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Board & Staff

Our Staff

Our staff is committed to doing whatever it takes to care for the hundreds of horses, donkeys, mules, and other animals that come through our gates.

  • Ashley has been with Horse Haven of Tennessee for over a decade. She started as a volunteer and realized this organization is where she is called to be. HHT is a place of healing and building trust among the people and the horses. Her passion grew each time her boots hit the ground. Our organization was built on a solid foundation and she is honored to serve as the Executive Director and to continue her passion for HHT!

  • Madison Whiddon - Equine Manager
    Madison Whiddon - Equine Manager

    Coming soon!

  • Kelly Hargett - Office Manager

    Coming soon!

  • Lori has been married to her husband Craig for 32 years. They currently share their home in Knoxville with two dogs! She retired in April of 2021 after 32 years with State Farm, transferring with them several times and working in claims the entire time. She has always loved animals and previously owned a mini-farm in NC with horses, goats, dogs, cats, and chickens. She loves to read, hike, bike, and kick-box. She also occasionally joins her husband for a round of golf. Volunteering at Horse Haven has been a great pleasure and she’s excited to become more involved in the organization by taking on the responsibility of Volunteer Coordinator.

Our Board

Our board represents a cross-section of our community and has a passion for our organization and those we serve. The members work hard to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization and oversee that the funds raised directly affect those in need.

  • Kathryn Haaquist - President
    Kathryn Haaquist - President

    Kathryn joined Horse Haven as a shift volunteer in 2017. She later became a team lead and was involved in many of Horse Haven's special teams. After having a child in early 2022, she decided to step back from volunteering on shift and was accepted as a board member.

    Outside of Horse Haven, she is a former registered nurse turned attorney, and is an associate in a civil litigation practice in Knoxville. When she is not at work or volunteering, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their many rescued pets.

    Kathryn's passion for this organization cannot be overstated, and she looks forward to helping guide Horse Haven to continue to grow towards its mission.

  • Dr. Meggan Graves - Vice President
    Dr. Meggan Graves - Vice President

    Dr. Meggan Graves grew up riding Hunter Jumper horses and showing Suffolk sheep with 4-H in Cookeville, Tennessee. Upon graduation from veterinary school from the University of Tennessee in 2001, Dr. Graves went into large animal practice where she served clients in coastal South Carolina, Georgia, and later West Tennessee. She opened her own private practice in western North Carolina in 2008, providing emergency relief services for seven large animal practices in the area. She then joined the Field Services team at the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2013. Dr. Graves offers emergency relief services for large animal practitioners in the Knoxville area, while teaching and mentoring veterinary students and interns. She lives in Blount County with her husband and four sons, as well as her donkeys, mules, goats, chickens and dog.

  • Nina Margetson - Treasurer
    Nina Margetson - Treasurer

    Horses have been Nina's passion since the tender age of five, but it wasn't until the formation of HHT that she understood the direction God wanted her to go. It wasn't to just own her own horse some day, it was to be an advocate for and become their voice. She formed HHT in 1999 when she realized no one was taking equine welfare issues seriously in Tennessee. Along with being the founder of Horse Haven of Tennessee she served as Executive Director before leaving in 2016 for a short hiatus. She returned to HHT in December 2020 and has served in the capacity of Interim Director and Associate Director alongside HHT current Executive Director. She is thrilled to be invited to the Board and feels she has a lot of direction and insight that will help HHT in the future. As they near their 25th anniversary her hopes are to see them be able to find their own facility that they can finally call home. Nina is married to her soulmate of 48 years and they have called South Knoxville home for 44 years. They have two daughters and 5 grandchildren. Her long time equine companion Paco passed in 2022 at the age of 35 but his pasture friend Crackers is still hanging out causing mischief.

  • Rebecca Moses - Secretary
    Rebecca Moses - Secretary

    Coming Soon!

  • Jimmy Carter
    Jimmy Carter

    Jimmy Carter grew up in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from Karns High School. He attended The University of Tennessee Knoxville where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Jimmy attended Lincoln Memorial Duncan School of Law and graduated in May 2013 as part of the inaugural class. Upon graduation he was awarded the President Abraham Lincoln Pro Bono Award. Jimmy lives in Knoxville with his wife, Kristi, and their two sons, Gavin and Grayson. Jimmy enjoys attending UT football and basketball games with his family and spending time outside with his sons at his parent's farm.

  • Kim Dickey
    Kim Dickey

    Kim has a wonderful husband and they have two children. Kim is Co-Owner with her husband & Director of Operations at PRO TOY Auto Repair Facility, located on Pellissippi Parkway between Lovell Road & Hardin Valley on Braden Dickey Lane.

    She has served on the HHT volunteer team many years ago and competed in the 2014 Dancing for the Horses competition. Her love for horses remains and she is blessed to own her very own small farm which includes horses, dogs and cats.

    Kim feels honored to be a part of Horse Haven of Tennessee and their mission to help abused equine.

  • Kristen Portuesi
    Kristen Portuesi

    City girl now living in the country, Kristen never thought she would enjoy life in a barn this much. Kristen joined Horse Haven in 2018 and soon later became shift lead, a member of the facilities team, and a performer in Dancing for the Horses.
    When not at the barn, Kristen is a client services assistant at Mountain Commerce Bank in the day & fuels her passion of music, singing with The Deltas Band at night. She also enjoys photography, spending time outdoors & in her garden.
    No longer on shift, Kristen is so grateful for the opportunity to continue to be a small hand in this great organization.

  • Jim Tedford
    Jim Tedford

    Jim Tedford has had a lifelong love of all things equine. He was given his first horse at the age of nine and never looked back. After losing his long-time companion, an appendix Quarter Horse named Murphy, in October of 2022, he sought out volunteer opportunities at Horse Haven to give him his horse “fix”. His weekly shift at the barn is a highlight of his week. Professionally, Jim has been involved in animal welfare work for more than 39 years. He has led animal sheltering organizations in Tennessee, Louisiana and, New York State and served as a regional director for The Humane Society of the United States. Since 2015 Jim has served as President & CEO for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, the national professional association for leaders in animal welfare. Jim and his wife share their “empty” nest in Maryville with two Jack Russell terriers, a Cairn terrier mix and a 34-year-old macaw…all adopted from shelters and rescue groups. The Tedfords love hiking, camping, paddling and anything else outdoors.

  • GFAS
    GFAS
  • 2023 Equus Guardian
    2023 Equus Guardian
  • Guidestar
    Guidestar