Lindsay Alberts
Lindsay is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who has been riding horses for over 30 years. She holds a Bronze Medal with the USDF and a Silver Medal at Training Level with the USEF and has successfully competed in Eventing up through the Preliminary level. She has been with EquiCenter for over 16 years managing different aspects of the organization as well as being a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor.

 

Amberlea Atwood
Amberlea is a current equine care specialist working toward her PATH CTRI certification. She has a small family lesson program at her home and has been teaching.

 

Audrey DiMatteo
Audrey has been part of EquiCenter since 2023, but her connection to horses began much earlier. She grew up on a farm in Warsaw, NY, and has spent her life riding and caring for horses. Audrey competed in both hunt seat and western disciplines on interscholastic and intercollegiate teams. She holds a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Ithaca College and currently works full time as a school-based occupational therapist in the Rochester area. Teaching at EquiCenter allows Audrey to combine her lifelong love of horses with her passion for helping others grow and thrive but most importantly have fun.

 

Susan Gilson
Susan Gilson is a USDF Gold and Silver Medalist with Distinction as well as USDF Gold Medal Freestyle Bar. She and May Sylvester were ranked 18th last year in the United States at the Grand Prix Freestyle. Susan has many students over the years who have completed USDF medals through their gold. Susan teaches competitive and recreational dressage riders and is a PATH Certified Therapeutic Instructor.

 

Julia Hess
Julia is a long-time employee who is now a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Julia has been an equine care specialist for over 16 years (that’s more than half her life!). She is a full-time speech pathologist and has been supporting instructors with her background for some time.

 

Deborah Houliares
Debi began her 17-year career as a customer service representative for the world's largest recreational boat dealership in South Florida. Looking for a career change, she began her PATH journey in 2007 at Equine Assisted Therapies of South Florida, where she began her lifelong dream of working with horses and people with disabilities. Debi is PATH certified as a CTRI and ESMHL, as well as a Mentor. She has presented at PATH conferences and shared her knowledge of what it takes to run a successful volunteer program. Debi is also a strong advocate and fundraiser for her son's rare disease.

 

Katie Hurlburt
Katie began riding at the age of 9 when her parents bought her riding lessons for a holiday gift. To support her involvement with horses, she worked at the local barn, where she made it her mission to learn everything she could, earn extra riding time, and gain experience. Throughout high school she volunteered at a local therapeutic riding center and fell in love with the field. Katie got her Registered Level Certification in October 2010 from High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme, CT and furthered her credentials by achieving her Advanced Level Certification in February 2013. Additionally, Katie has a BA in Psychology and AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant.

 

Joan Maher
Joan describes EquiCenter as her happy place. She began as a volunteer in order to have more time with a student before she was hired full-time. Joan is a special education itinerant teacher along with her duties at EquiCenter.

 

Colleen McDonough

Colleen is a Certified Equine Mental Health and Learning Professional with over 10 years of volunteer experience in the equine-assisted services field as well as working in a day hab assisting those with special needs.  She specializes in Unmounted Horsemanship, using the horse-human connection to promote emotional growth, confidence, and communication. Colleen is passionate about working with individuals with disabilities, she creates supportive and inclusive learning experiences. Her dedication shines through in every season, where people and horses learn, connect, and grow together.

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Sara McLaughlin
Sara is the Senior Director of Programming and a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor at the EquiCenter Inc in Honeoye Falls, NY. Sara has her Bachelors of Science in Human Services and has worked in the field of Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Learning for over 25 years. She has been employed at EquiCenter for 20 years and was selected as PATH International's Region 2 Professional of the Year in 2024. Sara has been involved in creating new programs at EquiCenter and loves to watch how people can be impacted by the joys of nature, the outdoors, and horses.

 

Molly Ryan
Molly has been with EquiCenter for almost 3 years but has been teaching riding lessons since she was 13. Since being with EquiCenter she has become a PATH CTRI and Mentor. She is originally from Kansas City and came to this area to attend Houghton College, where she has degrees in Equine Performance, Business Marketing, and Communications along with a minor in Assisted Therapies. EquiCenter is a huge part of her life and she is so thankful to be a part of such a dedicated and gratifying workplace.

 

Samantha Schaubroeck
Samantha is a PATH Advanced Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor at EquiCenter. She combines her passion for horsemanship with her dedication to empowering individuals of all abilities. Sam oversees the Mentorship Program and brings over 20 years of experience in the therapeutic riding industry. She is dedicated to helping riders of all abilities grow in confidence, skill, and connection through the power of the horse-human bond.

 

Heidi Vahue

Horses have been at the heart of Heidi’s life since she was 13 years old. She worked for and was a student of Olympic rider Karen O’Connor. Heidi competed in Eventing from Pony Club levels through the International Intermediate 3 Day level. For many years she taught local eventing students, while helping form the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials for over 20 years before taking over as organizer. Heidi served on the EquiCenter Board of Directors for several years before earning her CTRI certification. She is a graduate of Foxcroft School in Virginia and attended Denison University and University of Rochester. Heidi currently resides in Bloomfield with her husband Mark, son Mitchell, and daughter Riley.

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Evelyn Van Arsdale
Evelyn has been with the EquiCenter for a year and a half and has recently become certified as a CTRI. Evelyn grew up in Victor and has been around horses since she was 6. She attended college at Mercyhurst University, where she received her BA in History and was captain of the copy IHSA team. Evelyn has a retired QH named Daisy and her favorite horse at the Equicenter is Lexus.

 

Betsy Whitehouse

Betsy is a certified Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) instructor through PATH Intl. and serves as a facilitator in the HEAL program, as well as a one-on-one horsemanship instructor. She began volunteering at the EquiCenter in 2022, where she continues to support therapeutic riding sessions as a sidewalker, leader, and horse handler. Before joining the EquiCenter, Betsy taught high school English and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education.

 

Phil Wytrwa

Phil, an Afghanistan War Veteran, first came to EquiCenter participating in Mission Mustang. Through working with the mustangs, it began to transform his relationships, health, and overall well-being. Phil and his family found their passion for horses, and adopted their first mustang, NorthStar. Phil was a natural with horses and was hired on as an Equine Care Specialist and then after time and training, a Mission Mustang instructor. He has also found a new love for the rodeo where he regularly competes in bull riding competitions.