CHA welcomes four new board members to our fold for the 2022-2024 term. This group of professionals bring a wealth of new experience and knowledge to the board of directors.
Dr. Debra Powell is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Hampton University in Virginia and a master’s degree in animal sciences from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana before receiving her doctorate from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Dr. Powell owns and operates a mobile small business, Powell’s Equine and Canine Therapeutic Services (PECTS). With this business, she provides alternative therapies, including massage, therapeutic laser, therapeutic ultrasound and pulsed electromagnetic therapy, among others, to horses, dogs and cattle. She also provides nutritional and pasture management consulting for her equine clients.
Rebecca Halvorson grew up in Abilene, Texas with a ranching background. She started riding, showing and rodeoing around the age of 6. Rebecca enjoyed numerous activities including 4-H, FFA, showing horses and pigs, competing on Horse Judging and Meat Judging Teams and played Varsity Basketball. Rebecca attended Texas A&M University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and continued graduate school studying Equine Nutrition. After leaving Texas A&M, Rebecca accepted a position at Northwestern State University as an instructor in Equine Science then moved to Colorado State University where she was an instructor in the Equine Science Department for 2 years.
Rebecca married Wayne Halvorson in 1997 and helped in managing Halvorson Ranch where they stood many of the top stallions in AQHA and APHA, breeding hundreds of mares while training halter horses full time and averaged foaling out 100 mares per year. Rebecca holds judges’ cards in AQHA, APHA, NSBA and WCHA and has judged the AQHA World Show, AQHYA World Show, APHA World Show, All American Quarter Horse Congress, NSBA World Show and WCHA Championship Futurity as well as many shows internationally.
Josi Reed recently joined the APHA team as director of amateur and youth activities. Growing up in Southern Illinois, Josie always enjoyed horse showing and competitive judging; she continued these passions through college. After completing a master’s degree in agriculture at West Texas A&M University, Josi returned to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University, where she earned her associate’s degree, to serve as head coach of the IHSA equestrian team, among other roles. She still owns horses and is ready to jump into her new role at APHA.
The founder of LOHR, Deanna Mancuso, is a well-established member of the local professional equine community. Starting out as an exercise rider for various farms from Westchester to Columbia Counties, she successfully moved up to barn management, eventually transitioning to business-owner of Equine Escape Stable. Within a few years of opening Equine Escape, Deanna began to recognize a disturbing trend within the community. She was receiving a growing number of inquiries regarding unwanted horses and how to report abuse and neglect. This problem was only exacerbated by requests from the DCSPCA to foster seized horses which had begun to outnumber available spaces at their own facilities. Determined to be part of the solution, Deanna established Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue to offer permanent sanctuary to these otherwise unwanted, abused, or neglected animals, and provide them with a safe haven where they would never again experience the situations that led them to LOHR in the first place. Deanna is a CHA Certified English & Western Instructor, and site accreditation visitor.
CHA welcomes all four of these amazing individuals with diverse backgrounds.
CHA Equine Professionals Change Lives Through Safe Experiences with Horses. The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies equine professionals, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals, produces educational horsemanship videos and webinars, and hosts regional and international conferences. For more information on the largest certifying body of equine professionals in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, or to find a certified equine professional or accredited equine facility near you, please visit www.CHA.horse.
For More Information and Photos
Contact: CHA – Jacqueline Tiley
970-980-9674 / jtiley@CHA.horse