Meet the 2023 Director Candidates

Niki Jones

Hi, my name is Niki Jones. As a mother of four wonderful children and a proud owner of a horse farm in Pinckney Michigan, I'm confident I would be an asset to the Board of the Michigan Horse Council.  I am interested in applying for the Board position that is available.  For the past three years, my daughter and I have volunteered for the Michigan Horse Council activities including outreach to recruit participants and shared information regarding the Top Trail ride challenge. I am very active in trail riding activities.  I'm also involved with Pinckney Trail Riders Association and have been on their board for the last twelve years, formally as a board member for three years, and more recently as their delegate.  I've been involved with additional horse groups such as Brighton trail riders, Proud Lake and Kensington trail groups. I've been around horses my whole life and currently have 5 horses of our own.  Currently, we own a horse boarding business, Carousel Horse Farm, that we just recently started up. I am very active in my children’s Four H club, Happy Hustlers and have recently taken on the responsibility of becoming their horse leader. My entire life I have dedicated myself to horses and trail riding benefits. Please consider me for this position so I can bring more ideas to the table.

Renee Evoy

I feel that I am qualified for this position due to the length of time I have been involved in the horse industry in Michigan.  I have also been a member of the MHC for 2 years, active for the year 2022 and 2023 and wish to become more involved in the MHC influencing the Michigan Equine industry.

As a kid I was actively involved in 4-H on a state level and trained reining horses as a young adult.  I was a head wrangler on a dude ranch in Colorado during my summers while I attended college.  I have volunteered as a horse walker for two therapeutic riding centers throughout the years.

​About 5 years ago I began my own business training horses and a lesson program for beginner children.  I am an active trail rider, participating in many events and rides throughout Michigan during the summer.
I think I would be an asset to the MHC, supporting their mission and the equine industry in Michigan.

Kallie Meyers

I am completing my first term as Director for the Michigan Horse Council and chair the Legislative,
Government and Land Use Committee. I am a Master Citizen Planner and expert in Government
Operations, Zoning, Planning and Land Use and expert in the Right to Farm Act and the Open Meetings Act.
This enables me to assist our House Council members in issues related to zoning, planning and
communicating with their governmental entity and to be an effective advocate for legislation and policies
that promote and protect the equine industry. I am currently a sworn Special Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office
serving on the Mounted Unit and am blessed to ride a beautiful Friesian/Percheron cross named Thor. I am
also a proud member of the Michigan Multi Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard and
have had the honor of participating in numerous Presidential Inaugurations and the Presentation of Colors
and Tribute to our fallen officers at the Horse Council Expo.
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I am an icisf Crisis Intervention Specialist and ADLS Certified National Disaster Responder specializing in
Emergency Management, Threat Assessment and Prevention, Verbal Diffusion, Crisis Intervention and
mitigation of trauma impacts after mass-casualty disasters at the Local, State and Federal level.

Brittany Bennett

​With an entrepreneurial spirit, Brittany Bennett is an author, trained Peacemaker specializing in cross-cultural communications, and Human Rights and Disability Rights Consultant. She is starting her mediation practice for family, civil and equine industry disputes. Included will be a non-profit subsidiary focused on healing for families who have experienced early childhood sexual abuse and trauma. The owner of Equinekids, LLC, the parent company for her book series, Foal and Friends, is a catalyst for horse advocacy. Through collaborative efforts of equine organizations spanning ten countries and eight languages, they raise awareness of all horse breeds, focusing on those on the endangered watch lists. She has been recognized for her efforts at home and internationally by the Livestock Conservancy, US, and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, UK. An inspiration for her non-profit's Wellness Training program and Bill's proposal came from witnessing everyday miracles in the horse-human connection as a volunteer with Renew Therapeutic Riding Center. Together, they are championing a Bill that would include specific "Equine Assisted Therapies" to be covered by Medicaid.
 
Brittany holds a degree in Health Communications from Grand Valley State University and a Dual Masters in Legal Studies and Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and the Straus Institute. She brings a diverse background from pharmaceutical sales, insurance agency-co-owner and Wellness Coaching. Brittany has been an active member of the Michigan Horse Council since 2020. She has volunteered in the youth area at the Michigan Horse Expo, Youth Legislative Day, Equine Legislative Day, and Coffee Hours. Brittany is actively recruiting equine-assisted riding facilities, therapists, and families to share their experiences to help raise awareness about the positive impact horses have on the lives of patients and their families. She is also working with Julie Fershtman, Equine Attorney, to amend the Stablemen's Lien Law. Their efforts would be to reduce the amount of time a border can go without payment and facilities to be compensated.