Meet the Firefly Team
We are proud to have a wonderful team that helps bring Firefly Horse Co. to life here in the beautiful Flathead Valley. As a locally owned and operated business, our staff shares a deep love for horses, community, and the meaningful connections that grow from working with them.
Each member of our team brings their own unique background and experience, but all are united by a commitment to thoughtful horsemanship and creating spaces where both horses and people can learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more about the women who make up the Firefly Horse Co. team below.
Julie Dauner, LCPC
Owner & Founder / Lead Therapist
Julie is the owner and lead therapist at Firefly Horse Co. and Firefly Healing Arts. She has maintained a private counseling practice for over ten years and is a Certified Equine Assisted Therapist through Human Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL). Horses have always been a central part of Julie’s life, and she feels deeply grateful to work with them each day to support people in their growth and healing journeys.
Julie grew up involved in 4-H, where she showed multiple horses in Western Pleasure, English Equitation, and barrel and speed events. She also gained experience starting and training young horses from the ground up. Today, her horsemanship focuses primarily on Natural Horsemanship and the deep connection between horse and human—something she believes has the power to support healing for both.
Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a specialization in Spanish. While she was close to completing a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Development, she felt called to shift her focus toward psychology and counseling. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Alternative and Holistic Therapies and is a licensed therapist in the state of Montana.
Her work incorporates a variety of body-and trauma-informed approaches, including mindfulness-based therapies, meditation, tapping (EFT), and ThetaHealing energy work. Julie integrates movement, mindfulness, and individualized therapeutic practices into her sessions, recognizing that each client’s healing journey is unique.
Julie is also a co-owner of Firefly Children’s Center, a holistic, nature-based childcare and preschool in Kalispell, Montana. Outside of her work, Julie and her family enjoy hiking, riding horses, and spending time together in the outdoors.
Julie is passionate about helping people move beyond where they feel stuck and into the life they truly want to live. Through holistic therapy sessions and retreats, she hopes to create transformative experiences that help people reconnect with themselves and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Riding Instructors
We have two wonderful riding instructors that facilitate our Riding Lessons, Horse & Farm Camps, Pony Parties, Riding Experiences, Training, & more!
Angela Koulikov
Head English Instructor
Angela joins Firefly Horse Co. from the East Coast—specifically New York and New Jersey—where she has been riding and working with horses since she was a teenager. She grew up riding Hunter/Jumper and continued competing as a member of her college Hunter/Jumper team.
Angela graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies from Centenary University in 2022. After graduating, she became the Barn Manager at one of the farms where she grew up riding. In that role she was responsible for a wide range of barn operations, including training horses, teaching lessons, and managing daily care. During this time, her interests expanded to include lower-level dressage and eventing, as well as starting young horses both under saddle and through groundwork.
It was also there that Angela met and purchased her first horse, Handsome, who is now enjoying semi-retirement. Over the past year she continued building her experience while working at a therapeutic riding facility—another farm where she spent much of her time growing up with horses. There she taught lessons, schooled horses, and supported the day-to-day care and well-being of both horses and riders.
Last November Angela traveled through several western states and quickly fell in love with the Flathead Valley. Hoping to find an opportunity to build a life and career here, she was thrilled to discover that Firefly Horse Co. was searching for a new riding instructor. The role proved to be a perfect fit, and she is excited to be part of the Firefly community.
Jacquelyn (JC) Holton
Head Western Instructor
Originally from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, JC has been riding since the age of three and has loved her Tennessee Walking Horse/American Paint Horse cross, Jack, since she was eight years old. Growing up, she competed in Western Pleasure, English Equitation, Jumping, Trail, and Bareback. Much of her time was also spent trail riding and packing through the backcountry of Idaho and Montana—experiences that deepened her appreciation for the partnership between horse and rider. She also attended weeklong 4-H horse camps, where she gained experience in multiple disciplines and developed a passion for sharing her knowledge with others.
As a lesson instructor, JC has worked with riders of all ages and experience levels, tailoring her teaching style to meet each individual’s goals and abilities. She also brings valuable experience in Equine Assisted Learning, partnering with horses to foster personal growth, build confidence, and strengthen communication skills in a supportive and engaging environment.
JC earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Idaho and her Master of Science in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University. She offers training for horses and riders looking to elevate their groundwork, riding, and overall horsemanship. JC is passionate about helping every horse-and-rider partnership grow with confidence, trust, and joy.
Riding Instructors & Admin
We have two additional support staff who help with Administrative Work, Social Media & Marketing Management, Events & Workshops, and also help facilitate Riding Lessons, Horse & Farm Camps, Pony Parties, Riding & more!
Jade Blanchard
Instructor & Admin Assistant
Originally from Florida, Jade grew up in one of the original cow towns that once shipped cattle from South America to the Northeast. Watching the open cow pastures of her childhood gradually give way to expanding suburbs only strengthened her desire to preserve and live the Western lifestyle she admired. That calling eventually led her to hang her hat in Montana.
Much of Jade’s experience comes from working at a horse rescue, where she rehabilitated abandoned, lame, and special-needs horses. That work required patience, empathy, and hands-on dedication, shaping both her character and her horsemanship. Through these experiences she developed a deep compassion for horses and a strong belief in the power of second chances—for both horses and the people who work with them.
Jade is equally passionate about investing in the next generation of cowgirls. She believes that authentic Western values help build confidence, resilience, and grit in riders of all ages. She actively promotes Western riding not only as a tradition worth preserving, but also as a meaningful way to support mental and physical well-being. Through the connection between horse and rider, she has witnessed firsthand how time in the saddle can foster emotional balance, physical strength, patience, and self-trust.
For Jade, the bond formed with a horse is more than a partnership—it is a pathway to healing, happiness, and a grounded way of life. She is passionate about sharing that experience with others and helping ensure these traditions and values continue to be passed down for generations to come.
Stephanie Matheson
Events & Workshops / Retreats
Stephanie joins Firefly Horse Co. from Oregon, where she grew up in a small rural town not unlike the Flathead Valley. While she didn’t grow up riding, she has always felt a deep pull toward horses and the natural world.
Stephanie’s heart and passion lie at the intersection of community building, mental health advocacy, thoughtful design, and a love for animals and the outdoors. She brings a creative and relational approach to everything she does, with a deep appreciation for spaces that invite connection, reflection, and personal growth. Whether she’s designing an experience, coordinating an event, or creating visual storytelling through photography and social media, Stephanie is drawn to work that brings people together in meaningful ways.
Last year Stephanie began working with Julie through Equine Assisted Therapy, an experience that deepened her appreciation for the powerful role horses can play in healing, self-discovery, and emotional growth. This experience also sparked a growing interest in embodiment and somatic-based approaches to personal growth, and in the unique role horses can play in helping people reconnect with themselves.
While Stephanie’s day job is teaching history and government at Whitefish High School, she is excited to be joining the Firefly Horse Co. team to support social media and marketing, coordinate and host events, workshops, and retreats, and continue learning within the field of equine-assisted work. She looks forward to helping grow Firefly’s community and, in time, working toward facilitating Equine Assisted Learning herself.
Araya & Aivee
Julie’s Daughters
Araya (15) and Aivee (11) are Julie’s daughters and are often helping out around the farm. Araya is a sophomore at Flathead High School and enjoys running track and riding horses in her free time. Aivee is in 6th grade at Kalispell Montessori School, where she plays basketball and proudly claims to be an animal lover through and through.
Both girls have been riding since they were toddlers and enjoy both English and Western riding, though jumping is their true passion. Araya has two horses, Quincy and Scarlett, while Aivee has two of her own—Moonshine and Indigo.
You’ll often find Araya giving mini lessons around the farm, while Aivee loves greeting visitors, giving tours, and helping run the farm stand.