Board of Directors
Gretchen Salstrom, Founder & Executive Director
Raised
in Southern California, Gretchen Salstrom has owned horses since her teens,
purchasing her first 2 year old at 15. She spent several years in the early
80’s breeding, raising and showing Halter and Youth Event Quarter Horses.
After a hiatus spent in corporate America, focusing on Retail Business Management
and IT Hardware/Software consulting, Gretchen returned to equine life. She
purchased an 11 acre ranch in Ferndale, WA, where she started a breeding
program, focusing in the working cow horse events: Cutting, Reining, and
Reined Cow Horse.
After a short time in Ferndale, she sold the ranch and relocated her business to Black Raven Stables, where she now spends most of her time managing the boarding facility and operating her own breeding program out of.
As the owner of a large equine facility, Gretchen hopes to generate interest from all equine disciplines and be able to support all needs. Her love of horses and a desire to help others in the equine industry inspired her to start People Helping Horses, a non-profit horse rescue organization.
Kristin Brown, Secretary
Kristin's
love for horses began the same way it does for so many young girls - virtually
out of the womb. Her father owned two horses when she was young and she took
English riding lessons for several years. For a while after this, she was
rarely afforded the opportunity to be around horses until one year ago when
she discovered Gretchen & People Helping Horses online. Kristin volunteers
weekly in the barn grooming, helping at the shows, and just loving on the
rescue horses.
"Personally, PHH is almost doing me a favor by giving me the chance
to be around these magnificent animals. Each horse is unique and incredible
in its own way and it's rewarding to be able to return to each of them a
little bit of the compassion and love they so often show us without hesitation.
It's hard to comprehend that any of them could be unwanted; but here they
have a place that not only loves them, but also works hard on their behalf
to find that home that will cherish them as much as they deserve." -
Kristin
Cheryl James, Treasurer
Cheryl is a photographer and graphic designer who combines her love of horses, animals and people into an award winning business.
Her life long committment to the breeding, training and promotion of horses, allows her to understand her clients needs and provide them with beautiful imagery and designs to promote their breeding & training operations both in print and on the web.
Cheryl is a board member of the Washington Reining Horse Association and you will find her at all of their shows on the sidelines shooting the exhibitors and cheering them on.
Patty Kelley - Board Advisor
Patty Kelley leads the marketing, fundraising, and resource development efforts for People Helping Horses. She is an animal advocate and a proponent for the advancement of the animal to human bond. Her passion for the horse spans nearly fifty years. This passion has been channeled into developing fundraising programs, events, and other educational venues that will educate and enlighten horse owners and the public alike as to the value and importance of the horse to society as a whole.
As an equine marketing consultant, she has developed a program called Holistic Equine Marketing—a philosophy that embraces traditional best business practices, but also includes the needs, concerns, and well-being of the horses under one’s care and stewardship. Additionally, Patty has provided marketing, business, and resource development consulting to both profit and nonprofit businesses in a variety of industry types. Her focus now is primarily nonprofit support.
Patty also writes articles about equine marketing, the prison dogs programs, and the importance of making a difference. She has been published both nationally and internationally and is currently developing books on both equine marketing with a holistic approach and the prison dog programs.
Aleta McKinley - Barn Manager
Aleta McKinley’s horse life started at five when her father wheeled the family into the Burlington Auction Yard. A hand in the air and $45 got them a brown and white Shetland stallion. And that's how it all started.
Years later, she moved to Texas, gave up her amateur status and started working for horse trainers. Her first mentor was LeRoy Elbel who trained cutters and reiners and had more talent in his little finger than most of us could hope to have in a lifetime. From there, Aleta moved to Streetman, Texas where she assisted Billy Steele in training Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, and Halter horses.
After a few years, she moved to Aubrey, Texas, and got a temporary position with Edgewood Farms foaling out mares on the graveyard shift. Edgewood Farms was the home of the late, great halter stallions and World Champion Sires Conclusive and Mr. Conclusion. From there she was hired on by World Champion Trainer John Dean and moved up the road to Tioga. After a short stint at the Dean Ranch, Aleta was presented with the opportunity to return to her home town of Anacortes, Washington, to take over a fledgling breeding and showing program for Scimitar Ridge Ranch.
In 1994, Scimitar decided to get out of the horse business and Aleta started Aleta McKinley Quarter Horses in January 1995. She continued with her heavy show schedule including many futurity wins and wound up the year at the AQHA World Championship show as a finalist in the 2YO Western Pleasure aboard Zippos Hotzy. In 1996 they were Top Ten at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in the 3YO Western Pleasure Futurity.
Aleta continued to train, show, and coach students until January 2008 when Gretchen asked her to come on board with PHH. She now manages the barn and keeps an eye on the rescue horses.
Aleta lives in Anacortes with her faithful mini aussie, Partner and broodmare, Zips Candy Commodity aka Taffy.