HorseAbility is proud and unique in that our Executive Director and Founder,
Katie Kilcommons-McGowan, is a certified Instructor from the
NARHA accredited Cheff Center for the Handicapped in Augusta,
Michigan. She is also a certified NARHA instructor, Special
Olympics Coach, and holds a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A.
in Elementary Education.
Tina
began working at HorseAbility in 1995 as a volunteer. Her
time spent with the program has given her a unique understanding
of HorseAbility from several perspectives including that of
a volunteer, office staff member, barn manager, volunteer
coordinator, riding instructor, and director. In addition
to her years of hands on experience, and numerous hours spent
helping with and teaching lessons, Tina also has the following
qualifications:
NARHA
(North American Riding for the Handicapped Association)
certified instructor at the registered level
Certified
Special Olympics Coach in Equestrian Sports
B.S.
and M.A. in Speech Language Pathology/Audiology
A
graduate from SUNY Cobleskill with a B.T. in Equine Studies,
Jamie started working for HorseAbility in the winter of 2005
on internship. Her vast knowledge of therapeutic riding and
horsemanship, along with her managerial skills helped her
to find her niche and stay on with the organization; Involved
in numerous aspects of the program including teaching, overseeing
general programming and coordinating, customer service, special
events and fundraising. Not only is a program director, she
is also certified as a NARHA (North American Riding for the
Handicapped Association) instructor at the registered level
and Special Olympics Equestrian Coach.
Sue
is a graduate of St. John’s University with a B.S. in
Education N-9 and a M.A. from Adelphi University in Secondary
Education. Giving up a full time teaching position, she because
a stay at home mom for her 2 children. As they got older she
had more availability, in 1999 Sue returned to her love of
horses by riding and working for The Thomas School of Horsemanship
ultimately introducing her to Katie McGowan and she became
a volunteer at HorseAbility as the Outreach Director. Sue
obtained certification as a NARHA (North American Riding for
the Handicapped Association) instructor at the registered
level.
Eileen
Carroll is an Occupational Therapist who has a long history
with HorseAbility, starting when she was sixteen as a volunteer.
She became a NARHA certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
in 2005, and became certified to practice Hippotherapy in
2007. Her educational background includes a B.A. from Salve
Regina University in Psychology, and a M.S. in Occupational
Therapy from N.Y.U. in 2007. Her focus in treatment includes
NDT, SI, Motor Relearning theory and Cognitive Rehab for Traumatic
Brain Injury. She also works as an Occupational Therapist
in the acute care setting at Good Samaritan Hospital in West
Islip. She has been riding horses since she was nine years
old, and has a focus in hunt seat equitation and centered
riding. The horses's therapeutic capacity, both physically,
cognitively, and emotionally is what has drawn her to use
them in treatment, and is continued to be amazed at their
unique gifts.
Antoinette
graduated May 2009 from Post University in Connecticut with
a B.S. in Equine Studies and a B.A. in Psychology. She is
an experienced English and Western rider who has been around
horses since “before she could walk.
