Alyssa has life long and diverse horse experience; She has ridden, shown, and owned horses since she was a young child. She has also worked for, and managed various stables, and interned with various horse professionals in years past. Currently she volunteers her time at Feed Plus, a local feed store that was opened to support The FARM (a local dog and cat rescue) and she continues to take riding lessons on a regular basis.  

     Alyssa is a certified Equine Sport Massage Therapist, and has obtained several other certifications including National Cruelty Investigators School Levels II and III, Equine Investigations Academy Level I, and BioSecurity & Zoonoses. Alyssa has an Associates of Arts Degree in Photography (specializing in equine photography). Currently, she has earned her Bachelors Degree in Nonprofit Management from The College of Notre Dame, and is currently pursuin a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola College. Alyssa has completed her Level One EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) Certification,and has obtained many other certifications including Equine Sports Message Therapy.  

     Alyssa aspires to make RERSI more than a horse rescue. She believes that education will play a key role in significantly reducing animal cruelty and neglect, and has created traditional educational classes and workshops to teach horsemanship through RERSI.  

     Alyssa also believes that many of RERSI's rescued horses will play a key role
in helping humans with emotional growth and learning through participation in the Leg Up Counseling psychotherapy program. (www.legupcounseling.com)
Alyssa has always believed strongly in the healing power of animals, and joined
the Leg Up Counseling team in August 2007 to practice equine assisted psychotherapy as an equine professional.