Meet the Team Behind rHerd
rHerd was created by two people who work in different worlds — the barn aisle and the operations backend — but who believe the same thing: barns deserve communication that supports the people doing the work and the horses receiving the care.
Founders
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Erin Braaten
CEO, FOUNDER
A lifelong horsewoman and tech-minded problem solver, Erin brings deep equine expertise alongside seasoned executive leadership across both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. She has spent years leading teams, scaling programs, and guiding complex operations — experience that directly informs how rHerd is built and how it serves barns of all sizes.
As a rider and owner, Erin has also spent countless hours in barns, seeing firsthand where communication breaks down and how much time, stress, and safety are lost in the gaps. That dual perspective — executive leader and hands-on horsewoman — shapes rHerd’s foundation.
Erin ensures rHerd speaks the language of the barn: intuitive, accurate, and grounded in the real, everyday realities of horse care.
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Mikala Bedor
COO, CO-FOUNDER
With a background in organizational leadership, workforce development, and operational systems, Mikala brings the structure and clarity that shape rHerd’s foundation. She’s led complex initiatives across hospitality, state operations, and national-scale service programs, seeing firsthand where systems break down and how much time, energy, and care are lost to unnecessary friction.
Mikala ensures rHerd is grounded, scalable, and built around the people who rely on it every day.
Advisors & Industry Partners
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Taite Walmsley, Vitality Horsemanship
ADVISOR
As a barn manager, trainer, and lifelong equine care expert, Taite keeps rHerd grounded in the real world. She brings the daily challenges of barn life straight into the product, shaping feature priorities, user experience, and the trust that makes barn owners and staff feel seen.
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Quinn
SPOKESMARE
She’s smart, she’s opinionated, and she’s here to help us build better tools for barns.
Become an Advisor or Industry Partner
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Equine business models, barn economics, sustainable operations
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iability, contracts, risk management, care standards
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Scalable mobile platforms, data stewardship, product strategy
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Trainers, farriers, bodyworkers, and others who understand daily care, workflow, and communication needs
rHerd is building more than an app — we’re building the communication backbone the equine industry has needed for decades. We partner with people who understand the realities of horse care and the systems that support it.
Who We’re Looking For
Horse experience is essential. We value advisors who understand both the responsibility of caring for horses and the systems that surround that work.