Jill grew up in Virginia horse country and relocated to the Memphis area in late 2014. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Tech, and was previously employed as the Executive Director of EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program in Virginia Beach. She was the founding Executive Director of the We Promise Foundation, and served on the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Virginia, as well as the Virginia State Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Jill is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and has been actively involved in the nonprofit industry since 1996.
 

Jill is married to Doug, and they have two boys, Jack and John. She continues to ride and enjoys spending time with her thoroughbreds, Rhett and Ben.

Sara is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. She studied Business Administration and Economics at Central Piedmont Community College and has been an avid equestrian for more than two decades in a multitude of disciplines, including riding, showing and training. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, mentor and is certified as a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.

Sara enjoys spending time with her son, Ellison, and daughter, Charlotte.

Kimberly is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and has been passionate about horses since she was eight years old. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Florida Atlantic University after attending the University of Kentucky. In addition to her role at Southern Reins, she currently works as a Financial Representative with Ashford Advisors. Prior to joining Southern Reins, she worked in the specialty division of Markel Insurance, where she managed equine-related insurance including Equine Mortality, Medical/Surgical, Farm & Ranch, and liability coverage across national and international markets. ​Kimberly has also served as a volunteer and board member for several Arabian horse organizations, further deepening her connection to the equine community.

 

Outside of work, Kimberly enjoys running, skiing, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her horses and two Standard Poodles, Babette and Rowdy.

Lizzie was born and raised in Germantown, TN, and moved to the Nashville area in the fall of 2018 after graduating from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing Management. While in Nashville, Lizzie pursued her passion for marketing by gaining experience in the healthcare and IT industries before moving back closer to home. Lizzie has loved horses from a very young age, and has experience volunteering for numerous organizations benefitting individuals with disabilities. 

Outside of work, Lizzie enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and walking her dog, Millie. 

Meredith Massa was raised in North Carolina, where her lifelong love of horses began. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduation, she spent many years as a sales representative with Baptist Memorial Heath Care Corporation, building strong connections within the healthcare community.

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In 2019, Meredith began volunteering at Southern Reins, where she combined her passion for horses with her dedication to helping others.

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She is married to Joe Massa, and together they have two sons, Parker and Carson. Family and faith remain at the center of Meredith’s life, along with her continued involvement in equine-assisted programs.

Kirsten was born and raised in Germantown, Tennessee. She began her lifelong journey with horses as a working student at age 11 and has been passionate about equine education ever since. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with an Equine Specialization from Southern Illinois University and has taught riding lessons in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. ​With experience in a variety of disciplines including hunters, jumpers, western, and dressage, Kirsten brings a diverse background and a strong foundation in horsemanship to her role at Southern Reins. She also has experience volunteering with other PATH Intl. certified centers and is currently pursuing her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification.

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Outside of the barn, Kirsten enjoys creating art, practicing karate and yoga, playing board games, and spending time with her dog, Buddy, and her three cats - Dot, Echo, and Dolly.

Kaylee was born and raised in Memphis, TN, where her passion for helping people and animals grew from a young age. She began volunteering at Southern Reins in January 2024, and quickly fell in love with the horses and the supportive community at the barn.

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Kaylee is pursuing her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification, and when she is not at the farm, she enjoys spending time with her lease horse Siri, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Rebekah grew up in Southaven, Mississippi, and now resides in Collierville, Tennessee. She attended the University of Memphis, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish, followed by a Master of Arts in English. Her professional background is as diverse as her interests, encompassing roles as an entrepreneur, copywriter, and youth mentor. At age 12, her parents surprised her with an Appaloosa and a western saddle, sparking a journey that continues to this day. Currently, Rebekah rides hunter/jumper and enjoys doting on her lease horse, Mika.

 

Rebekah’s passion for horses and talent for teaching converged when she started volunteering at Southern Reins. She joined the program as an Instructor in January 2025. Rebekah is married to Matthew and has two daughters, Pippa and Daisy.

Austin was born in Memphis, TN. He attended the University of Memphis and received his Bachelor of Business Administration with a degree in Management. After graduating college, he knew he wanted to be in a career that helped people. He went to school to become an advanced emergency medical technician and worked for a local fire department. In 2023, Austin began volunteering at Southern Reins and realized that he had a real passion for working with horses and children. He joined Southern Reins in June of 2023 and is pursuing his certication as a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.

 

Outside of work he enjoys reading, watching movies, and working out as well as spending time with his family, friends, and dogs.

Virginia was born and raised in Kingsport, TN. After moving to Memphis for undergraduate studies at the University of Memphis she attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center where she received a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2009. Since graduating summa cum laude, she has worked in several settings including adult acute care, community-based mental health, home health, and inpatient pediatrics. She has received specialized training through the American Hippotherapy Association and is a PATH Intl. Registered Therapist. She received her AHCB certification in October of 2022.

 

Virginia and her husband have seven children and live on their family farm, Maranatha Farms.

Kacie is a licensed occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience specializing in pediatric care. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Kacie has received specialized training through the American Hippotherapy Association and is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapist. After working in various pediatric settings, Kacie transitioned to using equine movement in therapy, combining her clinical expertise with the sensory-rich environment of horses to help children thrive.

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Outside of work, Kacie enjoys being outdoors, playing tennis, and spending time with her husband, Alex, their three daughters, and their golden retriever.

Diane was born and raised Germantown, TN. She earned her degree in Recreation and Sport Management with a Therapeutic Concentration and a Minor in Psychology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. After becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist, she dedicated her career to working with adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Diane's journey with Southern Reins began as a volunteer, where she discovered her passion for equine therapy and earned her PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) certification in 2018. Although she has since relocated to San Antonio, TX, Diane continues to play a vital role in supporting Southern Reins as our Communications Assistant, staying actively involved in the organization's work and mission.

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Diane is married to Reed and they have three boys, Logan, Max, and Pete.

From New Orleans and raised in Memphis, Alicia credits the horse for many life lessons learned. Alicia spent several years at Shelby Farms Stables where she led rides through the wooded trails and helped develop summer camp programs for children to learn the basics of horsemanship and share in the fun of riding. She enjoyed caring for the entire herd of horses at Shelby Farms, as well as for the four resident horses at Graceland, and found it inspiring to see visitors of all ages experience so much joy from interacting with horses.

 

Alicia began volunteering at Southern Reins as a Sidewalker in January 2019 and joined the program as a member of our equine care team in August of 2019.