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 that I work with and the impact that we have. 

Joan DeBruin

I have lived with animals my whole life as I grew up on a farm in Whatcom County and I understand the human-animal connection. But this job at Unbridled Spirit has been an eye-opener for me as to how much real impact animals can make on people and especially the youth. I am thrilled that we have found each other since it combines my love of animals with my love of bookkeeping.

Greg Laughlin

I am fairly new to horses and farm work, but I really love supporting the farm animals and the work we do at Unbridled Spirit.  After a long career in working in telecommunications I followed a calling to change gears and focus on helping people, and in doing so have found a new passion where I can support my community by supporting children and clients heal through connecting with therapy animals.  A big part of my contribution involves daily care of the therapy animals and farm maintenance, ensuring that they are healthy and prepared to support our therapy programs.  I also work as a mentor to children through our programs which I found to be exceptionally rewarding, especially in areas where having a male role model can provide positive influence that they may not have outside of our program.  My experience in raising four boys who are now grown men has provided me with insights, patience and skills that really help with the work we do with the children and young adults at the farm.
I am also a licensed Reiki practitioner with over 15 years of experience in energy healing therapy.  I've found Reiki to be very effective in addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs of humans and animals.  We've experienced incredible positive results for people who come to the farm for Reiki therapy sessions, where connection with the horses open people to the unseen healing forces of divine energy integration.

Carolyn Cox

My name is Carolyn. I am a Program Facilitator and Volunteer Coordinator here at Unbridled. In 2024, I started as a volunteer with Unbridled Spirit and was later brought on staff. I am a huge animal lover and have a passion for unconventional ways of therapy and emotional work. I am a student of Psychological Science and have taught somatic yoga and nervous system regulation classes in schools all over Whatcom County. Through my work at Unbridled, I have discovered a love of horses as I am constantly amazed by the wisdom they display and their unique ability to connect with people. It is an honor to be a part of this mission.

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.

Daisy Ash

Hello, my name is Daisy, and I serve as the Funding & Development Coordinator at Unbridled Spirit, where I manage grants, fundraising, and provide administrative support. I have been connected to the farm for over 18 years, starting as a participant at age 14. I have remained involved through mentoring, volunteering, and occasional organizing support before stepping into my current role.
I am currently completing my Master’s in Nonprofit Administration with a focus on Development. My work centers on building sustainable funding strategies that strengthen long-term impact. I also bring experience in healthcare, trauma-informed coaching, youth education, and professional organizing, and I am deeply committed to supporting mission-driven organizations.

Rachel Gordon-Ball

Hey I'm Rachel!