About
Equine Dreams offers Equine Assisted Services and therapeutic riding for children and adults with special needs. The program is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center and provides all services at no charge to participants.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: Equine Dreams provides Equine Assisted Services at no charge to children and adults with special needs. All services are free.
Equine Dreams is a 501c3 non-profit organization that began in 1996 and was founded by the Mason family, inspired by their son Andrew who has Angelman Syndrome. The program’s mission states that its faith enables the team to nurture abilities in individuals with special needs, with a dedication to improving independence and quality of life for individuals living with special needs, and a vision for children, adults, and veterans with special needs to have a place to experience life-long learning regardless of ability and income. The leadership team includes Sharon Mason, CTRI, R.D.M.S., Founder of Equine Dreams, and Rick Mason, B.S., CTRI, CEO and Board President of Equine Dreams.
Equine Dreams has a staff of 5 PATH Intl. Registered Instructors and 1 PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor. Sharon Mason is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Advanced Riding Instructor, Associate Evaluator, Higher Education member and mentor, and a Jane Savoie Certified Dressage Instructor. Rick Mason is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor and has a degree in cell biology from Benedictine University. Katie Ito is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a graduate of the Waubonsee Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Equine Studies class of 2013. Nicole DeLarm is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Executive Assistant Intern and a graduate of the Waubonsee Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Equine Studies class of 2016. Beka Hoelker is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor with a B.S. in Agriculture focusing on Animal Industry Management and is a graduate of the Waubonsee Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Equine Studies class of 2016. Katie Pyles has a Bachelors in Social Work from Loras College with an emphasis on children and families, and a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University, and is a Behavioral Health Counselor. Karen McCormick works in Special Education as a Para Professional and Behavioral plan data coordinator. Sarah Herron is an Occupational Therapist and a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor for Equine Dreams. Barb Wrobel is a Physical Therapist, EI specialist and NDT trained, with education from Chicago Medical School for BSPT and University of Indianapolis for her Masters in physical therapy, and is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor. Windy Kopecky has a Masters Degree in Audiology and is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Mentor for the program, grant writer, and Secretary and Treasurer on the Board of Directors. Chris Ferro is an MBA, CPA and Volunteer CPA for Equine Dreams. Paula Kowalkowski is the volunteer Spiritual Director, Music Director at St. Thomas Becket Church in Mount Prospect, IL, has a Master's degree in Contemporary Spirituality Direction from Loyola University Chicago/Institute of Pastoral Studies, and received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction with an emphasis on Ignatian Spirituality from the Midwest Jesuit Province.
Equine Dreams participates in community support and has volunteers including a Volunteer Grounds Manager, a Volunteer CPA, volunteer team members with backgrounds in real estate and digital content creation, and a volunteer Spiritual Director.
Last updated May 22, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: Equine Dreams provides Equine Assisted Services at no charge to children and adults with special needs. All services are free.
Equine Dreams is a 501c3 non-profit organization that began in 1996 and was founded by the Mason family, inspired by their son Andrew who has Angelman Syndrome. The program’s mission states that its faith enables the team to nurture abilities in individuals with special needs, with a dedication to improving independence and quality of life for individuals living with special needs, and a vision for children, adults, and veterans with special needs to have a place to experience life-long learning regardless of ability and income. The leadership team includes Sharon Mason, CTRI, R.D.M.S., Founder of Equine Dreams, and Rick Mason, B.S., CTRI, CEO and Board President of Equine Dreams.
Equine Dreams has a staff of 5 PATH Intl. Registered Instructors and 1 PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor. Sharon Mason is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Advanced Riding Instructor, Associate Evaluator, Higher Education member and mentor, and a Jane Savoie Certified Dressage Instructor. Rick Mason is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor and has a degree in cell biology from Benedictine University. Katie Ito is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a graduate of the Waubonsee Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Equine Studies class of 2013. Nicole DeLarm is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Executive Assistant Intern and a graduate of the Waubonsee Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Equine Studies class of 2016. Beka Hoelker is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor with a B.S. in Agriculture focusing on Animal Industry Management and is a graduate of the Waubonsee Therapeutic Riding Instruction and Equine Studies class of 2016. Katie Pyles has a Bachelors in Social Work from Loras College with an emphasis on children and families, and a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University, and is a Behavioral Health Counselor. Karen McCormick works in Special Education as a Para Professional and Behavioral plan data coordinator. Sarah Herron is an Occupational Therapist and a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor for Equine Dreams. Barb Wrobel is a Physical Therapist, EI specialist and NDT trained, with education from Chicago Medical School for BSPT and University of Indianapolis for her Masters in physical therapy, and is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor. Windy Kopecky has a Masters Degree in Audiology and is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Mentor for the program, grant writer, and Secretary and Treasurer on the Board of Directors. Chris Ferro is an MBA, CPA and Volunteer CPA for Equine Dreams. Paula Kowalkowski is the volunteer Spiritual Director, Music Director at St. Thomas Becket Church in Mount Prospect, IL, has a Master's degree in Contemporary Spirituality Direction from Loyola University Chicago/Institute of Pastoral Studies, and received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction with an emphasis on Ignatian Spirituality from the Midwest Jesuit Province.
Equine Dreams participates in community support and has volunteers including a Volunteer Grounds Manager, a Volunteer CPA, volunteer team members with backgrounds in real estate and digital content creation, and a volunteer Spiritual Director.
Last updated May 22, 2026.
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