Directors and Staff

Marian Buehler, President

Marian Buehler is the retired Director and Vice President of Administration at Six Flags Park in Arlington, Texas. In that position she directed all Human Resources, Safety and legal efforts. With over thirty years of experience, Marian has studied natural training techniques and methods among several species of animals including dolphins, whales, chimpanzees, zebras, big cats and horses. Involved with Arabians her entire life, she has transitioned her natural horsemanship techniques into the performance arena. Taking in problem horses and rehabilitating them through these methods, she has been able to create a successful show career in which she has won multiple regional and U.S. Top Ten awards in Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR.

J. Ben Casey, Jr., Secretary

Ben Casey is former President of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation which supports the 5 Presbyterian hospitals and the Presbyterian Village in North Texas. The Foundation funds medical research, patient care, education, facilities & community outreach. He served as President of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas for 15 years. His total career at the YMCA was 35 yrs.

Mike Gill, Treasurer

Mike Gill is President of Point Solutions, LLC. He was the former Vice President of Sales for MIS Group, a software company where he was instrumental in growing the company from a 12 person, one location reseller to a company that employst over 150 people and operates in five offices covering the Southwest. Mr. Gill also owns Gallery Six, Inc., a design showroom located in the Dallas Market Center that he and his wife started in 1996. Gallery Six, Inc. is currently one of the largest design showrooms in the southwest. Before Gallery Six, Mr. Gill experienced entrepreneurial success with a wholesale furniture distributing company, Bixler Distributing and later started a furniture manufacturer, Eldorado Manufacturing. Horses are a meaningful part of Mr. Gill’s life and the life of his family. They own a facility in McKinney dedicated to breeding and training Arabians for the sport of Endurance riding.

Kenton H. Arnold, DVM, Executive Committee

Kenton H. Arnold, DVM, is in private practice in Terrell, Texas. He owns and operates Equine Veterinary Services. An active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, he writes for equestrian publications on issues related to the health and well-being of performance and breeding horses. Dr. Arnold has served as a regular columnist for multiple equine publications. He competes on a regular basis in the National Cutting Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association competitions. Dr. Arnold has been a top ten finisher in both cutting and pole bending competition in the prestigious AQHA World Show.

Robert M. Caruth, Executive Committee

Bob Caruth’s family first arrived in Dallas in 1852, opening a dry goods store downtown and using the business profits to start a farm 6 miles north of Dallas. At its largest, the farm was over 30,000 acres with two cotton gins and its own railroad siding. Numerous horses and mules worked the land and Bob’s father, W. W. Caruth, Jr. never forgot his grandfather's roots. He established Caruth Quarter Horses in 1958 and Bob received "on the job training" in construction and started showing horses in junior events. Family building ventures and a thriving building supply company didn’t leave much time for the horses however, and they were mostly sold in 1962.

After graduating from Austin College where he trained in live theater, Bob chose the show ring as his stage and resumed the horse operation on his own in 1974, including buying some of the foals of the original Caruth Quarter Horses. In the early eighties, Bob purchased 120 acres of raw land in Lone Oak, Texas, establishing a new home for Caruth Quarter Horses. Over the years, the ranch grew to include 3 barns housing 50 stalls, a 250 ft x130 ft covered main arena, maintenance shops and hay barn, all of which were built or supervised by Bob. At the same time, Bob showed his Quarter Horses nationwide, accumulating 5 Honor Roll titles on 3 different horses, as well as numerous placings at Quarter Horse World Championship Shows. Bob has been a life member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Reining Horse Association for more than 30 years.

Bob and Tracy continue the Caruth family tradition of working to better the city of Dallas through foundation donations, as well as with their own time, energy and resources. Through their work in support of the Texas Horse Park, the Caruths hope to bring Dallas to the forefront of the equestrian world.

Lea Clinton, Executive Committee

Lea practices law in state and federal courts throughout Texas in a variety of areas and industries focusing on commercial disputes in the oil and gas, lending, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries. She also has unique experience handling the enforcement of arbitration provisions, officer and director litigation, trademark disputes and compliance with state and federal privacy laws. Lea is a member of: American Bar Association, Arabian Horse Association, Attorneys Serving the Community, Co-chair of the Silent Auction Fundraiser, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Dallas Bar Association, Appellate Law and Business Litigation Sections (Co-vice chair of the Publications Committee and Co-chair of the Summer Law Intern Program), State Bar of Texas, Appellate, Litigation and Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Sections, Terrell Chamber of Commerce, United States Equestrian Federation and former member Higginbotham Inn of Court. Lea has degrees from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Juris Doctor (Graduated summa cum laude; Texas Wesleyan Law Review, Articles Editor; Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity) and University of Georgia, Bachelor of Arts in International Business, Legal Studies Concentration and Spanish Minor (UGA Varsity Equestrian Team; UGA Club Rowing Team). Lea has been riding and showing Arabian horses for more than twenty years. During her show career, Lea has competed across the United States and in Canada at all sizes and types of venues. In that time, she has accumulated numerous local, regional and national titles, mainly in the English divisions. Lea has competed in saddle seat equitation, western, hunter, driving, halter, and costume divisions as well. Today, Lea continues to travel and show Arabian horses. She is also involved as a supporter of ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship, located in McKinney, Texas.

Michael D. Sossamon, Executive Committee

Michael D. Sossamon is the Director of Construction and Maintenance at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. Michael served in the United States Navy from 1972 to 1976. He has committed his time to numerous non-profit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, United Way, City of Arlington Leadership 2000 Program, City of Fort Worth Leadership 2004 Program, Tarrant County Mental Health and the Kaboom project.

Paul Lawrence Allen, Director

Paul Allen is the President of the Dallas County Buffalo Soldiers where he works to empower young people through education and inspiration. Mr. Allen has served in various capacities in the Dallas County Juvenile Detention center since 1981. Currently, he provides leadership to juvenile detention officers as a Supervisor in the Group Worker program. Mr. Allen also developed and organized a program for the prevention, treatment, education and intervention of drug abuse among young people. He has been honored in numerous publications for his work with youth and the Buffalo Soldiers.

Steve Barnett, Director

Steve Barnett is a retired attorney who devotes his time to various civic and charitable activities. Mr. Barnett has been a long time volunteer and member of the Board of Directors of Equest, a nonprofit organization providing therapeutic horseback riding. He is on the Board of Management and Executive Committee of Camp Grady Spruce Brand of YMCA and on the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Autism Treatment Centers of Texas. For many years, Mr. Barnett has been a Special Olympics Basketball Coach in the Highland Park Independent School District.

Kristina Bowman, Director

Born in Los Angeles but raised in Dallas, Kristina grew up riding at Willow Bend and is currently a horse owner & lover. Kristina holds a BFA from SMU and has been a professional photographer with her own business since the mid 1980’s. With a passion for animals and animal welfare, Kristina is very involved with rescue work and educating the public about animal protection issues. She donates both time and services to many non-profits and served on the National Executive Committee of The Humane Society of the United States’ Genesis Awards in 2008 and 2009. Kristina also co-chaired Spotlight Humane, the first HSUS Gala in Dallas benefiting the stop puppy-mills campaign. Kristina has served on the boards of DIFFA & the USA Film Festival and currently serves as chair of Friends of Texas Horse Park.

Kristina’s family includes her partner of 19 years, Liz, and their 3 dogs, 2 cats and a horse (all rescues, of course)...and a steady stream of foster animals. Besides wanting to help make the Texas Horse Park a World Class Equestrian facility, Kristina’s personal mission & focus is to also make it one of the safest venues for horses and riders alike.

Bucky Buckley, Director

Bucky Buckley has spent his livelihood managing his family’s land, breeding and raising Quarter and Paint horses and plays an integral part of the community. Bucky co-owns (with his two sons) and manages the family’s 175-acre ranch, Buckley Farms of Anna, Texas. Family owned and operated since 1945, Buckley Farms offers professional training in Reining, Working Cow Horse, and Western Pleasure. Bucky served as a board member of the Collin County Farm Museum and on the Pecan Orchard Water Board. He is an active member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Reining Horse Association.

Tracy Caruth, Director

An accomplished horsewoman with a passion for horses, Tracy Caruth is the owner of Caruth Arabians and Half-Arabians in Lone Oak , Texas. 
A horse lover from childhood, Tracy has built a dynasty around her beloved
 Arabian stallion, DA Napitov+/, showing him and his talented offspring to multiple Regional and National championships and an impressive 50+ USEF awards. Tracy continues to show across the US and Canada in multiple disciplines, including English and Western Sidesaddle, Hunter Pleasure, Western Pleasure, English Pleasure and Park. Honors for Tracy include Rider of Excellence, AHA Region 9 Breeder of the Year, and multiple Amateur of the Year awards.
Tracy’s passion for her horses is matched by her commitment to her community and she supports a number of Dallas organizations, including the Dallas Mounted Police Unit, whose equine ranks include three DA Napitov+/ offspring. She is actively involved with the Black Stallion Literacy Project, a program dedicated to helping children experience the joy of reading, and since 2000, has generously supported young riders' success in the show ring by sponsoring additional awards to winners of Junior Owner classes at the annual Cowtown Classic. Tracy is a lifetime member of the Arabian Horse Association, a member of the United States Equestrian Federation, the American Saddlebred Horse Association, the National Show Horse Registry, the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Shetland Pony Club, the America Miniature Horse Registry, the American Show Pony Registry and numerous Arabian Horse Clubs in the North Texas area.

Pat Clements, Director

Pat Clements has been involved with breeding, raising and showing quarter horses for 36 years. She has received several world show championship and reserve world show championship awards, as well as many top ten placings. Pat has served on the AQHA foundation and amateur committees and currently serves on the NSBA foundation. Since 1981, she has been active with the Texas Amateur Quarter Horse Association, which currently hosts a show for over 4,000 entries. As a member of TAQHA, Pat worked to help establish AQHA’s novice and limited programs.

Molly Huie Mayes, Director

Molly Huie Mayes owns and operates Rocking M Stables, a 48 stall, full care boarding facility and riding school located at the edge of Fair Oaks Park in Dallas. Molly is an ARIA certified riding instructor and has, in past years, shown hunters and jumpers. Ms. Mayes designed and oversaw the refurbishing of Rocking M Stables.

Milla Perry Jones, Director

Milla Perry Jones is Vice President of United Surgical Partners International, Addison, Texas. Prior to joining United Surgical Partners, Ms. Jones was Vice President of Texas Community Bank and Trust from 2003 to 2004 and Vice President of Baylor Health Care System Foundation from 1997 to 2003. She is a member of the Leadership Dallas Alumnae Association, the Charter 100, a Sustaining Member of The Junior League of Dallas, Inc., an advisory board member of the Lisa Landry Childress Foundation and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council Member of the Texas Tech School of Human Sciences.

Leslie Bender Jutzi, Director

Leslie Jutzi is the former Director of Governmental Affairs and Community Relations for The Allen Group, particularly the Dallas Logistics Hub. Immediately prior to joining The Allen Group, Ms. Jutzi managed intergovernmental affairs for the City of Dallas. She also served as Project Manager for one of the City’s top economic development priorities: the Dallas NAFTA Trade Corridor Project. Previously, Leslie worked in the private sector as a lobbyist and attorney. She handled a variety of issues, including corporate, transportation, environmental, security and real estate matters involving transactions and projects ranging from $25 million to $5 billion. She began her career as a lobbyist and regulator in the State of Michigan. As a gubernatorial appointee, she successfully lobbied for the creation of the State’s Environmental Code and overhaul of the State’s Brownfields legislation. In addition, she served on the facilitation team to create the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Leslie is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she received a BA in International Relations. She also is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois and holds an Energy & Environmental Law Certificate from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Marguerite McClinton, PhD, Director

Dr. Marguerite McClinton currently serves as an administrator at Paul Quinn College. She previously served in Student Life at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She also served for three years as the Director of the John W. Elrod University Commons and Campus Activities in Lexington, VA. She received her doctorate in higher education from Florida State University with a minor in public policy. Prior to residing in Florida, she worked in residential life at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA where she focused on Educational Administration and Policy, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She has volunteered with Services of Hope, United Way, Church of the Incarnation, Dallas Life Foundation, Frederick Douglass Elementary School, North Dallas Chapter of the Florida State University Alumni Association, Emory Dallas Alumni Association and the Dallas Dinner Table.

Britt McCormick, Director

Britt McCormick is the owner of Elmstead Farm in Parker, Texas. Elmstead is a hunter-jumper show stable and also hosts locally rated horse shows. Britt has been a competitive hunter jumper trainer and rider for the past 20 years. Britt is a past chef de quipe for Zone 7 Prix de States, Pony Jumper and Young Riders teams and owns and operates Horse Shows of Dallas, which produces “AA” rated USEF hunter shows, as well as manages “AA” rated shows in Oklahoma and Colorado. Britt holds an “r” hunter and jumper course designer’s license with the USEF and for the past 5 years operated the Las Colinas Equestrian Center and all of the shows there until its closing this past year.

Mitch McCrea, Director

Mitch McCrea is fortunate to be a fifth-generation Texas rancher and second-generation New Mexico rancher and farmer. He is a trial attorney with Rose Walker, LLP of Dallas, Texas. Mitch returns to his roots as often as possible to help with the two family ranches between Del Rio and Sonora, Texas and the family ranch and farm outside of Roswell, New Mexico, where his family continues to round up their cattle, sheep and goats on horseback. Mitch earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, a master’s degree in history of the American West from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and a law degree from Texas Tech University, before ultimately settling in Dallas in 2003.

Carol Nichols, Director

Carol Nichols is a co-founder of the Texas Women Ventures Fund and is also a Charter Investor in the fund. She formerly worked with Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. With her background at JPMorgan and Bank of America, Carol enjoys coaching and mentoring young professionals and young companies. She is an Angel Investor and a horse lover.

Peter Pletcher, Director

Peter Pletcher is the owner of PJP Farms in Magnolia, Texas and has been a hunter jumper professional for 20 years. He was the 2002 and 2004 Chronicle of the Horse World Championship Hunter Rider. Mr. Pletcher was a member of the 1983 US Olympic Show Jumping Team. In 1998, Peter won the Madison Square Garden Hunter Classic and the WCGR Professional Challenge. In 2003, Peter was given the high honor of being named the 2003 World Hunter Rider of the Year. He is considered to be one of the top hunter/jumper trainers in the United States.

J. Alex Wortmann, Director

J. Alex Wortman is a German F.N. Certified Dressage Coach (Reitlehrer) He is a full-time trainer and clinician. He also holds an International Trainers Passport and a Trainer "A" License in Germany. Mr. Wortmann is a certified Dressage trainer/instructor to the F.E.I. level and for the past 30 years, has been teaching and presenting clinics in Europe and North America. He has worked as a Bereiter (Trainer) and Reitlehrer (Instructor) at several notable training facilities in Europe. Mr. Wortmann now spends approximately 6 months each year in North America and 6 months in Europe presenting clinics as well as teaching at the Dressage Training Camps that he has organized in Europe and North America. While in Germany, he purchases top quality warm-blood horses for his clients worldwide.

Jaymie Sanford Sattiewhite, Executive Director - Texas Horse Park

Jaymie Sanford Sattiewhite, Executive Director, manages and implements THPI’s master planning process, represents THPI and its interests, and coordinates the work of the Board’s committees. Ms. Sattiewhite came to THPI as the Director of Development, creating a funding development plan to satisfy the Capital Campaign goals and increase revenue to support the THPI financial plan. Ms. Sattiewhite has developed a strategy for annual fundraising to identify and prioritize THPI operational and capital needs. Prior to joining THPI, Ms. Sattiewhite was Central Region Development Manager for the National Federation of Independent Business created a fund development plan, monitored and evaluated all fundraising activities in 11 states, recruited staff and volunteers and developed an annual income and expenditure budget for the region development program. Ms. Sattiewhite served on the THPI Capital Campaign board before accepting the development position. She has held offices and volunteered with numerous nonprofit’s including Renaissance Center Inc. (Executive Board), Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (Executive Board and Beautillion Charity Ball Chair), American Heart Association’s African American Task Force, the Birthing Project of Fort Worth, the Parenting Center of Fort Worth and Passports to College, Inc. Ms. Sattiewhite has served on the Fort Worth Independent School District’s Magnet Advisory Committee, the Montessori Advisory Council, and Site-Based Management Team. Ms. Sattiewhite attended Fisk University and the University of Oklahoma.