Who We Are
Suzanne Brown
Founder, Executive Director & Co-Facilitator
Suzanne has a psychology degree from Duke University, and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Capella University. Suzanne’s interest in horses began as an adult when she was introduced to Linda Kohanov’s work on the beneficial and life-changing relationship that can occur between humans and horses. Having experienced the healing that a relationship with horses can provide, her passion is to share this work with Veterans and first responders. She also saw her uncle, a Vietnam Veteran, struggle and eventually withdraw from life after returning, and wishes she could have shared this work with him. She has participated in trainings in equine-assisted learning at Eponaquest and Rancho Bosque in Arizona, as well as in trauma-focused equine-assisted psychotherapy (TF-EAP™) at Natural Lifemanship in Texas. She is a certified Equus Effect facilitator.
Leigh Ann Apanites
Co-Facilitator
Leigh Ann has an animal science degree from NC State University. Riding hunter-jumpers and owning her own horse as a teenager helped her manage both adolescence and the additional challenges of depression and anxiety. As an adult, she was introduced to the more structured healing influence of horses through volunteering with a therapeutic riding program and helping friends with their equine-assisted psychotherapy practice. Leigh Ann’s current passion is finding ways to support other people in experiencing that healing influence. Leigh Ann has many friends and family who are Veterans, and she is committed to applying her skills and knowledge of horsemanship to support Veterans in appreciation for their dedication and struggle. She loves furthering her education in EAL/EFL/EAP and has participated in training in trauma-focused equine-assisted psychotherapy (TF-EAP™) training at Natural Lifemanship in Texas. She is a certified Equus Effect facilitator.
Ben Carroll
Co-Facilitator & Board Member
Ben is an Army Veteran and first came to Peace Reins as a participant, due to years of struggling with PTSD. Upon completing the program, Ben had a new understanding of the inexplicable magic of horses and decided he wanted to give back to the program by volunteering.
Ben continues to volunteer with Peace Reins and recently earned his facilitator certification with The Equus Effect, Peace Reins’ programming. Ben hopes to help other Veterans find peace and healing though the power of horses.
Sue Law
Board Member
Sue studied Special Needs Education with an emphasis on Dance and Music Therapy. After many years of raising her four children, she looked for a volunteer opportunity in the special needs field. That search led her to Equine Therapy. It was a perfect fit combining her passion for special needs and a lifelong love of horses.
Volunteering mostly with children in the early years, she saw repeatedly the magic horses brought to their development. That opportunity then opened the world of Natural Horsemanship to Sue. It gave her the ability to learn firsthand the importance of groundwork and building a relationship with horses. It was there she met Suzanne and Leigh Ann. When Suzanne approached her about Peace Reins, it was a no-brainer.
Sue’s husband Tex is a Navy Veteran, for whom she has great respect and admiration for his service as well as all who serve. She has been with Peace Reins since its first volunteer meeting. To be able to share the magic of how horses reach deep into our soul and help us heal is truly an honor.
Tara Gogolinski, MS, LMFT
Board Member
Tara Gogolinski brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as a board member. She earned her Master of Science in Couple & Family Therapy from the University of Maryland and became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2012.
Tara’s career began at Family and Children’s Services, a nonprofit community outpatient therapy organization, where she served as both a therapist and clinical supervisor. Her passion for education led her to the University of Baltimore, where she taught a Masters-level Couple and Family Therapy course as adjunct faculty. Additionally, she contributed her expertise as a clinical supervisor at the University of Maryland’s Center for Healthy Families.
In 2017, Tara joined the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing evidence-based trauma treatment to combat Veterans and military sexual trauma survivors through the Vet Center program. It was here that she connected with Peace Reins, supporting Veterans in completing the program and witnessing the transformative effects of “horse magic” in helping them master emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
In 2023, Tara transitioned to a new role at a VA in Texas as a remote employee on the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Team. She focuses primarily on treating Veteran families and couples with various presenting issues.