Amber Thibodeau- Executive director/instructor

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. During 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. Upon graduation, 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. They live in the Wilmington area with their Labradoodle Angus, and Amber's horse Tulsa. Although she aspired to be a teacher, and has worked with horses all her life, she never envisioned a career in EAAT; and 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! Amber became the Executive Director in 2016, and received her PATH Int'l. Registered Instructor certification in 2017.

Stephanie Sargent- instructor


Stephanie has always had horses since she was young and still does today. She spent a lot of time when she was younger showing in various types of horse shows. Stephanie has been around many different parts of the horse world but her favorite is trail riding and riding around the neighborhood. Out of high school she started volunteering at Miracles in Motion. She was doing many different things from horse care to helping in lessons. In the fall of 2010 Stephanie decided to pursue therapeutic riding instructor certification. In spring of 2012 she reached out to the former director of SVTRC to help her work on her skills as an instructor. In 2013 she was hired at Miracles in Motion as an instructor and helping with the chores. Stephanie taught therapeutic riding lessons at Miracles for 4 years eventually becoming Program Coordinator. She is so excited to be back at SVTRC teaching.

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. Michelle became a PATH Int'l. Advanced Instructor in 2017. 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
Siobhan Young
Secretary
Meredith Kenyon
Board Member
  Paul Wheeler
  Board Member
   Pat Fay
   Treasurer
Lisa Dotson
Board Member

Lorna Young - Consultant and founder

 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. In 2016, Lorna retired from SVTRC, but remains a trusted consultant and friend to the center. She is currently the Program Director and Instructor at Full Circle Farm in Newport, New Hampshire.