Meet Equestrian Bridges Board of Directors
Shanna Dozier
Founder & Executive Director
PATH Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Certified Equine Specialist in EAGALA
Shanna has a passion to see Equestrian Bridges grow and help as many families as possible. Her dedication to the program since 2007 has ensured that it is a constant resource for those in need in Northwest Arkansas.
Shanna has 30+ years of experience working with horses and is a certified PATH, Intl. Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She is currently working on her Master's degree at John Brown University in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her utmost priority is maintaining the highest standards of professionalism for Equestrian Bridges and its programs.
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Shanna is married with two young boys, who love coming to the stables with her!
Linda Worley, MD
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
Dr. Worley is a recently retired Emeritus Professor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, in the Departments of Psychiatry and Ob/Gyn who led the expansion of both undergraduate and graduate medical education in Northwest Arkansas as the Regional Campus College of Medicine Dean prior to becoming the inaugural Chief Wellness Officer for the UAMS College of Medicine. She is an expert in healthcare provider distress and vitality, in medical education, in non-verbal communication and emotional intelligence, in the overlap between traditional medical illnesses and psychiatric presentations, in addiction and trauma, in women's mental health, and most importantly in the magical power of the human-horse connection in healing, growth, and learning. Dr. Worley is an internationally recognized leader in her field as well as a professional educator who is passionate about empowering each of us to live our best lives, courageously sharing our gifts with the world. Dr. Worley was selected as one of the top 50 women leaders in Arkansas in 2023, and received the top award in her field in 2024
Cory Bourque
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
AQHA Pro-Horseman & Team Wrangler
Cory started training horses on ranches as a teen and excelled in bulldogging. Cory and wife Nicole own and operate the 2 H Bar Ranch in Abbeville, LA, with their two children, Hunter and Haylee.
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Cory has extensive knowledge in horsemanship methods and in 2004 he attended a NO DUST TOUR with Dennis Reis, who became his mentor. Cory trained with renowned clinicians like Chris Cox, Jack Brainard, and Eitan Beth-Halachmy, refining his skills. Cory's expertise includes starting colts, working with problem horses, competing in colt starting events, and conducting horsemanship clinics nationwide. Notable achievements include winning the Dennis Reis Colt Starting Challenge in 2010 and the Louisiana Equine Council Colt Starting Championship in 2011.
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He has also excelled in events like the Mustang Million and Mustang Makeover, achieving top placements and he also had the opportunity to participate in the film "Secretariat."
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David Helm
Trainer and Equine Specialist, Equestrian Bridges Retired Board Member
David is retired after 36 years in manufacturing leadership. He has had a relationship with horses since he was a toddler and started his Natural Horsemanship journey 20 years ago after seeing a horse being beaten for refusing to load into a trailer. His thoughts were, "there has to be a better way."
Since then he has spent time with Dennis Reis and Chris Cox to gain that horsemanship knowledge. David has volunteered his expertise for Equestrian Bridges in the training and development of our therapy horse team for over 15 years. David is now on the Equestrian Bridges Board of Directors and continues to offer his expertise to keep our programming at the top of its game.
Melanie Shannon
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
Melanie earned her degree in Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from UALR. After six years in corporate IT, she decided to pursue a new path, returning to Northwest Arkansas to open The Little Gym in Rogers. For 11 years, she loved helping children and families build confidence and skills. She later sold the business to focus on her family.
Having grown up in a family of small business owners, she recognized the challenges of back-office management and launched Northwest Arkansas Bookkeeping to support local businesses while balancing family life. In July 2022, she joined Equestrian Bridges, inspired by its work with children and veterans. She finds the connections between the horses and participants truly magical and is excited to support Equestrian Bridges’s growth and its impact on Northwest Arkansas families. She lives in NWA with her husband and their two children, a daughter (10) and a son (14).
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Sharri Bell
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
Nicole is an Equestrian Bridges Board Member.
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Nicole Bourque
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
Nicole is an Equestrian Bridges Board Member.
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Tiffany Quast
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
Tiffany is an Equestrian Bridges Board Member.
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Ashley Gibbs
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
Ashley is an Equestrian Bridges Board Member.​​
Cara Osborne
Equestrian Bridges Board Member
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Cara is an Equestrian Bridges Board Member.
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