Our Team
Our Animals
Each of our horses has a unique personality and is paired with the student who will benefit the most from their friendship.
Our People
Learn more about the dedicated individuals at SCIG who tirelessly serve our program and community.
Animal Staff
Cooper
Cooper is a 17-year-old Palomino Quarter Horse gelding. He has been with the program for four years. Cooper enjoys working with the younger kids. Cooper loves to jump, go on trail rides, and play soccer.
Marshall (Mush)
Marshall is a 23-year-old Appaloosa/Belgian gelding. Marshall is an ex-police horse from southern Wisconsin. Marshall is a big personality. He is the class clown of SCIG. Marshall is the main man for vaulting. Marshall loves chin scratches and playing soccer.
Kodie
Kodie is a 22 year old Leopard Appaloosa gelding. He has been with the program for five years. Kodie enjoys working with all of the kids. Kodie is a kind, gentle soul. Kodie loves apples and loves to teach.
Tonka
Tonka is a 22-year-old non-characteristic Paint gelding. Tonka has been with the program for three years. Tonka loves to work with the kids that have Cerebral Palsy. Tonka loves to jump and take naps in the hay.
Amish
Amish is a 17-year-old Belgian cross gelding. Amish has been with the program for one year. Amish specializes in working with older students. Amish is a gentle giant and enjoys being with his horse friends.
Cisco
Cisco is a 15-year-old paint gelding. Cisco is new to the program. Cisco is very kind and very interested in the students.
Dillon
Dillon is a 13-year-old Percheron cross gelding. Dillon is new to the program. Dillon is very calm and inquisitive with the students.
Board of Directors
Lenelle Scholl - Director
Lenelle has lived in Winchester WI all her life and has been passionately working with horses for the past sixty-nine years. At the bright young age of six years old, she got her first horse. Over the years she has mastered, trained, bred, and shown horses, and instructed students in Western, Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing. She has realized her passion is working with students at risk and students with disabilities, especially those on the autism spectrum. Horses are the true teachers and heroes; we humans facilitate the process. "Working in this program keeps me young. I am very proud and lucky to have remarkable horses, volunteers, and people who believe in what we do. This is what makes our program succeed!"
Bette Berga – President
Bette resides in Wakefield Michigan with her horse and dog. Her interests are western and dressage riding. She is retired, a very active volunteer, and a program decision-maker.
Linda Anderson – Treasurer
Originally from Crystal Falls MI, my husband Karl and I came to Mercer, WI in 1989 for Karl’s career as plant manager at Action Floor Systems. We raised our 2 children, Kati and Max here in Mercer. As well as a being mother and wife, I worked in the service industry and as a bookkeeper for several local businesses. I have several hobbies including craft projects, baking, gardening, and exercising. I have been on SCIG’s board of directors as treasurer since 2013.
Susan Homan – Secretary
When Sue was about 5, her brother’s friends showed up at their house in the country, on horseback. She was instantly attracted to these amazing creatures. She could not wait to get on and ride them. At the time, she could not understand why she wasn’t allowed to just grab the reins and venture out, and instead had to be led around the big back yard. She was smitten! Fast forward to 1981. Graduating from UW Madison with a Bachelor in Business Administration, double majors in Marketing and Management, she worked in the retail business for nearly 20 years including her own retail craft business. In 1999, she started work at Lakeland Union High School as the Attendance Secretary. For the next 21 years, she worked in the school system as Attendance Secretary, Special Education Secretary, Summer School Secretary, Paraprofessional Aide, Substitute Nurse, and Substitute Teacher. The last 7 years of her school career involved working with students with disabilities, including cognitive, learning, and emotional. It was at this time she was introduced to Equine Assisted Therapy. She could see the connections the horses made with the students and the impact that carried over to everyday life. She became a volunteer and then a board member of Scholl Community Impact Group, where she is currently the Board Secretary. She retired from the school system in 2022 and has been able to focus more of her time working with horses and students. She bought her horse, Junior, three years ago who is a full time “employee” at SCIG, working with students in the program. Over the years this program has expanded from working with local students to referrals from county agencies, to being contracted by the school system, to working with veterans with PTSD, and it’s still growing. “I am honored and proud to be a part of this “out of the box” force helping our students become more independent and involved in their everyday life.”
Celeste Hockings – Board Member & Instructor
Boozhoo! I am a tribal member of the Oglala Lakota of the Pine Ridge. (Part of the Sioux, a horsemen nation) I have lived in the Northwoods of Wisconsin for the majority of my life.
I started learning how to ride with Lenelle back when I was 10 years old during the time Pony Club was at her farm.
I went to school for Equine science in University of Minnesota Crookston for 2 years. I started to volunteer for the Scholl Community Impact Group back in 2014 when I graduated from UW Stevens Point and came back home to work for the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Natural Resources Department.
Sami Kussard – Board Member & Instructor
Sami is a lifelong resident of Mercer, WI. She is a 911 Dispatcher and Corrections Officer for the Iron County Sheriff’s Office. She is also an EMT for Mercer Area Ambulance and Rescue. Sami has had a lifelong passion for horses and rode throughout her adolescence. She took some time off from riding to start a family and came back to Lenelle’s place in her late 20s. Lenelle asked Sami to become a volunteer and found she loved working with the students. In August of 2021, Sami became a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through PATH International.
Volunteers
Our volunteers are full of cheer and welcoming smiles. They make our families feel at ease and are never afraid to lend a helping hand.
Interested in Voluneering?
Here are a few examples of what you might help with at SCIG.
- Retrieve and return horses from the pasture.
- Help students learn the parts of the horse and tack.
- Teach students about how to interact with horses safely.
- Help students blanket and saddle their horses.
- Help students hand walk their horses around the leader.
- Lead the horse while the student is on the horse.
- For those students who need additional assistance, walk alongside the horse and rider to ensure rider and horse safety.
- Interact with students to promote communication, social skills, and improved decision-making.
Sound like something you're interested in? We'd love to hear from you so we can discuss how you can help!