O.K. Corral Series certified

Alan Apperson is a board certified Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, practicing as a therapist in Beaumont, Texas. His education and professional background gives him a unique and effective approach to counseling. He works to provide clients with tailored treatment plans that can be integrated into their daily lives. His primary focuses are acceptance of the individual, having honest communication with his clients and providing quality resources. Alan knows that we all hurt and we can all heal. He believes that people seeking counseling are strong people, as they are taking the responsibility/power to improve their lives through change, growth and healing.

Alan has over fifteen years counseling experience with a wide range of patients in a variety of treatment settings. Outside of private practice, Alan has served as a treatment director in a non-profit group residential facility housing females in the foster care system, provided psychological services for bariatric candidates, developed and facilitated suicide prevention groups, and worked in equine assisted therapy with Stable-Spirit. His practice includes counseling for individuals, families, couples, children/adolescents, adults and geriatric clients with diverse backgrounds and ranges of concerns. Alan has an additional focus of training in trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy and the Child and Adolescent Strengths and Needs (CANS) assessment.

O. K. Corral Series Certified Equine Specialist 

Stable-Spirit Therapeutic Riding Assistant

I was born and raised in Nederland, Texas. I am a graduate of Nederland High School, and I enjoy all sports, especially high school football and hockey. I work full-time at DuGood Federal Credit Union where I started as a teller right after high school in 1999. I am a graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont with a B.A. in Marketing and a graduate of Southwest CUNA Management School, a three-year program in credit union management. I have experience in project management, data conversions, digital services, and corporate training and staff development. My love for animals began at a young age. My family and I have had animals, mainly dogs and cats,
since I was in third grade. We currently have three cats and an African Gray Parrot named Phoenix. I have been a volunteer at the Houston Zoo since 2010, enjoying educating guests of all ages about the animals they see and the zoo’s conservation initiatives. My favorite zoo animals are cougars, lions, and eagles. During COVID, I was unable to go to the zoo due to the COVID restrictions. The need to serve and be
around animals led me to Stable-Spirit in May 2021. I quickly learned the basics of grooming the horses and began attending events on weekends as scheduling allowed. I became a Therapeutic Riding Assistant in 2022 and received training through O.K. Corral Series in 2023 to become an equine specialist. I enjoy all aspects of service at the stables – from mucking pastures, to office work, to planning fundraisers, to working closely with clients during sessions. Since COVID restrictions have lifted, I continue my volunteer service at the Houston Zoo as well. My mom and I love to travel anywhere we can get away from the chaos of day-to-day life and experience nature. Our favorite place to go is Yellowstone National Park where we enjoy wolf-watching and searching for wildlife. My schedule allows me to be available for weekday evening and weekend sessions at Stable-Spirit, and I look forward to serving!

O. K. Corral Series Certified Equine Specialist 

Barn Helper

Katy was born in Beaumont, TX. She enjoys working with horses and helping those with special needs. She has been riding horses since she was 4 years old and has always had a heart for horses.

Equine Specialist Intern

Hello! My name is Hailey Hooker. I am from Augusta, GA. I have lived in Beaumont, TX since 2016. My passions include helping people and loving all animals. Ever since I was a little kid, I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. 

SpiritHorse Senior Equine Assisted Healthcare Instructor

O. K. Corral Series Certified Equine Specialist

Hippotherapy Assistant

Hi, my name is Darla Kyle. I have always had a deep love for all animals, especially horses. I was born in Port Arthur, TX, and raised in Bridge City, TX. Currently, I live in Kountze, TX. I have five children, twelve grandchildren, six dogs, and twelve parakeets.

I truly enjoy volunteering and working as an associate at Stable-Spirit. Seeing the clients on horseback and witnessing their happiness brightens my entire day. My husband appreciates that I am learning about horses. I had no prior experience with them, but since joining Stable-Spirit, I have gained so much knowledge. I learn something new every day.

SpiritHorse Senior Equine Assisted Healthcare Instructor

Hi, my name is Laura McElhinney. I was raised to love all animals on a family owned, Nevada State top rated Dairy Goat and Equine facility. There I balanced my time between Goat Shows and the Equine world. Eventually Equines took over and I became a full-time Professional Equestrian. I trained horses in multiple disciplines to include English, Jumping, Western, Trail and Dressage. I instructed students of all ages and levels. I also competed in top level Dressage Trials and Horse Shows in all disciplines and all breeds to include Hanoverian, Trakehner, Quarter Horse, Paint, Appaloosa and Arabian Nationals. Due to my diversity and successful show-ring career I received an Equestrian Team Olympic Trials Invite – what an honor that was for me! After moving here to my husband’s hometown, my Equestrian career has taken a back seat. This area just doesn’t have that kind of clientele. No worries, I moved onto advocacy for Shelter Animals and became a full-time Dog Mom. But then I was introduced to Stable-Spirit and added the certification of Therapeutic Riding Instructor to my portfolio. Instructing and helping these clients here at the Stables
has been so gratifying and such a blessing. I now also use my past animal sheltering job skills in the Volunteer Coordinator capacity, helping the Volunteer Program grow and thrive.

O. K. Corral Series Certified Equine Specialist

Hippotherapy Assistant

Emily was born in Nederland but grew up in the midwest. She has worked for Stable-Spirit on and off since 2008 when she has lived in the area. She has had a love for horses since she was a kid and took years of riding lessons.

Hippotherapy Assistant

My name is Alyx Stutz, I was born in Beaumont and have lived in Mauriceville my entire life. I have had a passion for anything and everything horse related since I can remember, and have been infatuated with them my whole life. Thankfully, some of my family kept horses and I was able to learn the basics of riding and such. Later on, I started riding at Tyrrell Park Stables in Beaumont, I have been taking riding lessons since 2021. I have dabbled in barrel racing and western pleasure, though my main focus was always in hunter jumping. I love being around kids and I’ve volunteered at Tyrrell Park Stables’s horse and pony camps since 2021. I deeply enjoy being able to share my passion for these animals with the clients I work with, and hope to befriend my clients and help them in any way I can!

O. K. Corral Series Certified Equine Specialist

I grew up in Nederland and graduated from Lamar University with a degree in Health Education and a master’s degree from UT Arlington in Social Work. I have worked with people of all ages helping them be healthier physically and emotionally. I have loved horses since I was a young child volunteering at Peach Creek Ranch while I was in Girl Scouts. My daughter started riding horses 13 years ago, this allowed me to learn as well. Now we live in Buna and have our own horses and many other farm animals.  I am a mother of one daughter and married to my husband who graciously supports me in all my endeavors. 

Stable-Spirit Therapeutic Riding Assistant

Hippotherapy Assistant

Stable-Spirit Therapeutic Riding Assistant

Stable-Spirit Therapeutic Riding Assistant

Clerical

I enjoy working with the horses. I also make nylon bull whips and bows in my spare time.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Rebekah Schaper, PT, DPT has been a practicing physical therapist since 2006. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science Studies with a pre-physical therapy emphasis from Baylor University in May 2004. She then received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Hardin-Simmons University in December of 2006. She graduated with honors from both programs. Dr. Schaper performed her clinical affiliations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, where she practiced for several months in the area of sports medicine before moving to Texas. In early 2007, she moved to Waco, Texas where she practiced outpatient and home health pediatrics for Kids Therapy, LLC. Her involvement included services such as hippotherapy, aquatic therapy, ballet, softball, basketball and cheerleading for children with special needs. At this time, she also assisted in the opening of an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic in the Waco area.

Dr. Schaper and her husband moved to Beaumont in late 2009 and brought the established pediatric company, Kids Therapy, LLC, to the Beaumont and surrounding areas to offer physical therapy services for children with special needs. In early 2010, Dr. Schaper partnered with Stable-Spirit to offer hippotherapy services to those in the Golden Triangle area.

She is currently licensed and has practiced in both Arizona and Texas. She specializes in pediatrics, but has also practiced in outpatient orthopedics, long term and rehabilitation care and sports medicine.