Meet the team

Learn more about all of the wonderful people who work at the Therapeutic Riding Center.

Instructors

  • Female equestrian rider in black coat, white riding pants, and helmet, sitting on a black horse with a blue ribbon and red-yellow ribbon rosette attached to its bridle, at night outdoors.

    Kirsten Brook Patel

    Program Director

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  • Woman riding a light brown horse in an outdoor riding arena.

    Donna Brandt

    Instructor + President

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  • A woman smiling next to a brown horse wearing a blue hat that reads 'Therapeutic Riding Center' and a blue shirt with a logo.

    Gina Hwang

    ESMHL Certified Instructor

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  • A young boy in riding gear, wearing a blue helmet, sits on a light-colored horse with a blue ribbon, while a woman in a navy hoodie holds the horse's bridle. They are outdoors at an equestrian event with other people and horses in the background, some of whom are walking or watching.

    Brooke Miller

    Instructor in Training

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  • Young girl wearing helmet and sunglasses riding a brown horse at an outdoor riding arena, with cones in the background on a sunny day.

    Alexandra Giacoletti

    Substitute Instructor

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  • Hailee

    Instructor in Training

    Bio Coming Soon

Captains & Equine Care Team

  • Woman wearing a red cowboy hat smiling at the camera.

    Cherry Blaine

    Board Member & Equine Care Team Captain

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  • A man in a hoodie and wide-brimmed hat stands next to a light brown horse with a saddle, holding the horse's lead, on a dirt paddock with a wooden stable and palm trees in the background.

    Darrin Spurgeon

    Treasurer & Equine Care Team

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  • Smiling woman wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses standing in a field with a forested hillside in the background.

    Lisa Burford

    Captain & Equine Care Team

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  • Smiling woman wearing large sun hat and sunglasses outdoors in a natural setting with trees and rocks.

    Linda Simpkins

    Captain & Equine Care Team

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  • A woman in a red hoodie and blue jeans standing next to a brown horse with visible ribs in an outdoor riding area on a sunny day.

    Sylvia Trujillo

    Volunteer + Equine Care Team

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  • A woman with blonde hair wearing sunglasses, a navy blue polo shirt, and jeans standing next to a tan horse with a western saddle at an outdoor stable. The woman is smiling and holding the horse's lead rope.

    JoAnn Casley

    Captain

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  • Woman hugging a brown and white horse at an outdoor riding area on a sunny day.

    McKenzie Nelson

    Captain & Volunteer

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Staff

  • A group of six people, three children and three adults, forming a human pyramid outdoors on a grassy field with trees and a hill in the background under a clear blue sky.

    Peggy St. Martin

    Grant Writer

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  • Young woman hugging a light brown horse inside a fenced area with trees in the background.

    Jaclynn Jay

    Administrative Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator

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  • Smiling woman with curly brown hair wearing a dark-colored top, standing in front of a neutral-colored wall.

    Elizabeth (Liz) D'Onofrio

    Bookkeeper

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