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Core Faculty and Staff

 

Isabella (Boo) Martin, M.Ed - Founder and Executive Director of Touchstone Farm and Horse Power Instructor Training School Course Director. Graduated from Fordham University with a BA in teaching, graduated from Antioch/NE with a Masters in Education (in Organization and Management, a not for profit MBA!). Completed a yearlong fundraising course with Giving Monadnock & the NH Charitable Trust.  Chair of PATH Intl. Equine advocacy committee. Master Instructor for PATH Intl. Several PATH Intl. (formerly NARHA) and EFMHA achievement awards. 1997 American Instructor Certification Instructor of the Year Award. 2005 NH Horse Person of the Year. Life long teacher, rider, driver, competitor and trainer. Loves being with the students and horses the most!

 

SdditaBioPic[1].jpgSddita Blackburn - Coordinator of Touchstone Farm’s Horse Power Instructor Training School and part time Horse Power Instructor. Is a PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. With her background growing up on a farm in Vermont, she learned her way around the barn and horses as a child.  She started her career in equine assisted activities and therapies in 2003, became certified at the Registered Level in 2004, and has been actively involved in the industry ever since. She has worked at a variety of centers in Arizona and Colorado in many roles, from part time instructor to full time assistant program director. While in Colorado, Sddita worked for PATH Intl. as the Certification Manager gaining invaluable knowledge about the industry and as the staff liaison for the committees on curriculum development for all disciplines and certification processes/procedures. Sddita runs her own freelance graphic design business Sizzle Designs when she isn’t at the farm.

 

Winter and Toast.jpgWinter Keeler, MSW - Part-time Horse Power Instructor at Touchstone Farm. Graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Psychology. Graduated from the University of New Hampshire at Durham with a Master of Social Work, and is presently working toward her LICSW. Clinical Supervisor at Wediko Children’s Services, Inc. in Windsor, NH, a non-profit organization for boys who struggle with emotional, behavioral, environmental and learning issues. A PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Has been a presenter for the Horse Power Intensive Instructor Training Course, and panel member of the Strategic Planning Committee. Grew up riding, working at a racehorse barn, competing in multiple disciplines such as Games, Combined Training and Tetrathlon, and is glad to be riding again!

 

Susanne Haseman, LCMHC - Counselor at the Regional Alternative Program in Wilder, VT.  Advanced PATH Intl. Instructor, and PATH Intl. Apprentice Evaluator. Co-founder of two therapeutic riding programs, chair of EFMHA Instructor Certification Curriculum Development Committee.  EMMHA Board of Directors member and Secretary.  Current member of EFMHA Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Certification Curriculum Development Committee, PATH Intl. Region 1 representative from Vermont. Key member of HPITS Development Team. Certified /Licensed Mental Health Professional.

 

Nancy Cook   M.Ed. in Reading and Special Education - Supervising Instructor for the Practice Teaching Component at HPITS and a founding instructor for Horse Power. Currently working in the school district as a School Psychologist specializing in testing. Member of the Steering Committee of Clemson University, which is working toward a Therapeutic Riding Minor Degree Program. Member of EFMHA Instructor Curriculum Development Committee. Presenter at numerous national and regional conferences and workshops. Lifelong riding instructor and dressage competitor up to 3rd Level.

 

*A fantastic group of Volunteers, Board of Directors, barn staff, horse handlers, trainers and horse lovers complete the Touchstone Farm and HPITS Team!