Our Horse Herd
Sebastian
Chance
Dutton
Enzo
DJ
Levi
Serenity
Abe
Spur
Duncan & Dexter
Human Herd
Kelley- Founder/Certificated Equine Coach
Kelley Chaplin’s deep bond with horses began at just three years old, sitting in the saddle atop her parents’ first horse, Frost, or standing quietly underneath rubbing his belly. That early passion for equines never faded; instead, it evolved into a lifelong calling. Bringing over 25 years of experience in education, family systems, and youth advocacy, Kelley began her career in the mid-1990s working within Alternative Education in Orange County, California. Driven by a heart for families navigating hardship, she founded the Coastal Mountain Youth Academy (CMYA) in 2005—a non-profit recovery high school supporting young people and families through traumatic life events and healing. It was during her tenure at CMYA that Kelley integrated equine-assisted sessions into her programs, witnessing firsthand the profound healing power of horses. Certified as an Equine Coach in 2010, Kelley has spent the last decade and a half facilitating deep emotional transformation for individuals, families, veterans, women, educators, Route 91 survivors, and local horse rescue organizations like Hanaeleh.
In 2018, Kelley and her husband purchased property in Orange Park Acres, allowing her to launch Equine Assisted Coaching OC on a full-time basis. She later co-developed the proprietary Equine Facilitated Coaching and Wellness (EFCW) certification program, training and certifying therapists and coaches nationwide in this experiential modality. Combining decades of family advocacy with wisdom gained from master horsemen and horsewomen, Kelley serves as an impactful coach, business founder, and mentor. It is her life’s mission to provide a safe space where individuals can heal, restore hope, and become the people they were put on
this earth to be.
Marcia Hoffmann, LCSW is the newest member of the Team at Whole Heart Ranch. She is an EMDR certified trauma therapist and a former Medical Social Worker. She has a 20+ year background substance abuse, childhood and developmental trauma, dissociation, medical illness and domestic violence.
Marcia currently sees clients both virtually and in-office in her private practice based in Newport Beach. A couple of years ago she started to combine her love of horses and her professional life by pursuing a certification in Equine Assisted Coaching & Therapy. Because Equine Assisted Therapy is similar to EMDR in that it is experiential and allows for a much deeper and less
“in our heads” approach to healing trauma combining these two modalities seemed like the natural next step.
Marcia sought out further professional education in 2025 and 2026 to take this next step and is trained in Equilateral (TM), Equine Assisted E.M.D.R., a trauma
Marcia - Certificated Equine Therapist
Jessica - Certificated Equine Coach
Jessica Mirazo is a Navy Veteran who had never even been around a horse. When she
separated from the Navy, she was working on herself and came across a Horse Rescue that offered Equine Coaching for Veterans. She decided to give it a go. It sparked a whole new passion; she learned that horses have so much to teach us as long as we listen. This new experience led her to complete her Equine Facilitated Coaching and Wellness Certification (EFCW). This certification requires riding hours, group facilitation, and an understanding of basic horse and human psychology. Because of her own experience with the horses, Jessica understands the healing that occurs when working with them. Currently, Jessica is working with young people that have been through trauma, she also supports groups that come to the ranch and grabs on to every opportunity available that supports her growth with both horses and clients. Jessica feels blessed to do what she loves and can’t imagine a life without these magnificent beings.
Leora - Certificated Equine Coach
Leora Richardson returned to her love of horses in 2018 while volunteering to help displaced horses during a California wildfire. After this experience, she knew they had to become a significant part of her life. Leora had been a stay-at-home mom to two young men that were now in college, and was looking for something meaningful in her life, where she could make a difference. She started working with Hanaeleh Horse Rescue and was introduced to Equine Coaching. Leora came to EACOC during a difficult period in her life. The horses and people supported her through this transition and her healing. In the Fall of 2019, she fell in love and adopted Sebastian, a beautiful chestnut Belgian Warmblood who needed a new home. He is part of the EACOC program and continues to teach and heal clients. In summer of 2020 Leora
completed EFCW certification and became a coach with EACOC. She supports various groups as well as sees individual clients. Leora believes that EACOC is and will always be a safe place to learn about yourself and grow as a person. When she’s not at the ranch taking care of our herd, she works as an accountant for a small medical device company in Irvine.
Sherry - Certificated Equine Coach
Sherry Thomas’ adventures with horses began at an early age 4 when her father leased farmland and began raising and racing Thoroughbred horses. Sherry’s favorite activity was hopping onto her horse and riding bareback along the San Gabriel Valley riverbeds with her friends. Although horses were absent from her life for many years as she raised her family, they always held a special place in her heart. Sherry has worked as a Paralegal in civil law for more than 30 years. During her legal career, she learned that there are always two sides to a story and that cases are more likely to settle when both sides keep open minds and are able to productively communicate to resolve their differences. Sherry also did volunteer work with the Naval Sea Cadet program for youths 14-18. Sherry helped cadets to set goals and develop strategies for reaching those goals, and participated in many skill, and confidence building activities in the program. When she was able to work a more flexible schedule, Sherry began volunteering with rescue horses at Hanaeleh, which eventually led her to meeting Kelley Chaplin. Sherry started Kelley’s equine coaching certification program in 2019, and is now a proud graduate. With Kelley as her mentor, Sherry was able to participate in equine programs to help build confidence in youths and assist families in how to speak and listen to each other to create more positive communications within the family unit.