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When a child is engaged in an equine therapy session, three to four volunteers are required to ensure the child’s safety, particularly when the child is very small or has severe physical limitations.
Without our volunteers, these Miraculous Steps could never happen and Pasos Milagrosos is proud to introduce our volunteer staff who so graciously and unselfishly donate their time and love.
If you would like to volunteer your time or contribute funds, medical supplies or professional services to our efforts, read our How You Can Help section, and then Contact Us today. We will be happy to tell you more about our special children and the Pasos Milagrosos program. |
 Paul and Elaine Cooper, founders of Pasos Milagrosos, retired to Mexico from Hollywood, Florida, in 1992. After spending years golfing and teaching English to local children they decided they needed a change, so at the ages of 60 and 70 they took up horseback riding. Their local vet helped them acquire two small, gentle horses and they took riding lessons for some time before bringing the horses home to their village.
Their pastime became riding along the shores of Lake Chapala and exploring the hills surrounding their home and other areas on the north side of the lake. One day Paul mentioned how wonderful it was to enjoy the horses recreationally and he wondered how they could bring disadvantaged children and horses together. An Internet search led him to learn volumes about equine therapy and that was the beginning of their education about how to begin a riding center for handicapped children.
After completing several months of study and training with professional NARHA-trained equine therapists from Guadalajara. Paul and Elaine began the Pasos Milagrosos program on February 9, 2007 with six children. Today, just one year later, the program serves 20 children.
Seeing the children's progress, their smiles, the joy their horses bring them, and hearing the parents' positive comments make the Coopers know that the program could not have been more aptly named. Each week they see more and more Pasos Milagrosos (Miraculous Steps.)
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 Margaret Crowder grew up in Ottawa, Ontario and was very active in many sports and youth organizations. At 14 years of age, she received her Instructors Certificate in English style horse back riding and also earned the Bronze Medallion for Life Saving. Margaret had several jobs in business including auto repossessions, insurance billing & collections, accounts payable, auditor and was an administrative assistant.
With her love of children and animals it was a natural course of action for her to join Pasos and she plans to continue to work on the team as long as she can hobble around the horse ring. Margaret says that working with the children is very rewarding and satisfying and that she gets more out of the experience than the children do. |
 Elizabeth Gonzalez joined the Pasos team as a sidewalker when she was 12 years old. Today, at age 15, she is one of the instructors who guides the children through their therapies using teaching aids such as number and color puzzles, basketball, and other tasks that promote hand-eye coordination, balance, etc. Elizabeth's attendance record over the years has been exemplary for such a young person.
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 Stacy Girton and her husband, Mike, moved to Ajijic four and half years ago from Austin, Texas where she worked in real estate.
Stacy's hobbies include horseback riding, and tennis. She is a member of the Lakeside Garden Guild and is famous for her one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces made from precious and semi-precious stones. Her favorite pastime is giving back (or paying it forward) to the community.
Stacy has been with Pasos since its inception and she says that she adores the children and their determination to strive to be the best they can be given their many challenges along the way. |
 Sandy Keith and her husband have been retired and living happily in Ajiic for 4 years. Sandy found business management to be her vocational profession. She worked alongside her husband and managed his Periodontal practice for many years. Hobbies include computer activities, travel, exercise, and golf. Sandy enjoys donating her time to Cruz Roja, and her favorite time is with the special children and wonderful people at Pasos Milagrosos. Sandy feels truly blessed to be in such a beautiful part of the world that has such upbeat and happy surroundings. |
 Linda Hendy is from Canada, Toronto to be precise, and started with Pasos in June 2009. Her former professions range from political organizer, CEO of three non-profits to major gift fund-raising. Horses have always been a passion so Pasos is the natural charity choice drawing upon both her passion and professional experience. She has also started a computer lab for the children with the help of her husband Terry Lorette. Four to five computers are in use most Saturday mornings using Spanish educational programs to provide additional learning opportunities for both the students of Pasos and their siblings. In addition to her tasks as backrider, horse leader and computer lab supervisor, Linda serves on the board of directors of Pasos.
Here you see her supporting Chuy during his therapy. She wears the extra-wide hat so that Chuy is protected from the afternoon sun. |
 Velia Unzueta and Chayo Hernandez are two of the children's instructors. Their bilingual skills are a great benefit for communicating with the Mexican children and foreign volunteers. Each week they create teaching aids that help the children do their therapies in a most entertianing manner. Both women have said that Pasos is their passion and they look forward to being with the chidren every week. |
 Leigh Henry moved here from Massachusetts almost six years ago.
Before retiring she was self-employed as a licensed and board certified
electrologist. Active in the American Electrology Association for over
fifteen years, she still serves on their Executive Board and Board of
Directors. Leigh is also a Reiki II practitioner, helping people and
animals through energy-work. About working with Pasos she says,
"Beautiful children, horses, and hugs...what could be better?" |
 Sharon Boehm is from St. Louis, Missouri and in her former life she was a Special Education teacher. She loves to work with the children at Pasos and tries to figure out how to stretch their abilities. Sharon says that the progress she sees week to week it is very fulfilling. |
 Carla Vanderploeg was born and raised in the Netherlands but has lived in several countries including Africa, the Middle East and the United States. A special education teacher, she has always worked with children, both teaching and volunteering. When she moved to Mexico two years ago she discovered that her next door neighbors were in the process of starting an equine therapy program and she was delighted to have the opportunity to give back to the local community using the skills that she had developed around the world. She says of her Pasos experience “It seems that I have come full circle”. |
 Ron Johnson and Janis McNeal moved to Chapala from Ontario, Canada. Ron was a pilot with Air Canada for 36 years. His love of children, especially those in need, brought Ron to Pasos. As a leader and side-walker he has found great reward.
Janis was a pediatric nurse for 26 years. Pasos was a great fit for her because of her love of children and newly found love of horses. She gets much satisfaction from being a side-walker. |
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