All of our instructors undergo a rigorous training and lengthy apprenticeship overseen by PATH Intl’, the organization that certifies, accredits, and is primarily responsible for educating centers and members.There are three levels of certification available to prospective instructors: Registered, Advanced, and Master. High Horses instructors are paid professionals who are certified in CPR and First Aid.
Aileen Reney
With High Horses since June 2016
Position: PATH Intl’ registered instructor
Professional Background: Aileen grew up with horses and started taking riding lessons when she was five. She participated in 4-H throughout high school with her Norwegian Fjord pony. She went to college at UNH where she earned a BS in Equine Science and minored in Psychology. While at UNH, she received her PATH Intl’ registered level instructor certification. After graduating, she moved to Idaho to work as an instructor/equine manager at a therapeutic riding facility in Sun Valley. Aileen is now back on the NH/VT area and is eager to start teaching again. When not teaching at High Horses, Aileen works for Easters Seals as a Youth Support Specialist.
Hobbies and Interests: When Aileen is not hanging out with horses, she enjoys playing volleyball, hiking in the White Mountains, rowing on Lake Sunapee, and going for long runs with her dog, Gus.
Amanda Lamoureux
With High Horses since May 2008
Position at High Horses: Amanda wears many hats at High Horses. She is the Horse Herd Coordinator and a PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor.
Professional Background: Amanda grew up with horses and started her horse career as a working student at age 12. From there she continued working in different barns while spending time in 4-H, Pony Club, and progressing to teaching riding lessons, summer camps, and training green horses through high school and college where she studied small business management. Besides a brief period where she worked as a dog trainer, Amanda has worked as a professional with horses her whole life. In her own riding she has mostly focused on dressage, but she has also trained and competed in 3-phase eventing, show jumping, endurance riding, gymkhana, and spent time studying natural horsemanship.
Teaching Philosophy: Amanda’s teaching style is to have fun and enjoy being with the horse. She feels that in the therapeutic riding environment having a team relationship between rider, horse, volunteers, instructor, caregivers and parents makes for the best outcome in lessons. She is often found communicating with parents and caregivers over the fence while empowering volunteers to complete a task with the riders.
Hobbies & Interests: When not at High Horses she enjoys trail riding, spending time with family and friends, sketching, reading, volunteering at her church or at her son’s school, playing with her dog and cat, and computer games.
Betsy Medinger
With High Horses since 2010
Position at High Horses: PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor
Professional Background: Betsy moved to Vermont a year ago and joined High Horses soon after. She comes from Connecticut with a background in Special Education, and the Hunter/Jumper show world. Betsy started her career working in residential facilities, while continuing to ride and work at the local show stable. Blending the two vocations led her to a career as instructor and program director for Pegasus Therapeutic Riding for 26 years.
Hobbies & Interests: Betsy is an avid rider, and lover of outdoor activities. She also enjoys life on a horse farm in W. Windsor with her husband, dogs, cat, chickens and two kids when they can visit.
Caroline Dupere
With High Horses since June 2016
Position at High Horses: American Hippotherapy Association Level II
Professional Background: Caroline graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2013 with a Master’s of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies. She is a registered occupational therapist and is licensed in the states of New Hampshire & Vermont. Caroline has experience working across the age span and has specialized in working with children ages birth to three, providing transdisciplinary therapy service to infants and toddlers in their home. She also works with pediatric population focused on testing and therapeutic intervention within the clinic setting. Caroline joins High Horses as a treating OT and supervisor for the use of equine movement as a treatment strategy.
Diana Huntley
With High Horses since 2014
Position at High Horses: PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor
Professional Background: Has extensive horse experience being a Three Day Eventer for many years. She was lucky enough to train with the best of the best, many being from this area. Diana has taught riding & snowboarding for many years. For the past 5 years Diana has been involved with snowboarding and the Special Olympics in the Upper Valley. Diana is also a Reiki master, and has taught yoga dance, and drumming. Diana is an LPN and continues to pursue nursing school with ambitions to further her skill, the connections to therapeutic riding greatly overlap. Diana is excited to do more research, and implement her findings into the ring and trail!
“I can’t tell you how much I am a believer in the magic of therapeutic horse back riding. I have watched riders transform and bloom in a few short weeks, on every level. I experience this profound transformation myself every time I ride. It clears my mind, strengthens my body, and changes my energy, sense of being grounded.”
Ellen M. Zaika
With High Horses since 2009
Position at High Horses: Site Coordinator & Volunteer Coordinator
Professional Background: Ellen grew up in Amherst, New York. She moved to New England to attend Boston University where she earned a degree in Communications. She has always loved horses but really didn’t have time to indulge that passion until retiring from Verizon Communications in 2008. Ellen began with High Horses as a volunteer soon-after retirement and became the Site Coordinator in 2009. She truly loves the program. Ellen feels so fortunate to be the staff member always on-site. She loves witnessing and sharing in the happiness, and physical and emotional benefits that the program provides to riders, families, caregivers,and also our volunteers!
Hobbies & Interests: Ellen enjoys being outdoors and always loves spending time with her two Jack Russell terriers and her trail horse Slim.
Joyce Kramer
With High Horses since 2013
Position at High Horses: PATH Int’l Registered Level Instructor
Professional Background: Joyce has been teaching riding professionally since 1969 and training horses since 1972. In addition she has taught vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) since 1980. She graduated from Cornell University in 1976 double majoring in animal science and biochemistry, earning a B.S. with distinction. In 1982 she earned a M.O.E. (Master of Occupational Education) degree from the University of New Hampshire. She did extensive post-graduate work in special education and vocational special needs at the University of Vermont. She has 11 years of experience teaching in schools primarily in special education, vocational education and career education. She has studied fitness and exercise science, earning her certification as a personal trainer in 2014 from the American Council on Exercise.
Teaching Philosophy: My students are my teachers.
Hobbies and Interests: Coaching at horse shows, watching polo matches, hiking – especially the Appalachian Trail.
Kate Gamble
With High Horses since 2011
Position at High Horses: Physical Therapist practicing Hippotherapy
Professional Background: Kate Gamble lives in Norwich, VT with her husband and two children. She is originally from Portland, Maine but most recently moved to the Upper Valley from Jacksonville, FL. She received her Masters of Physical Therapy degree from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in 1992 and also has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from New York University.She has worked in neurological rehabilitation for over seven years and was trained in Hippotherapy at High Horses in July 2011. She is excited to join the High Horses team and is impressed with the passion and dedication of all the instructors, staff and volunteers involved with this wonderful program.
Teaching Philosophy: She believes strongly that horse movement and the experience of riding can facilitate improved movement and function for clients.
Hobbies & Interests: Along with her work as a physical therapist she continues to dance and was Artistic Director of Braided Light Dance Company in Jacksonville for over three years. Presently, she runs a dance program for people with Parkinson’s disease and teaches modern dance in the community.
Lasell Bartlett
With High Horses since 2005
Position at High Horses: PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor and ‘Connections’ Instructor & Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Professional Background: At High Horses, Lasell MSW primarily teaches therapeutic riding and provides equine facilitated services via “Connections,’ the mental health program she developed at High Horses. She also trains volunteers in Advanced Leader Horse Handling practices and co-created with Susan Goodell the Parent Events that are held twice a year. In the past she created the Horse Exercise Program whose focus was the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the therapy horses, to prevent burnout through groundwork and riding, while helping volunteers expand and refine their skills. She also has created custom Equine Treatment Plans for consistent handling to resolve specific concerns. Lasell has presented at Regional and National PATH Intl’ conferences. Outside of High Horses, Lasell trains horses as well as maintains her private teaching practice with individuals and groups. She excels in helping people bring creativity and awareness to their relationships and think differently about the sensitivities, responsiveness, and presence of themselves and their horses. Lasell also works in clinical and community support roles at the Clara Martin Center in Bradford, VT.
Teaching Philosophy: Lasell Bartlett integrates over forty years of experience in the fields of mind/body awareness with professional expertise as a clinical social worker and therapeutic riding instructor, focusing on helping horses and humans develop the best relationships imaginable. Lasell is passionate about horses, about safety around horses, and about nurturing a calm learning environment. Her motto is, “It’s Our Nature to Get Along.”
Hobbies & Interests: Lasell loves learning whatever she can about neuroscience, brain development, trauma treatment, body wellness, and the functioning of various species. She dances a lot, tends to a flock of Jacob sheep, and will go out late at night to watch meteor showers.
Molly Fenty
With High Horses Since 2016
Position at High Horses: PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor
Professional Background: Molly did not grow up in a horse barn, but she certainly got there as soon as she could! She spent her high school and college years as a working student at both ranches and hunter jumper barns learning everything she could about the horse industry. After graduate school, Molly joined the Marine Corps to serve her county and unfortunately suffered a training accident that left her in a wheel chair struggling to walk. Luckily, Molly found a PATH Intl. facility that helped her back on her feet, and even better back on horses. Seeing first hand the amazing impact that horses can have when used in a therapeutic setting influenced her pursuing her PATH Intl. Registered Level Riding Instructor certification with the help of High Horses Riding Program. When not teaching at High Horses, Molly is the Executive Director at The Hooved Animal Sanctuary, a rescue for abused and neglected horses in Chelsea, Vermont.
Hobbies and Interests: Molly spends most of her free time enjoying the company of the many horses that live at her rescue as well as playing with her two rescue dogs, Remi and Ruger. She also enjoys hiking, yoga, and sewing her own clothes.
Nicole Jorgensen
With High Horses Since 2015
Position at High Horses: Executive Director
Professional Background: Nicole grew up in New York State where she received a BS in Business Administration and Marketing from SUNY Brockport. Then the next step in life took her to Utah where she completed a Master’s Degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Utah. She moved to the Upper Valley just recently after her husband started a job at the VA Hospital. Nicole has had an extensive career in the non-profit world including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah, the American Cancer Society, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She has held positions in all areas of a non-profit business and is excited to be a part of the High Horses team!
In spite of having limited experiences with horses, she has been connected to them intermittently throughout her life and feels comfortable and happy to be around them.
Hobbies & Interests: Nicole loves to hike, camp, read, and spend time with her husband and their two dogs, Hermie and Mars.
Samantha Hudson
With High Horses since 2015
Position at High Horses: COTA in Hippotherapy Program, American Hippotherapy Association Level II
Professional Background: Sam started off as a volunteer at High Horses while attending River Valley Community College, where she received her Associates of Science degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She works a full time job in the Hartford School District as a COTA/L as well as part time at Bayada Home Health care and Armistead as a Caregiver. She is licensed in both VT and NH. Sam was recently trained in Hippotherapy in May 2015 at UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center in Goffstown, NH and started working at High Horses shortly after. Although she did not grow up around or have much experience with horses, she loves their gentle nature and the amazing benefits they provide.
Hobbies & interests: Along with working as a COTA, Sam enjoys being outside, hiking mountains, knitting, kayaking, cooking, relaxing, and hanging out with her cat Downie.
Sharron Gareau
With High Horses since 2008
Position at High Horses: PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor
Professional Background: Her older cousins use to drag her around the rodeo circuit in New York when she was a kid; she was the “gofer” girl. She got her first horse when she was 12 shoveling stalls to pay for his board and she delivered newspapers by horseback to help pay for him. After she “grew up,” people started asking her to teach their kids to ride. In 2006 she got her instructor certification through Certified Horsemanship Association. In 2009 she got her PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor Accreditation. During the summer months, she is the riding director at one of the girls’ camps in Orford, NH.
Hobbies & Interests: Riding, training, shoeing horses, and occasionally…getting away with her horse for a few days by herself!
Sienna Whitney
With High Horses since 2015
Position at High Horses: PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor & Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.
Professional Background: 
Sienna grew up in San Diego, California where she began volunteering at a therapeutic riding program, B.E.T.H (Bonita Equestrian Therapy for the Handicapped) in the late 80’s. The BETH program was founded and run by JoAnn Rangus who was a passionate, loving and empowering woman and brought out the best in people she came into contact with. Sienna greatly respected and admired her as well as Jo’s lead instructor, Amy Sheets. Over her eight years of volunteering Sienna learned a great deal about working with horses, people with disabilities, and many life lessons that she carries with her today. She rode and worked at Blackland Farm which was a hunter/jumper stable in Bonita, California.
In the late 90’s Sienna moved to Vermont where she worked for four years for Rozo McLaughlin at Hitching Post Farm, which is a stable that hosts and competes in three-phase eventing. Sienna had the opportunity to work with the at-risk population at an alternative school run by the Clara Martin Center where she worked in the Elementary and Adventure Learning Program. She also had the privilege to work with children at the Barnard Academy. After a dozen years working within the schools, Sienna was drawn back to Therapeutic Riding. She received her Registered Level Certification through High Hopes Instructor Training Course in Old Lyme Connecticut.
Teaching Philosophy: Winston Churchill said “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” The horse is the greatest teacher, the instructor is only the facilitator and the volunteers are an extension of her. Together with the many other facilitators in our team, each of us has the opportunity to reach our full potential as we partner with our intuitive equine teachers. Sienna is proud to be a part of the process.
Susan (Sue) Miller
With High Horses since 1998
Position at High Horses: Program Director and PATH Intl’ Registered Level Instructor & Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.
Professional Background: Sue has been riding since the age of seven. Sue started with saddleseat lessons on Morgans and has ridden and studied huntseat, sidesaddle and dressage and has an interest in natural horsemanship. She has a small Morgan farm in Bradford where she and her family have raised a few horses with the Misure prefix. Sue has been a 4-H leader for the Young Riders and the Peaked Mountain Equestrians as well as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Susan is a registered PATH Intl’ registered level instructor who has co-coached the High Horses Special Olympics team, been the horse herd coordinator, is the PATH Intl’ site representative, PATH Associate Site visitor, Mentor and region one list serve moderator as well as the PATH Intl’ Vermont State Chairperson. Sue graduated from the Community College of Vermont with an Associate’s degree in childhood education and Johnson State College with a BA in professional studies.
Teaching Philosophy: Sue’s teaching philosophy is one that she creates and builds upon as she acquires new experiences. Susan enjoys teaching lessons that are fun and interesting for the rider and watching riders reach their personal riding goals. Sue aspires to bring an open mind, a positive attitude, and high expectations to High Horses each day.