduate Social Worker
Kayla has experience working with older children, adolescents and young adults across community, school, farm, and clinic settings. In sessions, Kayla brings a holistic, warm, and relational approach, combined with her passion of providing space for healing animal connection.
Kayla Forliti, MSW LGSW
Kayla is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker who joined Hold Your Horses in September 2025. Kayla grew up with horses and experienced firsthand the healing power of animal connection in her own mental health journey. Kayla earned a masters degree in clinical social work from Appalachian State University and has also pursued training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Somatic Therapy for Trauma, and Arenas for Change SEEN Keystones. Kayla has experience working with older children, adolescents and young adults across community, school, farm, and clinic settings. Her clinical experience expands across working with the effects of trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, identity work, relational issues, building self-esteem, family of origin issues, and life transitions. In sessions, Kayla brings a holistic, warm, and relational approach, combined with her passion of providing space for healing animal connection. Along with this approach, Kayla utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities and techniques to best meet clients where they are at. Kayla is overjoyed to be a part of Hold Your Horses and being able to walk alongside others in their healing journeys. When Kayla is not on the farm, she loves to spend her time hiking, camping, and traveling with her beloved dog and loved ones.
Office & Farm Staff
Kenz Becco, MS (they/them)
Executive Director
Kenz is a creative and passionate non-profit leader with a M.S. from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Their vision of creating safe and inclusive healing spaces on a working farm emerged from their own experiences with rural living among animals, nature, and community.
Loveaya Magnus (she/her)
Operations Manager
Photo coming soon! Horses have shaped both my work and my way of thinking—I grew up with them and have spent my career alongside them in therapeutic riding settings. I hold a degree in Therapeutic Riding, am a PATH International Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and bring strong experience in program operations, guided by a belief in trust, patience, and doing right by the horse first.
Emily Loberg (she/her)
Office Manager
Emily is the Office Manager at Hold Your Horses. She has a B.S. in Art Education and experience working in mental health and alternative learning centers. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her cat Tux, being in nature, working on art endeavors, and developing deeper connections with herself and others.
Sammy Petitte, MS, CTRS (she/her)
Volunteer Coordinator
Sammy is a recreational therapist who brings a wide variety of experiential programming experience with children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities as well as behavioral health. She has been around horses since she was ten years old and has previously worked with therapeutic riding and equine-assisted learning programs around the country. She is excited to invest in and continue to strengthen the volunteer community at HYH.
Blair Wald (he/him)
Land & Facilities Coordinator
Photo and bio coming soon!
Shelby Hart, MS (she/her)
Communications & Development Specialist
Shelby grew up with horses and has a passion for natural horsemanship, cattle work, and trail rides. Before finding her way to HYH, she worked in marketing and education for Health IT and historical societies. She now combines her diverse experiences to provide a wide array of services at the farm from marketing and fundraising to direct service as therapy aide and horse leader. Her favorite part of the job is seeing clients find joy, peace, and confidence in their lives.
Syd Vollendorf (she/her)
Therapy & Farm Assistant
When I heard about the magic done here at HYH, I knew I just had to be apart of it firsthand! I am currently studying Equine Science at University of Wisconsin River-Falls to continue pursuing my love of these amazing creatures. I could not be more proud to be part of such an amazing team of both horses and humans here at HYH.
Lori Kozicky (she/her)
Therapy & Farm Assistant
With “horse” being one of my first words, animals have been a fundamental part of my life. I started riding English saddle seat at 11, where I participated in lessons, camps, and shows for several years. My first job was actually at this barn before it became Hold Your Horses. Getting the chance to volunteer and now work at HYH is like coming home again to my happy place.
Grace Palubicki (she/her)
Therapy & Farm Assistant
Grace’s journey at HYH began as a volunteer, growing into roles as a therapy aide and horse handler, and hopefully soon, as an Occupational Therapist. Her clinical experience includes working with pediatrics at HYH, adult inpatient care, and outpatient therapy with older adults. In her free time, Grace enjoys paddle boarding, playing volleyball, hiking, and spending time with her family, friends, and the herd.