Instructor

Instructor Certification(s) and date(s) earned: PATH Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor as of 7/1/18

Total number of years instructing therapeutic riding: Instructor in Training for 6 months.  Ran my own riding stable and lesson program for 15 years.

Year started at GMTRC: 2017 as a side walker, leader and schooling rider

Other employment information: RN working for OSS Health at Home

Where did you grow up (city/state):  Factoryville, PA  (near Scranton)

Education:  BS in Nursing from Misericordia University

Name of horse(s) you own and/or ride on a regular basis: Sold our farm last year but still have several aged school horses -Chance and Bluegrass are enjoying retirement at our old farm and I trail ride them occasionally.  Sammy, my pony has found a perfect job at Green Meadows helping children who have been through trauma, foster care or adoption.

What do you like best about teaching therapeutic riding and what it means to you? My son has Cerebral Palsy and I saw how much riding did for him physically and socially.  Everyone should have the opportunity to experience horses and their therapeutic effect.  Being a nurse, riding instructor and having had a child with special needs lead me to become a therapeutic riding instructor thus utilizing all my skills and experience.  I really love sharing my passion of horses with others.  My favorite quote is from Winston Churchill “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man”

A few interesting facts about yourself: I play on a soccer team 2-3 x week.  Like to hike, bike and kayak with my husband.  Won a horse through an essay contest from a radio station when I was 19.  I’ve been on mission trips in Guatemala and Burkina Faso, Africa (where I got to give a riding lesson and ride a horse while there).

Family: My husband Steve shares my love of soccer and tolerates my horse passion.  He is the best!  My oldest son, Drew who has CP is married and lives in Iowa.  My other son, Austin is currently in Physical Therapy graduate school at Campbell University in NC.  Have 2 dogs who are both rescues-Dibi and Chelsea.