Pastor Educator Coach
At the heart of our work is a simple but profound belief: the stories we tell about ourselves shape the way we live. For veterans living with PTSD, those stories can become stuck—full of pain, silence, or shame. Through equine-assisted learning, we create space to re-narrate those stories with compassion, courage,
Pastor Educator Coach
At the heart of our work is a simple but profound belief: the stories we tell about ourselves shape the way we live. For veterans living with PTSD, those stories can become stuck—full of pain, silence, or shame. Through equine-assisted learning, we create space to re-narrate those stories with compassion, courage, and connection.
Rev. Nicole Newton brings a unique blend of pastoral care, trauma-informed coaching, and deep listening to her work with veterans. Certified through the International Coaching Federation at the PCC level, she specializes in mindfulness, radical acceptance, and reframing narratives of trauma into stories of resilience and healing. She holds a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Bioethics from Wake Forest University, a Master of Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary, and is currently completing her Doctor of Ministry focused on burnout in helping professionals.
Nicole is passionate about creating environments of trust, imagination, and restoration. Outside the arena, she’s a mom of two, a partner, a flower grower, and a horse lover—deeply committed to the healing power of community, story, and the human-animal bond.
Educator Equestrian Learner
Katrina brings a lifelong passion for education and a deep reverence for the human-animal bond to her role. As a dedicated advocate for compassionate equestrianism, she believes that horses are powerful partners in healing, growth, and learning. Her commitment to Equine Paths is rooted in the belief that ever
Educator Equestrian Learner
Katrina brings a lifelong passion for education and a deep reverence for the human-animal bond to her role. As a dedicated advocate for compassionate equestrianism, she believes that horses are powerful partners in healing, growth, and learning. Her commitment to Equine Paths is rooted in the belief that every horse deserves dignity, care, and a chance to thrive—and that through education, we can build a more empathetic and responsible equine community.
Katrina supports the organization’s mission to foster responsible horse ownership and to promote the transformative potential of the human-equine connection.
With a background in academic leadership and strategic planning, Katrina helps to shape programs that blend evidence-based learning with heartfelt advocacy. She is especially passionate about expanding access to equine education and creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience the healing grace of horses
Coming Soon!
In 2018, after a life-changing visit to Old Friends, a Thoroughbred retirement farm in Kentucky, I felt deeply inspired to establish a nonprofit that would serve both horses and humans. This vision came to life with the founding of Equine Paths in August of that year. Since then, our center has rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed 32 horses. We are incredibly proud of our sanctuary herd—wise, perceptive animals who have become invaluable co-teachers in our programs.
Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, I was always horse-crazy, and that passion has never waned. I don’t recall a time when I wasn’t riding, and even today, I’d rather be outdoors with my horses than anywhere else. Whether it’s the peaceful connection with nature or the cherished memories of weekends spent riding at my aunt’s farm in Mentone, Alabama, or at a my daddy's horse farm in North Carolina, horses have always felt like home to my heart.
There is something indescribable about the bond with a horse—a sense of freedom and liberty when galloping across an open field or the profound security in being known by an animal that can’t lie. Horses serve as mirrors, reflecting our deepest selves. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to grow alongside a few incredible chestnut mares who have taught me to laugh fully, grieve openly, and embody fierce independence, strong protection, and gentle compassion.
At Equine Paths, my mission is to share the transformative power of horses. Through our programs, I aim to help others discover the same sense of growth and fulfillment that I’ve been blessed to experience.
I am a certified Equine First Aid and Advanced First Aid instructor, hold a certification as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, and am accredited in Equine Facilitated Learning through The Human Equine Relational Development (HERD) Institute. I’m a lifelong learner, always seeking new ways to expand my knowledge and expertise in working with both horses and people.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Equine Paths and the work we’re passionate about. I look forward to welcoming you into our community.
Warmly,
Katrina Mintz
Founder and Director
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