Jessica McKenzie

Staff

Jessica McKenzie has been a part of Little Bit for 20 years. Her husband, Steve, was hired as Little Bit’s first staff therapist, and the couple moved together from the Bay Area. Jessica was already an instructor certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, and after filling in one session for an instructor on maternity leave, has been working at Little Bit ever since. Jessica grew up riding horses and wanted to be an equine vet. After working in a neuropsychology research lab as an undergraduate, she stumbled across information on equine-assisted services and began volunteering at a therapeutic riding program, which turned into a full-time instructor position. Steve was working as a therapist in a hippotherapy program nearby, and the two met at a PATH International conference. 

Jessica shares that she and Steve both knew this was what they wanted to do with their lives and there were limited opportunities around the country to find somewhere they both could work in equine-assisted services. “It was a big leap of faith to leave our home, our family, our friends, our jobs,” recounts Jessica. “We knew of Little Bit’s reputation in the industry, and it was something we both wanted to do.”

“Little Bit has played a very central role in our family’s lives, with both Steve and I working here and being heavily involved. It’s something that’s taken a hold of me.” Their children grew up around the barn, and their son participated in hippotherapy for a little while. “It’s been a full circle experience for our family, between employment, and volunteering, and being on the patient side.”

Jessica’s role has evolved over the years, encompassing various aspects of the organization from full-time instructor to part-time horse handler and schooler when her children were young, back to full-time managing various departments. She feels the roles have all been a good fit for where she was at that point in her life. Now, she coordinates various activities at Little Bit, including training, continuing education opportunities, and Little Bit’s annual participant horse shows.   

As a national and regional leader in equine-assisted services, Little Bit hosts educational offerings through PATH International and the American Hippotherapy Association. Little Bit is dedicated to providing continuing education opportunities for current staff members as well as training opportunities for other individuals from around the country who are interested in equine-assisted services. “It’s really important for a program on the scale of Little Bit, with both just our sheer size and our expertise and the knowledge that we have with our staff, both human and equine staff, that we share that with the greater community. That’s been a big part of Little Bit’s story and journey in addition to providing our own services to being an educational resource to the greater community,” says Jessica. “I feel really passionate that I get to be a part of bringing what we do to the greater world.” 

What makes Little Bit so special? Jessica feels it’s the sense of community and common purpose. Many families are at Little Bit long term, and its families she’s gotten to know over 20 years. Some of their closest friends have stemmed from being at Little Bit. As well as the support and mentoring; there’s always someone there to help you be better. “It’s more than a job. It’s not something that you just leave and go home at the end of the night. It’s a community. . . that’s the clients, horses, other staff. It’s really special that there’s a commonality of purpose where everyone chooses to be here. People who work here come here because they are passionate, you have to feel strongly about Little Bit’s mission. It’s very evident in the people who work here. It’s not just coming to work. I don’t think I would stay here for 20 years without this being a remarkable place. Little Bit provides a place where everyone belongs.”  

When Jessica started at Little Bit, it was on the precipice of growth. She reflects on the people and horses she has known over the years. “I was privileged to teach Alena Sorm for quite a while. I remember they lived around the corner from our previous facility in Woodinville. She used a power chair, and she would come and bring our mail every day. . . She had a great attitude, and she really was a fixture at Little Bit at that time. I love working with the kids, but I have a special place in my heart for working with adults. You just have a different relationship with an adult you are teaching, and it was special to teach that class.”

When asked about her favorite horse, Jessica talks about a special quarter horse named Ben, “Who my son may or may not be named after.” 

Jessica feels privileged to have experienced the growth of staff in almost every department and has witnessed Little Bit growing into the new facility. “To have weathered the challenges that Little Bit has weathered over the years, and to have your 50th anniversary being a strong and thriving, successful organization is really reflective of the dedication of the people on the inside and the community at large.”

Recently, Jessica was honored by her colleagues with the “Alena Sorm Never, Never, Never Quit” Award in recognition of the same perseverance, dedication, and spirit exemplified by her former student. Like the award's namesake, she has become the heart and soul of Little Bit. 

Today, Steve, as a physical therapist, is a Sports Physical Therapy Supervisor at Seattle Children’s.

Find more 50th anniversary stories HERE.