Donna Baxter wasn't a horse-crazy kid. In fact, she didn't begin her equestrian journey until the late 90s—entering the horse world as an adult when her two daughters took up riding. With both girls becoming quite active in their local Pony Club, Donna took on the position of Local District Coordinator, which she held for 13 years while also contributing to the USPC regional board in various roles.

In 2001, Donna acquired her first and only horse, Quin. Patiently working with this young and feral 4-year-old, she gained his trust and acceptance of human touch and handling. When it came to riding, the two of them learned together with the help of professional instructors. Eventually, they mastered all three phases of equestrian eventing: dressage, stadium jumping, & their favorite - cross-country. Quin grew into a confident & athletic horse, and Donna grew to truly appreciate the human-horse bond.

Viewing the equine world through the eyes of a compassionate adult, Donna's late introduction to horses allowed her to perceive them without preconceived notions or childhood conditioning. This nuanced awareness helped Donna recognize aspects of equine behavior, performance, and care that many riders may take for granted. By questioning and furthering her knowledge base, Donna's desire to understand horses (including her own) led to a deeper level of communication and interpretation through their bodies and being. This perspective, which honors the horse's “voice” through their behavior, reactions, and physical state, gave rise to Donna's desire to bring balance to the horse's physical well-being and the horse/rider relationship.

Today, Donna is an accomplished leader in equine education. She has worked with the Northwest School of Animal Massage as an independent contractor since 2015, where she instructs the Large Animal Foundation Massage course and regularly assists with the Acupressure course and other workshops. Additionally, in 2014 Donna started her private equine bodywork practice (Kneaded Touch) and has recently added companion animal end-of-life doula services to her holistic offerings.

Donna and her family now reside on the pastoral island of Vashon, Washington where she shares her home & farm with a variety of animal companions and fosters-including her horse, Quin. When not in the classroom or tending to her clients, she can be found at Ghost Owl Farm sanctuary where she provides hands-on training to her NSWAM students & donates a portion of her time spent working with the sanctuary residents.

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