OUR INSTRUCTORS
All of the Special Equestrians instructors are certified by PATH, Intl., Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. There are four instructors who teach regularly in our classes. We have additional volunteer instructors who are also certified by PATH, Intl. They are part of the staff of Special Equestrians, helping out in the classes and serving as substitute instructors, whenever they are needed.
Our head Instructor Dee Hollander. Dee has been involved with Special Equestrians since its beginning in 1987. We are delighted to have her as our head riding instructor. She is an accomplished horseperson and rider herself, competing in the past in Saddle Seat competitions in Illinois. Dee has contributed her time to all aspects of our program and, in fact, was one of the founders of Special Equestrians. She leads our evaluation team in accepting new students when they apply to the program. Dee places students in classes with other students according to their abilities and needs. Dee is an active trail rider with her horse, Slick, a Spotted Saddle Horse. They have also competed together in ACTHA competitions and local Extreme Equine Horse Shows.
Justin Parchem is one of our Path, Intl. certified instructors teaching on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Justin wears many hats at Special Equestrians including facility caretaker and taking the most excellent care of our special equines. Justin is a Wisconsin native who moved to Florida in late 2000. Working in the golf business, he began his journey with horses in Tampa, Florida, helping at a hunter jumper barn. After moving to the Fort Myers area, he became an assistant golf professional and invested as a partner in the ownership of three thoroughbred race horses in Miami. Soon Justin began volunteering for a John Lyons Certified Instructor to learn even more about training and riding horses. His interest in horses only grew stronger so he purchased a 2 year old thoroughbred colt that he has trained to ride and jump and he plans on training him to race. Since Special Equestrians came into his life over two years ago, golf and horse racing have temporarily been put on hold to dedicate more time to a career in therapeutic riding instruction. He still manages to be a part-time professional caddie for Naples National during the winter months.
Eileen Coe is one of our Wednesday instructors. Eileen has been volunteering for Special Equestrians since 2007. In 2009, Eileen completed her studies at Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute, based in Colorado. Upon completion of her studies, Eileen earned her certification as an animal acupressure practitioner. She gives our program horses their acupressure treatments, and they have benefitted in mind and body, from their sessions with her. In 2010, Eileen completed her certification as a PATH, Intl. instructor, becoming one of our valued class instructors. Eileen has her own equine partner - a beautiful Arabian mare - Mohna. They enjoy trail riding together and have traveled to many areas of Florida exploring the trails and competing in ACTHA competitions. Eileen continues her education and growth in horsemanship by attending natural horsemanship classes and clinics.
Amy Goss is one of our Saturday instructors for Special Equestrians (SE). She joined our team here at SE back in 2009 as a volunteer. It became immediately clear that Amy was a very valuable asset to SE and we encouraged her to begin the process of instructor certification. She is a very intelligent, organized, and hardworking individual, so it is no surprise she became a PATH, Intl. certified instructor in 2010. Owning horses since she was very young, Amy possesses the knowledge and riding skill necessary for the instruction and further advancement of our riders. Amy is active in a local competitive drill team, Just Horsin' Around Drill Team. She is also an avid trail rider and enjoys riding all over the state with friends and family sharing her love of horses and the environment. Amy works as a marketing coordinator for Johnson Engineering and also has a miniature horse, Guinness, who has volunteered his time as well, to be a part of our new Outreach Team.
VOLUNTEERING with SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS
Special Equestrians' trained volunteers are the backbone of our therapeutic riding program. If you are comfortable around horses, we have many ways for you to contribute. You can groom and tack up the horses, be a sidewalker, lead the horses, or help maintain the stable area. We also have office work, fund-raising, and special events for those volunteers who do not want to work directly with the horses. Whatever direction you choose will be unique and rewarding. Join our team and share the joy!
You will receive orientation and training to explain the safety and procedural rules of the program. You will need to fill out an application form and the emergency medical treatment form before you begin your volunteer work or your volunteer training. If you would like to fill out the forms before you arrive for orientation and training, click the links below to print out the volunteer forms and the release forms. You may also read the volunteer handbook at this time.
All new volunteers must fill out the Volunteer Application, read the Volunteer Handbook and attend Volunteer training before they begin their volunteer work with Special Equestrians. You can join our Free Email List, checking the Volunteer Group, to begin receiving volunteer announcements.
Once you have completed the volunteer application and read the volunteer handbook, call our office and leave a message for our volunteer coordinator, Priscilla Kovalsky. She will return your call and schedule your volunteer training, which will take place at Special Equestrians. If you need directions to our facility, click this link: DIRECTIONS
Volunteer Application Packet
Volunteer Handbook
Click here link to see our HORSES
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