Statement from the SVTRC Board of Directors:
The SVTRC Board of Directors acknowledges with sadness that our Executive Director, Amber Thibodeau, will be leaving at the end of July, having accepted a position as 4H Educator at UVM Extension. While we hate to lose her, we recognize that this is an exciting growth opportunity for Amber, and we wish her every success.
Amber joined SVTRC in August 2015, hired to be the administrator. When Lorna Young, then the Program Director, unexpectedly retired a short time later, Amber was thrust into the position of “wearing all the hats”, which she did seamlessly. When SVTRC needed to find a new home in 2016, Amber successfully facilitated that transition to Brookside Stables, while continuing to juggle all the other aspects of her job: equine staff management and all that entails; office manager; finding, training, and scheduling volunteers; outreach to community partners; communicating with the families and organizations that send participants to the program; collaborating with the Board; preparing reports; fundraising, and so much more.
During the Covid19 pandemic mandatory shutdown, Amber stayed connected to participants and families, cared for the horse staff, and spent many hours, along with SVTRC’s Treasurer, navigating the financial aids available to keep SVTRC afloat.
The Board regrets that we were not able to support Amber more in these roles and tasks.
All of the members of the Board will be forever grateful to Amber for bringing her energy and expertise to the many aspects of her job, and building a program that truly has become THE premier program in Southern Vermont for Equine Assisted Services.
SVTRC will need to depart the current location at the end of July. In the absence of an instructor, and an immediately available home for the program, SVTRC will need to take a hiatus while the Board members explore the options for SVTRC’s future. The Board values SVTRC’s participants, their families, and our many community friends and partners. We will keep everyone informed of our decisions via communication on our Facebook page.
The SVTRC Board of Directors acknowledges with sadness that our Executive Director, Amber Thibodeau, will be leaving at the end of July, having accepted a position as 4H Educator at UVM Extension. While we hate to lose her, we recognize that this is an exciting growth opportunity for Amber, and we wish her every success.
Amber joined SVTRC in August 2015, hired to be the administrator. When Lorna Young, then the Program Director, unexpectedly retired a short time later, Amber was thrust into the position of “wearing all the hats”, which she did seamlessly. When SVTRC needed to find a new home in 2016, Amber successfully facilitated that transition to Brookside Stables, while continuing to juggle all the other aspects of her job: equine staff management and all that entails; office manager; finding, training, and scheduling volunteers; outreach to community partners; communicating with the families and organizations that send participants to the program; collaborating with the Board; preparing reports; fundraising, and so much more.
During the Covid19 pandemic mandatory shutdown, Amber stayed connected to participants and families, cared for the horse staff, and spent many hours, along with SVTRC’s Treasurer, navigating the financial aids available to keep SVTRC afloat.
The Board regrets that we were not able to support Amber more in these roles and tasks.
All of the members of the Board will be forever grateful to Amber for bringing her energy and expertise to the many aspects of her job, and building a program that truly has become THE premier program in Southern Vermont for Equine Assisted Services.
SVTRC will need to depart the current location at the end of July. In the absence of an instructor, and an immediately available home for the program, SVTRC will need to take a hiatus while the Board members explore the options for SVTRC’s future. The Board values SVTRC’s participants, their families, and our many community friends and partners. We will keep everyone informed of our decisions via communication on our Facebook page.
The Mission of the Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center is to enrich, educate and expand the lives of individuals with special needs through Equine Assisted Services (EAS).

Since being founded in 2010, SVTRC has grown from
a few initial riders--both children and adults--to successfully working
with programs and schools including veterans' programs, the
Brattleboro Retreat, Kindle Farm School, The INSPIRE School, Landmark
College, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and local elementary and high schools.
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You can now purchase any of our SVTRC
apparel through our new Bonfire Store!
Click the photo to be taken to the storefront.
apparel through our new Bonfire Store!
Click the photo to be taken to the storefront.