Margo Dewkett
Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center of East Texas, Inc. (Windridge) is a Premier Accredited Center with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Intl.). Founded in 1988, by Margo Dewkett, an ex-racehorse jockey and trainer, who had a passion for horses and wished to share with children and adults with disabilities. So, on March 6, 1989 in a small wooden framed barn with five horses, five volunteers, and two clients Margo began teaching therapeutic horsemanship, in the form of therapeutic riding, sessions as Windridge’s first instructor. Margo would later become Windridge’s first executive director. In July of 2016 Margo Dewkett retired from Windridge.
Since 1989, Windridge has grown to 2 centers: Diana and Tyler and employs seven certified therapeutic riding instructors, utilizes 34 horses and 70 plus volunteers per week. Each week 92 individuals participate in one of our three programs: Therapeutic Riding, Hippotherapy, or Equines in Service for Heroes.
In 1997, 25 acres of land adjacent to Windridge’s 
founding location was purchased to begin construction on a 38,000 square foot covered facility. In January of 2002 Windridge began classes in its newly built facility completely paid for by East Texans. Windridge was the first facility in Texas to design and build a facility specific for therapeutic horsemanship programs and the design of the facility has been utilized by other centers when beginning their construction process.
In summer of 2018, Windridge acquired the resources of a small center in Tyler that was closing. In the Fall of 2018, Windridge started Tyler classes on Tuesday’s and Saturday’s to serve the community of Tyler.In May 2019 the Tyler site started Thursday classes due to the growing need in Tyler.
Windridge’s Board of Directors
Windridge is governed by an active and responsible body of men and women, who serve without compensation and exercise effective administrative control. Windridge Board of Directors meet the first Thursday of the month, excluding August and December.
If you would like to serve our community and become a Windridge Board Member, please call Windridge’s office at 903.797.2414 and ask for Dawn Martin, our Executive Director.
Board Members
President: Stewart Green
Vice President: Kyle Stephens
Treasurer: Kyle Stephens
Secretary: Michelle Holloway
Member: John Jones
Member: Don Hood
Member: Russell Fisher
Member: Crystal Thornton
Member: Daryl Atkinson
Member: Sandra Pinson
Member: Ronnie Orr
Member: Larry Courington
Member: Tyler Hudson
Windridge’s board of directors and staff believe our first responsibility is to define our reality based on God’s guidance and Christian principles, second we hope we will never forget to say thank you and in-between the two we will strive to serve one another and each child, youth and adult that come through our gate or communicate with us from afar.
As Windridge developed, so has the industry of therapeutic horsemanship.
Windridge’s dedicated staff began as volunteers, some as young as 14 years of age. Collectively, the staff has 161 combined years of volunteer service and employment among them. The staff’s choice of vocation have provided opportunities beyond measure, for program participants.
Thirty-Four horses, which were donated, make up Windridge’s equine staff. Our gratitude goes out to the horse’s previous owners who chose to gift their beloved horse to Windridge. Once accepted, the horses begin a training program to prepare them for equine-assisted activities and therapy programs. It is important to know our horses remain with us their entire lives.
Dawn Martin
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)/Instructor
PATH International Advanced Instructor
PATH International Therapeutic Driving Instructor – Level II
Charlynn Bradford
Chief Operating Officer(COO)/Instructor
PATH International Advanced Instructor
Sarah Rollish
Administrative Director/Instructor
PATH International Registered Instructor
Debbie Dewkett
Volunteer Coordinator/Instructor
PATH International Registered Instructor
Technology Manager/Instructor
PATH International Registered Instructor
Emily Goldman
Equine Manager
PATH International Registered Instructor
emily.windridge@gmail.com
Kirsten Allums
Equine Manager Assistant
Rocky Ware
Facility Manager
Kim Oliver
Tyler site Supervisor
Nestled in the piney woods of East Texas, Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center provides equine-assisted activities and therapy program for children, adults and veterans with disabilities in a state-of-the-art 38,000 sq. foot facility. This facility is the result of contributions from foundations, corporations, civic organizations, and individuals. Windridge’s existence is a tribute to East Texans.
A father once expressed what it meant for his son to have the opportunity to participate in the therapeutic riding program at Windridge. He said, “I never thought others would be interested in my son’s well-being until I came to Windridge. One week I found out Windridge has never sought state or federal funding like most non-profits. That’s when I realized how important my son and other children are to my neighbors. It is my neighbors that are responsible for the existence of this organization, I became overwhelmed.”
Life is much less a competitive struggle for survival than a triumph of cooperation and creativity.
– Fritjof Capra
| Kidz First Therapy | www.kidzfirsttherapy.org |
| PATH International | www.pathintl.org |
| United Cerebral Palsy Association | www.ucpa.org |
| National Association of the Deaf | www.nad.org |
| National Federation for the Blind | www.nfb.org |
| Autism Society of America | www.autism-society.org |
| Talk Autism | www.talkautism.org |
| Brain Injury Association of America | www.biausa.org |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society | www.nmss.org |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation | www.msfacts.org |
| Disability Resources | www.disability.gov |
Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center of East Texas, Inc.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 680 ~ Diana, TX 75640
Physical Address: 593 Windridge Road ~ Gilmer, TX 75645
Office Phone Number: (903) 797-2414
E-Mail Address: windridgetx@aol.com
Directions: From Longview, Texas – Travel north on Highway 259, turn left onto Highway 154. Travel approximately 3 miles, turn right onto Highway 726. Turn left onto the first black top road, name: Gardenia. Go one mile, turn a sharp left onto a small black top road named Windridge. Continue to the top of the hill. Turn right into Windridge’s driveway. You’ll see a large Windridge entrance sign. Continue down the driveway, past the log house, to the large covered facility.
Windridge signs begin on Highway 726 and Gardenia with a green state sign. Another sign is located on the right at Windridge road and the large entrance sign.
Driving time to Windridge from:
Longview: 20 minutes from north Loop 281
Daingerfield: 30 minutes
Gladewater: 30 minutes
Marshall: 45 minutes
Tyler: 60 minutes
Henderson: 60 minutes