Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm
Our Staff
Our Staff
"Success is best when it's shared."
"Success is best when it's shared."
Howard Schultz
Howard Schultz
Stephanie Voorhes COTA/L
Stephanie Voorhes COTA/L
Director of Hippotherapy & Animals Assisted Therapy
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Director of Hippotherapy & Animals Assisted Therapy
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Stephanie has worked as an Occupational Therapy Assistant for over 17 years. She completed her schooling in Minnesota and her first therapy job was in a school setting combined with Early Intervention. Her love of the mountains brought her to Wyoming where she found her passion in hippotherapy. She helped create a farm-based therapy program for adults that is still up and running in Laramie. Montana was the next step in expanding her knowledge while working in an acute and long-term rehab facility. Family brought her back to Colorado where she worked in home health and has now found her forever job at the farm in pediatrics! Steph and her husband enjoy taking care of their cat and chickens, camping, hiking, and gardening in her free time.
Tori Schneider
Tori Schneider
Barn Manager
Barn Manager
Tori is a Colorado native who joined the team in January of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wyoming. Tori has her Associate degree in Equine Business Management and her Bachelor's degree in Business Management.
Tori started with IPTA as the referral coordinator but now serves as our barn manager. She works diligently to care for our animals while also facilitating our website design and community outreach.
Tori started her journey with horses when she was 11 when she purchased her first horse, Bow lit a passion for horses that still burns today. Tori has ridden many different disciplines but has settled into all-around western riding while tuning up therapy horses and training her horse Freya.
Leah Ortiz
Leah Ortiz
Horse Walker
Horse Walker
Leah joined our team in May of 2021. Her love of horses started at the age of three when she was first put on a horse. A Colorado native, Leah grew up spending summers on her grandfather’s cattle ranch in Crested Butte. She brings with her an extensive background working with children and families. During college, she worked as a wrangler for two summers. She received her BA in Spanish and Bilingual Education from Fort Lewis College in Durango. Leah is our Equine Program Director and Horse walker. She is a mother of 3 adult children, grandma and enjoys time in nature, gardening, cooking, and baking gluten-free deliciousness, and caring for her flock of chickens.
Brooke Schimmels
Brooke Schimmels
Horse Walker
Horse Walker
Brooke joined our team in September of 2022. She graduated from Biola University with a BA in Intercultural Studies, where she also studied photography. After graduating she moved back to Fort Collins and started volunteering at Iron Horse and shortly after took on a role as horse walkers. Along with her horse walking responsibilities, she helps run our social media pages, and assists in marketing needs. Brooke grew up in Northern Colorado and loves exploring the outdoors. Her and her family enjoy hiking and camping in the summertime. She also loves being creative, and often spends her free time painting or doing photography.
Taneal Behm
Taneal Behm
Taneal is our fantastic leader and owner. She started NoCo Pediatric OT LLC in 2013 as a partner with Sheryl Danamen and she has continued to grow it ever since. She is experienced in the school setting, skilled nursing facilities, pediatric home health, clinic settings, and therapeutic horseback riding. She developed a passion for kids with sensory needs and thus came the dream of IPTA.
Taneal has continued to lead her growing team and see a caseload of patients both in the home and in hippotherapy. Her compassion and leadership have been the driving force of a growing practice.
Nicole Summerson
Nicole Summerson
Nicole Summerson graduated from Colorado State University in 2018 with her Master of Occupational Therapy. Nicole is originally from Henderson, Nevada where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Nicole loves working in the pediatric field and has many years of experience working with both children and adults with special needs and disabilities. She has specialized training and knowledge in pediatric feeding (including the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol and SOS Feeding Approach), social groups, sensory processing and integration, and equine movement. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with friends and family.
Lindsey Messenger
Lindsey Messenger
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Lindsey graduated from Colorado State University with her MS in Occupational Therapy in December of 2020. She received her BS in Psychology and Pre-Occupational Therapy and a minor in American Sign Language. A Las Vegas native, Lindsey grew up with an older sister, Kelli, who had Rett Syndrome. She now practices pediatric OT in her sister's memory to give back to the community that shaped so much of her life. In her free time, Lindsey can be found snuggling her cats, spending time with friends, and going camping in the great outdoors!
Heather Hiltz
Heather Hiltz
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Heather has spent the last decade teaching developmental gymnastics classes to children both on the West and East coast. After falling in love with the magic that is Occupational Therapy, Heather switched career paths and graduated as an OTA from Pima Medical Institute earlier this year! Heather is passionate about helping children learn, grow, and celebrate all of their incredible victories. Heather has pursued continuing education in sensory processing and is constantly in pursuit of learning and developing in all areas of pediatric OT. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, board games, exploring the outdoors with her son, dancing, and anything involving crafts and baking!
Erin Kelley,
Erin Kelley,
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Erin graduated from Colorado State University with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2021! She has always been passionate about working in pediatrics and has a specific interest in incorporating animals into her practice. She got undergraduate degrees in both Human Development and Equine Science from CSU, with the hopes of utilizing horses to support kids with disabilities! She also has an interest in using dogs in her practice and has raised a service dog for Canine Companions. On days off, Erin is most often spending time with her dog outdoors or inside baking something!
Andrea Gurga
Andrea Gurga
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Andrea graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with her Master of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Andrea is a lifelong Chicagoan and graduated from Loyola University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Andrea has a passion for working with children and their families and has experience in pediatrics, participation-based and environmental research and outcomes, and equine movement. She is a research-informed clinician and has training and experience in participation measures and outcomes, environmental modifications, as well as integration of the Intentional Relationship Model (IRM) and DIR/Floortime with children and families. Outside of work, Andrea enjoys exploring new hiking trails, and traveling to National Parks, and aspires to be a Search and Rescue Team Member and solo skydiver.