Meet Our Team
Staff
​Stephanie Sawtelle
Executive Director and Equine Specialist
After graduating from Delaware Valley College with a BS in Equine Science, Stephanie spent the next chapter of her career training horses and instructing equestrians. Her experiences with horses and people in those early decades led to a curiosity around the benefits of the horse-human relationship that extended beyond the barn and into other areas of people's lives.
Once she discovered the fields of equine-assisted learning and therapy, she became certified through both EAGALA and The Academy for Coaching with Horses, and began offering personal development sessions to individuals and groups.
Today, Stephanie is an advocate for holistic individual and collective wellness, and an expert on the dynamics of the horse-human relationship on physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual levels.
She facilitates meaningful horse-human interactions with a focus on mind-body
connection, emotional intelligence, intuitive development, and the interconnectedness of all life.
Guided by these dynamics, clients receive personalized life lessons, improved relational skills, empowerment, and helpful perspective shifts applicable to their unique journey and challenges.
Besides a facilitator and mentor, she is also an author and public speaker, enjoying every opportunity to share stories and excitement for her work.
Outside of her career she loves spending time with her animals and loved ones. She has an unending curiosity and love of new experiences. Stephanie loves being
outdoors, especially on the water, and rarely misses the chance to go sailing, paddle
boarding, stargazing, or to visit the ocean.​
​
​
​
Megan Chong, LPC
Equine-Assisted Therapist
Megan graduated from Gannon University in 2001 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She continued her education there receiving her Masters degree in Community Counseling in 2004 and her Post-Graduate certificate in Community Counseling in 2005. Megan is a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She offers specialized therapy for individuals who have experienced abuse and trauma as well as children who have problematic sexual behavior and adolescents who have sexually offended.
​
​
​
Sandy Long
Equine Specialist
In 2007, Sandy co-founded Blended Spirits Ranch with her sister, Debbie Ellis. The ranch, initially envisioned as a unique non profit for rescuing horses to utilize in healing humans from trauma, soon evolved into a powerful center for equine-assisted mental health therapy. With extensive training and hands-on experience, Sandy has dedicated herself to providing mental health services to individuals across Erie, Crawford, and surrounding areas. Through the use of horses as part of the therapy process, Sandy and her team have helped countless individuals overcome personal challenges, develop confidence, and improve emotional well-being. This work has been particularly impactful for people dealing with trauma, various individual challenges, and mental health struggles.
Hope Collins, LSW
Equine Specialist
Hope graduated in 2015 from Allegheny College with a degree in English, then spent most of her early career working on tall ships as a sail trainer for students. Between 2013 - 2018, she sailed over 10,000 nautical miles on three different vessels around the Great Lakes, the Pacific Coast, the Atlantic Ocean, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Simmons University in 2023, and most of her therapy experience has centered around eating disorders, body image, neurodivergency, self-worth, identity, and relationships. An eternal outdoorswoman and animal person, Hope joined the Blended Spirits Team in the spring of 2024 to help run groups as well as some individual sessions. She is excited at the opportunity to guide clients through their mental health journey with the help of Blended Spirit’s herd.
Karyn Arnold
Barn Manager
Karyn is the Barn Manager for Blended Spirits Ranch. She began working with horses through our volunteer program in late 2017 and was brought on as Barn Manager in 2022.
Karyn is passionate about maintaining a high standard of care for our horses as well as tidy environment for our guests.
She is an avid animal lover and dog owner who finds peace working alongside our furry friends. Her main focus is to ensure proper care and attention to the health and wellbeing of the Blended Spirits Herd.