Equest, a Dallas-based non-profit that enhances the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs through the human-horse connection, announced Lane Cates as their new Chairman of the Board. She replaces Andy Steingasser, who served as Equest Board Chair for the past three years
A native of Dallas, Lane is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Abeo Management Corporation, a medical billing company. She received her undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University and law degree from The University of Texas School of Law.
Cates’s passion for horses led her to Equest where she has been a volunteer since 2006 and a Board member since 2016. She is also an active member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and previously served as the President of the Dallas Chapter of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association. Cates and her husband, Brad, have two young sons and two dogs, a Golden Retriever and the world’s largest Labradoodle. In her spare time, she enjoys Pilates, running and traveling.
“Serving Equest for the last three years as Chairman has been a true pleasure,” said Steingasser. “I part with confidence and comfort in Lane to guide Equest into a strong future. Lane’s leadership skills combined with her experience as a program volunteer and board governance committee chair will be valuable assets in the continued sustainability and growth of Equest in Southern Dallas and beyond.”
Founded in 1981, Equest provides equine assisted learning, therapies and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities and veterans with adjustment challenges. The services provided include physical and occupational therapy, equine assisted counseling and learning, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship and competition. With the help of 36 therapy horses, eight instructors, four therapists, two counselors, and 400 volunteers, lives are changed for more than 2,000 served annually. Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas and remains one of the largest in the country. Equest offers an engaging volunteer program that provides 40,000 hours of direct program service opportunities each year.
