2008 NARHA Adult Equestrian Recognition Award
Greta Rose Thompson  EQUEST  Wylie, TX
Greta Rose Thompson embodies every aspect of the NARHA Adult Equestrian of the Year. As a dedicated rider for more than 22 years, she always greets her instructor, volunteers and horse with a measure of love that would melt the coldest heart.

Greta is nonverbal, but her body language and sounds are understood perfectly by her equine partners. Her joyful smile and infectious giggle are also perfectly understandable.  

Rain, snow, sleet or shine, Greta expects to ride on her lesson day, enduring illness, stiffness, pain or anything else life throws at her as long as she can ride. Trotting is Greta’s favorite thing to do, and she is working hard with her drill team, which recently won a gold medal at the State Special Olympics competition.

2008 NARHA Child Equestrian Award
Mitchell Yeoh  Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc.  Brewster, New York
Mitchell loves to tackle new experiences both on and off the horse.  He enjoys improving his riding skills and has discovered the joys of working with his horse on the ground. Mitchell is always looking to learn about horses: their colors, their breeds, different tack and care. He soaks up the information and writes about it or discusses it with his family throughout the week between lessons. He asks follow-up questions or looks up additional information to satisfy his curiosity. At the horse show he rises to the challenge of his skills class and is visibly proud of his accomplishments. Riding has opened up his emotional growth, which he expresses through journaling, creating art and writing poetry. 

Lezah Yeoh, Mitchell’s mom writes, “When Mitchell began riding for Pegasus we did not know what to expect.  Initially, we questioned how Mitchell who could not walk a straight line, could ride a large horse. My husband and I were astounded to see Mitchell, with his fragile body, sit majestically on a horse.  Mitchell, who never spoke freely, who hardly uttered a complete sentence, was conversing freely with his partners. Mitchell has multiple sensory issues, but there he was, affectionately touching such a sweet, gentle horse. It was miraculous.

 2008 NARHA Independent Adult Equestrian Recognition Award
Alena Sorm  Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center,  Woodinville, WA

2008 NARHA Independent Adult Equestrian of the Year
Alena Sorm is a woman who perseveres through unbelievable odds, tries harder than anyone you are likely to meet and still has the energy to express her selfless devotion to the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center.

Alena was born with such a severe form of Cerebral Palsy that her doctors thought it unlikely that she’d live into her teens. She began riding for just a few minutes at a time with two sidewalkers at the age of twelve.  She has continued to ride for 32 years!

Today Alena rides independently and competitively. She has ridden in every major competition for people with disabilities—all over the United States. She has performed as a drill team member. During his life she trained and cared for her horse and she has generously given her time and talent to our industry several times a year by speaking at fund raising events.

Having out survived both her Cerebral Palsy and Cancer, Alena works every day to maintain her riding, skills. She rides gracefully and often assists instructors in teaching western trail class maneuvers to the other members of her class.

2008 NARHA Youth Equestrian Recognition Award
Anthony Fusaro  Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center  Orinda, CA
“I am more than cancer!” Those were the words and the philosophy of Anthony Fusaro, our courageous Youth Equestrian of the year who rode at the Xenophon Therepeutic Riding Center in Orinda, California.

Anthony had an amazing ability to face down adversity. He arrived at the Xenophon center in a wheelchair, bringing a great smile, a wonderful sense of humor and a life expectancy of six months. He progressed from wheelchair to cane and from surcingle to saddle and independent riding. When he was strong, he groomed, tacked, led and mounted independently. When his health permitted, he gave presentations about the benefits of riding and Anthony could really draw his listeners in. He inspired his doctors and nurses as well as the students, volunteers and instructors at the center that meant so much to him.

During the last year of his life, Anthony may have been fighting a terminal illness, but his spirit was unwavering. He worked on his Eagle Scout Project, which he called HOPE (Helping Oncology Patients Endure) and even when he was once again getting around in a wheelchair, he hoped to ride again. He was one amazing individual.

Anthony Fusaro of Albany, California, passed away On May 20, 2008. NARHA remembers how truly special he was—how positive and strong he was through adversity—and most of all how his courageous spirit and love of life shined through his eyes and his great smile.  

2008 NARHA Equine of the Year Recognition Award
Cocoa, Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center  Orinda, CA
Cocoa is a 21 year old mare of Arabian and Morgan ancestry. When she is ridden by an able-bodied person, she shows the fiery personality of an Arabian, however she adjusts her energy level according to the extent of the challenges of her young disabled riders, slowing her pace when her rider is unbalanced or unable to sit up straight. With a background in shows and parades, Cocoa is tolerant with excited, spontaneously noisy children. Although she is by nature wary and undemonstrative, she lovingly nuzzles children who come to feed her a treat after a lesson. It is clear that she has all the patience in the world for these young charges and she stands quietly with soft eyes when they bestow their hugs and kisses. Cocoa is majestic and beautiful inside and out.

2007 NARHA Volunteer of the Year Recognition Award
Jack Carpentier, Horses for Healing, Bentonville, AR
Jack Carpentier had volunteered for NARHA centers in Colorado and Wisconsin, when he showed up at Horses for Healing in Arkansas seven years ago. Did I mention that he had also served on a horseback search and rescue team?Jack has always been able to do it all at the center. If you’ve needed a leader, a sidewalker, a ground driver, a barn management instructor, an equine care giver, volunteer trainer, handyman, carpenter, electrician, audio engineer…Jack has been the go-to guy who has completed the required task, perfectly. 

2008 NARHA Sis Gould Driving Recognition Award
Anita Gwynn Sepko, Riding Unlimited  Haslet, TX
Anita is one of a few NARHA Driving Level II instructors and is also the  NARHA Certified Level Riding Instructor at Riding Unlimited, a NARHA Premier Accredited Center in Ponder, Texas. She is the center’s head instructor.

Anita has a varied background in both riding and driving. She was a 4-H Horse Activity Leader for 15 years. She served on the North Carolina Horse Council, served ion the board of directors of the United States Icelandic Horse Congress for five years and served on the board of directors of the Friesian Horse Society for six years. Anita was the North Carolina representative for the Carriage Association of America for five years and is an active member of the American Driving Society, a member of USAE and a member of the North Texas Whip. She served as a regional representative for the World Sidesaddle Association. Anita has shown both Icelandic and Friesian horses at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts and Ohio, in the Carolina Classic Horse Expo and many other trade shows. She has been on the board of directors of the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association.

Anita’s expertise made driving a viable program at Riding Unlimited. This allowed many more participants to take part in a therapeutic equine activity at the center. She was instrumental in bring minis to the forefront in the driving program. She and a fellow instructor presented a program called “Miniature Horses in a Driving Program” at a Region 8 conference. This presentation introduced many more EAAT professionals to the driving benefits and opportunities made possible by the addition of minis. 

Anita was instrumental in having driving classes for disabled drivers added to the ADS Cedar Creek Pleasure Driving Event and she campaigned to add driving classes to our area Chisholm Challenge Horse Show for Special Riders in north Texas.

2008 NARHA Instructor of the Year Recognition Award
Laura Jensen, Exceptional Equestrians of the Missouri Valley, Inc., Washington,
Sandy Rafferty, Program Director of Therapeutic Horsemanship in Wentzville, MO writes:

“Laura Jensen epitomizes the necessary qualities of a NARHA instructor: compassion for people and equines, an exceptional ability to find and create teaching tools and techniques to encourage her students [and] take them to their maximum ability level… and a willingness to support her students’ whole family and flexibility in the ever changing world of EAAT …[She is] an excellent mentor  for new instructors, [and] a collaborative team member.”

Laura, who serves as the head instructor at Exceptional Equestrians of the Missouri Valley, has taught riders with disabilities for 20 years and mentored instructors in training for 18 of those years.

Laura is known for her energy, her enthusiasm and her gift for finding just the right way to communicate with each individual she instructs, whether he or she is an instructor in training, a person with a physical challenge or a rider with cognitive challenges—whether she is instructing people who speak English or people who don’t, as was the case in her work with Pat Mullins in South Africa.

2008 NARHA President’s Award
Octavia Brown and Karen Bocksel
Octavia J. Brown recently received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey where she is an associate professor of equine studies. She holds a Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is a NARHA certified master level instructor.

Octavia Brown has been in the equine assisted activities and therapies field for more than 30 years.  She was a founder of NARHA in 1969, serving four terms on the board of trustees.  In 1972 she founded the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riders in Hew Jersey, and was a founding member of Horseback Riding for the Handicapped of New Jersey—the first therapeutic riding agency in the USA. Active in therapeutic riding nationally and internationally, she is a past president of the Federation of Riding for the Disabled International.

Octavia has won numerous awards. She was honored in 1982 as New Jersey Horse Person of the Year by the New Jersey Horse Council. In 1990 she received the NARHA Director’s Award and the NARHA President’s Award. In 1993 she was the Gates-Ferry Distinguished Lecturer at Centenary College.  In 1988 she received  the NARHA James Brady Professional Achievement Award.

Karen T. Bocksel has been involved in the field of therapeutic riding for more that 15 years.  She is president of the New York State Therapeutic Riding Organization and NARHA state chair of New York. She is a NARHA certified advanced level instructor. In 1994 she received the NARHA Region Two Volunteer of the year award.

Karen served as the NARHA Region Two representative for four years and also program director of therapeutic riding at Centenary College. She has been the executive director, program director and an officer of the board of directors of Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center in Oldwick, New Jersey. She was president of Horseback Riding for the Handicapped of New Jersey for three years. Karen is a NARHA lead site visitor, instructor, mentor and apprentice instructor evaluation. 

Karen has been very involved in special education, having a son who received special education services.  She co-founded the Special Education Parent Teacher Organization for Warren Township, New Jersey and served as a member of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission’s parent advisory board.

Karen resides at MoorHouse Farm in Aquebogue, New York with her husband, son, Jack Russell terrier and Haflinger.

NARHA’s 2008 James Brady Professional Achievement Award
Pat Mullins
Pat Mullins served on NARHA’s board from 2002 through 2006 and as our president from 2003 through 2005. Pat has seen NARHA through highlights and challenges, making improvements, friends and contacts all along the way.

Pat received his BA in economics from Columbia University and his J.D. degree from George Washington School of Law as well as picking up degrees in CPCU and Risk Management from the Insurance Institute of America.

We first came to know Pat more than 16 years ago as a representative of the Markel Insurance Agency. It was Pat’s drive and expertise that convinced insurance underwriters to make it possible for therapeutic riding centers to purchase insurance that was both adequate and affordable—a dramatic step forward for the EAAT field.

Pat will never be described as “standoffish.” The hospitality suite at NARHA’s national conference is his invention. Throughout his association with NARHA he has probably attended a conference in every region and probably knows more members than anybody else. Pat has developed sound relationships with the American Quarter Horse Association, The American Hippotherapy Association and the American Paint Horse Association. Not satisfied to change the face of EAAT in the USA, Pat initiated a successful Rotary Club Project to establish a therapeutic riding center in South Africa.

Region Two Representative Ross Braun, writes of Pat, “He’s quick and articulate in his praise; and he know s how to make people laugh and feel good. Thanks to Pat Mullins, NARHA is more! More effective, more membership-oriented, more visible, more important, more friendly and certainly more fun!”

2008 NARHA  Volunteer Leadership Recognition Award: Programs and Standards
Gisela Rhodes
Gisela has been a member of NARHA since 1993 and served on the EFMHA Board of Directors for six years.  She is a NARHA Certified Advanced Level Instructor, a NARHA Registered On-site Workshop/Certification Associate Faculty/Evaluator, an EFMHA Equine Specialist Workshop Associate Faculty, and the current past chair of the NARHA Vaulting Certification Subcommittee. 

Of all the work Gisela has done for NARHA, it is her work with the vaulting subcommittee that has made her a truly indispensable member.  NARHA Vaulting Certification is just under a year old, and Gisela has been involved in the program from the beginning.  Gisela was instrumental in helping the vaulting certification subcommittee get off the ground in 1998, and played a major role in the development of the vaulting specialty standards. Gisela saw the need for the educational component of vaulting to be separated from the certification component, and thus advocated for and worked with her committee to help develop the NARHA Vaulting Workshop and Certification into the program we have today. In addition to her roles within the vaulting subcommittee, Gisela is also a current NARHA Vaulting Workshop Faculty and Evaluator.

Internationally, Gisela is a Federation of Riding for the Disabled International (FRDI) Board Member and a German Board for Therapeutic Riding certified instructor.  She is an invaluable advocate for both NARHA and EFMHA in the international movement of equine-assisted activities and therapies.  She has run Special Equestrians, Inc., her own NARHA Premier Accredited Center in Newcastle, Maine, since 1994, and has published several books on vaulting.

2008 NARHA Volunteer Leadership Recognition Award: Membership
Pat White
Pat White has been a member of NARHA since 2000 and will be completing her term as co-chair of the administrative committee at the end of 2008.  She has been on the committee since 2004 and co-chair for the last two years.   Pat provided strong leadership to the committee, particularly as they presented new and valuable information about administrative resources at national conference workshops, which were attended by administrators, board members and many other NARHA members.  She was also extremely helpful as the administrative committee sponsored an insurance survey that enabled NARHA to gather much-needed information about centers and their insurance needs.  Pat provides a voice of reason and common sense to the administrative committee as it sorts through the various tasks and opportunities in front of it, and that voice will be missed when her term is complete.

Pat is the executive director of Hearts and Hooves in Sherwood, Ariz., a center she helped found eight years ago.  Hearts and Hooves is a NARHA Premier Accredited Center and serves 217 participants with 11 staff, 12 equines and 60 volunteers.  Pat founded Hearts and Hooves in 2000 after buying her daughter a horse to deal with the side effects of her epilepsy medication.  Another mother at the barn mentioned that she wished her daughter with autism had a place to ride, and Pat was inspired to start a center of her own.  Pat brings a corporate background and 11 years of experience as a Girl Scout troop leader to her role as executive director.

2008 NARHA Volunteer Leadership Recognition Award: Education
Mandy Hogan
Mandy is a life member of NARHA, having first joined in 1993, and a current member of the EFMHA equine specialist curriculum task force.  This task force has been working as a team since 2002, and Mandy has worked closely with Memree Stuart, Leslie McCullough-Moreau and Susan Brooks, the other founding members of the group.  Together they have realized the dream of expanding the field of equine-assisted therapy and offering training for the equine specialist to both NARHA and EFMHA members.  Mandy has also taken on the task of working with the NARHA staff to finalize the workshop notebook for the equine specialist workshops, and assisting the staff in updating the student manual and the faculty teaching manual. 

Mandy is currently the executive director at Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc., a Premier Accredited Center in Boxford, Mass., where she uses her skills and expertise as a NARHA Certified Master Level Instructor and an EFMHA Equine Specialist faculty.  Mandy is also active in NARHA’s Horses for Heroes Program and a member of the NH4H task force, and her center offers NH4H activities.