Meet Our Team
Our Professional Staff is Here For You
Horse Powered Reading sessions at Cross P Ranch are based on the EAGALA model of equine assisted learning. Please see our About Horse Powered Reading page to learn more.
Using EAGALA model Horse Powered Reading, both a registered credentialed Mental Health Professional and a certified Equine Specialist work collaboratively at all times to assure clients get the therapeutic attention and support they need.
Michele Pickel, Ph.D.
HPR Founder, Equine Specialist
Qualifications
Full Professor of Teacher Education at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota
MN Licensed PreK-8 Teacher and K-12 Reading Specialist
Early Childhood and Elementary School Classroom Teaching Experience
EAGALA Equine Specialist Advanced Certification (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association)
Author of Horse Powered Reading Curriculum: Activities for Arena and Classroom.
Michele Pickel, Ph.D. created EAGALA Model Horse Powered Reading Instruction in 2012, as an experiential strategy to help struggling readers not only learn missing reading skills, but also to assist them in overcoming the social-emotional challenges interfering with their learning.
Dr. Pickel is an Associate Professor at Concordia University, St Paul, MN. Her specialty is literacy education. She has experience teaching in early childhood and elementary schools and is a licensed PreK-8 teacher and K-12 Reading Specialist. Dr. Pickel holds Advanced Certification as an Equine Specialist through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA).
Due to the success of Horse Powered Reading, and hoping to change the lives of children across the nation, she developed an online class to teach other Mental Health Professionals, Equine Specialists, and Educators who would like to learn how to use Horse Powered Reading to help their clients and students.
“Horse Powered Reading
is not just a Program
It is CHILDREN
who struggle every day
Who we have the POWER to help,
the POWER to make their life easier,
and to make it more HOPE filled!”
Sally A. Baas, Ed.D.
Mental Health Specialist
Qualifications
Full Professor at Concordia University, St Paul, Minnesota
Directs the Southeast Asian Teacher, Hmong Culture and Language, and English as a Second Language Programs at Concordia University, St Paul, Minnesota
Has worked in cross-cultural Preschool-12th grade settings
Past President of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
EAGALA Certified Mental Health Professional (Equine Growth and Learning Association)
Advanced Trainer for the Nurtured Heart Approach®
Sally Bass, Ed.D. is a licensed school psychologist who has spent many of her professional years working cross culturally in Preschool-12th grade settings. She is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Her areas of expertise include:
cross cultural models
child and adolescent development
social emotional learning
children’s mental health
crisis response
leadership
advocacy
training
She is certified in the EAGALA Model and serves as Dr. Pickel’s Mental Health Professional for Horse Powered Reading Sessions.
“PLAY
gives children
a chance to
PRACTICE
what they are
LEARNING”
"Cowboy Steve" Pickel
Lead Wrangler And Chuckwagon Dinner Chef
Qualifications
Director of Christian Education
Member of National Versatility Ranch Horse Association
Our Ranch Roping Specialist
Owner/Operator of Cross P Ranch
"Cowboy Steve" and Dr. Michele Pickel, fell in love and married while they were students at Concordia University located in St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduation, Steve served for 23 years as a Director of Christian Education serving several states. Eventually, the couple moved back to Minnesota.
Steve now works as a Financial Advisor for Thrivent. Throughout their marriage, horses have always been an important part of their life and ministry.
"Cowboy Steve" enjoys teaching children how to use a lariat to rope steers during Wild West Field Trips at Cross P Ranch. He also has an authentic chuck-wagon, where he delights in serving hearty cowboy meals for equine facilitated retreats, gatherings, and leadership training events.
“Solutions to problems often come from knowing when to ask for help.”
