Kristina Murphy
Equine Professional | Riding Instructor
Kristina Murphy serves as an Equine Professional and Riding Instructor at Bit of Hope Ranch, supporting both riding programs and mental health sessions. In counseling sessions, she helps ensure the safety and well-being of both the horses and participants while providing insight into horse behavior, care, and physiology. She also collaborates with therapists to brainstorm activities and thoughtfully match horses with clients based on their needs and goals.
Kristina grew up riding competitively on the hunter/jumper circuit and has extensive experience teaching beginner lessons and working with riders in summer camp programs. Throughout her career, she has also been involved with several equine-assisted mental health and hippotherapy programs in a variety of roles.
In addition to her instructional experience, Kristina has worked as a barn manager and veterinary technician and currently manages her own farm with a diverse range of livestock. Her broad background in horse care and animal management brings valuable knowledge and perspective to her work with the ranch’s horses and clients.
During sessions, Kristina closely observes the body language and behavior of both horses and people, helping make subtle adjustments when needed to maintain a safe and supportive environment. She also works to ensure that each activity and horse-client pairing sets everyone up for a successful and meaningful experience.
Kristina has seen how horses provide powerful, nonverbal feedback that can help clients gain deeper insight into their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By responding honestly to human energy and actions, horses often help clients recognize patterns and perspectives they may not have otherwise noticed.
