Programs Manager

Danielle Braman

Clinical Manager, Occupational Therapist, MSOT, AHA

I am super excited to join the team at Promise Ranch! Ever since I was little, I have wanted to “do therapy on horses”. Having the opportunity to work with clients AND horses is a dream come true! I am an Ohio native. I attended graduate school in St Louis at Washington University in St Louis.

I worked at my other dream job, “St Jude Children’s Research Hospital” in Memphis, TN where I met my husband. We moved to Colorado in 2016.  I have additional certifications in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) and Yoga Therapy which I incorporate into my therapy.  When not working, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband, daughter and puppy.

Operations & Volunteer Manager

Miriam Dudley

Miriam comes to Promise Ranch with over 20 years of experience in horseback riding and equine care. Her experience as a volunteer at a Therapeutic Riding center and a Horse Rescue will provide a common perspective for our volunteers as she paves the way for our expanding programs. As a team player with strong communication skills, her experience includes administrative tasks, customer communication, and management. Miriam earned her BA degree in International Business Communication from AKAD University Stuttgart, Germany.

Occupational Therapy Assistant & Equine Manager

Kaity Graham

I am so excited to join the PRTR team! I graduated from Pima Medical Institute with my OTA degree in November 2019 and am thrilled to use my degree to work with children while doing hippotherapy. I started riding horses when I was 7 years old, and have been obsessed ever since. I have owned 2 horses, and my current horse Kola joined me at the ranch to begin her journey as a therapy horse.

I also have worked daycare for the past 4 years so I have lots of experience with kids of all ages.

When I’m not working, I love riding horses, hiking, relaxing in nature, swimming, and spending time with my family.

Board Secretary

Alicia Engebretson

Alicia Engebretson is a mother of 2 young boys both with various levels of Autism and a baby girl on the way. Her interest and involvement with special needs began soon after her oldest was born. Since then, she has founded a social support network for Douglas County Special Needs families and been very involved in early childhood special needs support and development.  She also enjoys spending time outside and working with animals. Most summers are spent horseback riding in Wyoming with her family.

Her involvement at the ranch began around 2014 as her oldest started receiving services at Promise Ranch early on. Currently, both of her boys are active riders in the Hippotherapy program and happily progressing with their skills and development. She is happy to be joining the board and help expand community involvement and networking.

Equine Advisor, Veterinarian

Dr. Mindy Smith, DVM, cVMA

Dr. Mindy Smith, originally from a small fishing town in Alaska, developed an interest in horses there despite the island having only one pony. She moved to California to pursue her veterinary education, where she graduated magna cum laude from Pacific Union College with a Bachelor’s degree in biology. She then attended University of California, Davis, earning her doctor of veterinary medicine in 2016. While in vet school, she worked as a large animal critical care technician in the teaching hospital, participated in pain management research in horses, and served as president of the student chapters of the AAEP and the Society for Theriogenology. She has since served as the Equine Field Services intern at Colorado State University.

Dr. Smith enjoys general equine practice but has a special passion for sports medicine, rehabilitation and integrative medicine. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture and looks forward to future chiropractic training. In her free time, she loves spending it in the outdoors with her husband (another native Alaskan), her two greyhounds and her ex-racehorse “Jack”.

Director, Building Operations

Blair Wyles

Blair has been on the Board of Directors at Promise Ranch since 2011. He has a passion in supporting individuals with disabilities as well as their families. This passion stems from raising his own son, who is diagnosed with Autism. Blair’s son, Daniel, has been receiving hippotherapy at Promise Ranch since its inception in 2009. The benefits Daniel has received through the program are far reaching. Blair is a twenty year veteran with the Denver Fire Department, currently stationed at Denver International Airport.

Blair was appointed by the Governor of Colorado to sit on the State Medical Assistance and Services Advisory Council. This appointment is an exciting venture, as Blair and his wife Valerie are currently working within their community to create a residential option for adults with disabilities. Promise Ranch has been the training ground for Blair to help enhance and further develop many services that benefit not only those with disabilities, but the families and caregivers that devote their lives to these individuals. blair@prtr.org