Amber Thibodeau- Program director

Amber joined SVTRC in August, 2015 as the Executive Administrator. She grew up in New York, and got her first pony (Blondie) at 6 years old, and volunteered at a small boarding stable near her house in high school. Amber attended Morrisville State College and Cornell University, getting her Associate's in Equine Science, Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Education and Animal Science and Master's Degree in Agricultural Education. Throughout college, Amber worked for a summer camp in the Adirondacks, managing the horse program, and also worked for the New York FFA Association as a student assistant. She worked for two years as a 4-H Educator for Lewis County Cooperative Extension in New York. Amber moved to Vermont in the spring of 2015, when her husband took a job with High 5 Adventure in Brattleboro, their Labradoodle Angus, and Amber's horse Tulsa. Although she aspires to be a teacher, and has worked with horses all her life, she never envisioned a career in EAAT; and she has found a passion for this industry that she did not realize she possessed. Her background in both education and equine science have proved very beneficial as her job at SVTRC grows!

Michelle lague- Substitute instructor

Michelle Lague has been a PATH Int'l. Instructor since 2002, starting as an intern at Hoofbeats TRC in Natural Bridge, VA while in college. In 2004, at the University of West Georgia, she completed a M.A. thesis entitled “The Benefits of Therapeutic Horsemanship Activities for Older Adults: An Exploratory Study”. She's been a volunteer or instructor at various therapeutic riding centers all through school and while employed afterwards as a social worker in the Department of Veteran Affairs health care system. She’s currently working on getting her Advanced Certification through PATH Intl. Having ridden since she was nine, Michelle is the new owner of Halli, a 7 year old off track thoroughbred mare. One of Michelle's favorite parts about teaching include coming up with creative obstacles for trail courses to challenge riders problem solving skills. Michelle greatly enjoys helping participants to reach their personal goals for well-being and functional improvement in experiencing positive engagement with a dynamic community.

Ute Patrick- Occupational and hippotherapy

Ute graduated with a degree in occupational therapy from the Timmermeister Schule in Münster, Germany and the Hogeschool Zuyd in Heerlen, Netherlands. She studied animal-assisted therapy as a treatment method in occupational therapy in depth, with a focus on equine assisted interventions. She obtained certifications with PAN.inc and PATH international and she is also a AHA level II hippotherapy provider. Ute has worked in various pediatric settings which incorporated animal-assisted therapy and nature based programs, such as Green Chimneys School in Brewster, NY and Risthof Therapie in Immenstadt, Germany. She taught occupational therapy students in Germany and she presented internationally on various topics pertaining to equine assisted therapy. Ute has published her research thesis as well as a peer reviewed article in the international magazine “Mensch und Pferd”. Ute currently lives and works in southern Vermont, providing occupational therapy services to local school children and implementing equine assisted therapy in her private practice Hippocampus at SVTRC in Wilmington.

Board of Directors

Meg Kluge
President
Dr. Jerilyn Jacobs
Vice President/Treasurer
Siobhan Young
Secretary
Meredith Kenyon
Board Member
Paul Wheeler
Board Member
Pat Fay
Board Member
Kate Golding
Board Member

Jess Dickey - Substitute Instructor

Jess is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She has been teaching a variety of lessons for six years, but has been certified for two years. Jess owns a horse of her own and has been riding for for 22 years! She loves helping adults and children overcome obstacles and build confidence. Jess also loves helping to build relationships between horses and their riders. Jess taught lessons for SVTRC on Mondays and Wednesdays at Winchester Stables. 

Lorna Young - Consultant and Substitute Instructor

 Lorna Young has been involved with therapeutic riding programs since the mid-70's when she graduated from, and went on to teach at, the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center in Augusta, Michigan. In 1980, back in her native New Hampshire, Lorna established Highlawn Riding for the Handicapped. A decade later, Lorna and her family relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she started the Helping Horse Therapeutic Riding Program. Lorna obtained her PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification in 1995 and accepted a Therapeutic Instructor position at Horse Power Therapeutic Horsemanship in Temple, New Hampshire.

After  two and a half  years as an Instructor at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, Connecticut, Lorna returned to New Hampshire to take the position of Program Director at the Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center in 2010. As such, she was responsible for all aspects of the therapeutic program at Winchester Stables including teaching, volunteer training, clinics, workshops and events.