Equine Well Being Committee
Anna Baucum
Anna Baucum currently works at Brook Hill Farm as a supervisor, Vet Tech and holds a certification through Path International as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She graduated with a degree in Psychology that she uses with the at risk youth at the farm. She grew up with horses, working at various barns, learning natural horse behavior. She has spoken at both the national and regional conferences as well as at the Temple Grandin center, and has been a coach at the United States Pony Club Championships in show jumping. Anna is proud to be a member of the Equine Well-Being committee for the Humans and Horses Research Foundation, a national organization.
Trish Broersma
I roam the mountains surrounding Ashland in southern Oregon on my horses, Mystic and Journey, and offer experiences for people and horses alike to explore new possibilities for their lives. I also enjoy bringing visual brilliance through web and print media to the deeper vision of those whose work makes a positive difference in our world.
I have been a therapeutic riding professional since 1988, certified as a PATH Intl Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist, and Mentor, as well as past president of EFMHA (Equine Facilitated Mental Health Assn, a section of NARHA) and a member of the PATH Intl Equine Welfare committee. I spent eleven years developing and conducting an equine assisted learning program in human development for at-risk teens and adults in transition, published in 2007 by New World Library Riding into Your Mythic Life: Transformational Adventures with the Horse. Since then my work has focused on deepening the horse/human relationship for global purposes, with an emphasis on body-based modalities, the power of story, and liberty training with horses for eliciting their willingness, wisdom, and enthusiasm for interactions with people. I've been director and head instructor for two PATH Intl premier accredited therapeutic riding centers. Nine years ago I founded Riding Beyond, whose mission is to open doors to the future for women recovering from breast cancer treatment through the horse/human connection. trishbroersma.com tells more.
Arnau Gomà Font, Spain
Even though I don't come from a family with a horse background, apparently I showed an interest in horses from a very early age, and my parents supported it so I started having riding “lessons” at the age of five once a week with a family friend. And that was the beginning of it all. There is a quote that quite reflects my journey with horses "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”. My horsemanship is all about that if it involves horses I am in. Been involved with show jumping, eventing, dressage, alta escuela, natural horsemanship, academic art of riding, trail riding. You name it.
I have been blessed in my path with horses to be able to acquire knowledge and learn from great horsemen and horsewomen, by attending clinics, reading their books, enrolling in their training programs or personally meeting them and having the opportunity to see them work and share experiences.
I don’t want to forget the great horses, and I have been blessed in that sense, that allowed me to be part of their lives from “Xocolate” the first school master that allowed a 5 year old horse loving boy to have his first experience on a horse back, our first horse “Arai” ( got the name from putin together the first letters of my name and my sisters name), “Jeanluc” the horse that really taught me what jumping could be, or “Zyhad” the youngster I am starting at the moment, just to name some.
At the moment I share my life with a wonderful herd of 8 horses, two ponies and a jenny. So I am living the dream.
“HHRF is paving the way for a deeper understanding of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and well-being. Joining efforts, provides the opportunity to become masters of this field, enhancing knowledge and benefiting both humans and equines alike."
Cathy Languerand
As a lifelong Horsewoman, learning to train, teach, share and listen to the horses has been my life's mission.
I have spent the last forty years following this full time passion to become a Master Instructor. I have been an active member of the United States Pony Club, United States Eventing Association, Masters of Fox Hunting Association, Certified Horsemanship Association Master Instructor, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Intl. Riding and Driving, a Reach Out to Horses Instructor with Anna Twinney, Bio Energetic Techniques with Dr. Regan Golob, and Irwin Insight Instructor Mounted, In-hand, and Driving with Chris Irwin. Teaching, training, managing farms, all levels of students, all types of horses from untouched, to performance horses, and therapy horses has allowed me to work with many thousands of horses and their humans in the most effective and compassionate way possible.
As I complete my fourth decade of work, the desire to Create a Benefit for the greater good of both Horses and Humans has expanded my work into the physiology of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance.
By sharing an understanding of the empathic nature of horses, along with the science behind brain function and body language, I am able to assist others to deepen their partnership with their horse, on all levels, to become a more relaxed and skillful horse-person.
I have spent the last ten years creating a curriculum for the next generation of horsemen and woman that addresses a greater sense of communication and understanding for both partners.
My hope is that this work brings a greater awareness to the difference between positive and negative methods of working with our horses.
What I have learned from the horses is how to feel safe, feel trust, share respect, and yes, even have fun. I wish to bring this message out into the world. Contact Cathy by email cmlmrc@aol.com
Jo Anne Miller
Jo Anne Miller is the Executive Director of Brook Hill Farm, a fully accredited horse rescue by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, as well as a PATH International Premier Therapeutic riding center, working with rescue horses in all of the programs. She is an adjunct Professor of Equine Science at Randolph College. She has been the co-chair of the PATH Equine Welfare Committee, and currently chairs the Equus Foundation's Equine Welfare Committee, and serves on the HETI Equine Welfare Group.
" I believe that research is the key to the future success of this industry, and I am honored to be able to help HHRF in any way that is needed"
Mary Elena Moran
Mary Elena Moran has been a professional horseman for the last two decades alongside a rewarding career in law enforcement which has been primarily focused on mounted police instruction. Mary Elena is an internationally recognized mounted police instructor who has developed a program where rescued horses who were once slaughterbound are rehabilitated and trained to be police horses to be community ambassadors of the ultimate rescue transformation. She is an active clinician of horsemanship workshops for civilians, therapeutic program volunteers/staff, equine rescue volunteers, and also conducts programming for veterans and first responders. Aside from mounted police training, Mary Elena is focused on groundwork, dressage, liberty, bridleless riding, obstacle training and the sport of cowboy mounted shooting,
Mary Elena's passion lies in transforming the life of the underdog who was thrown away, proving the value of their life, and sharing their transformation story. She states, "after seeing their transformation, will others then believe, open their hearts with more acceptance and love, curiosity for why things are going wrong with their own horse and then develop relentless dedication to solve the puzzle so that there can be harmony in the partnership? Will they then support rescue? I hope to inspire it to be so."
Mary Elena holds a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is a Level 3 Harmony Horsemanship Certified Instructor, a practitioner of several equine body work therapies, is a Level 1 practitioner of Equine Facilitated Learning modalities: Natural Lifemanship with a Trauma Focus and Equine Experiential Education. When not riding, teaching, and managing her 6 rescue dogs, Mary Elena travels to Guatemala as a missionary.
Molly Sweeney - Co Chair
Molly Sweeney is founder and now Director Emerita of the Horses and Human Research Foundation. She is originally from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where she was blessed to grow up with horses in her back yard and still has 5 horses in her pasture in TX. Molly became involved with Equine Assisted services in 1990, when she started volunteering with SIRE, a local program in Houston TX. Molly was a volunteer there for over 20 years, was the Equine Director evaluating horses for the program and also served multiple terms as the Board President. She served on the NARHA (now PATH, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) Board from 1996 to 2002. Molly says she is not a researcher herself, but has never outgrown that childhood phase where one is always asking, "But WHY?"
Marie Wild - Co Chair
Marcie Wild (formerly Ehrman) is a member of the Board of Directors of HHRF, co-chair of their Equine Well-Being Committee, and prior co-chair of the PATH Intl. Equine Welfare Committee.
As a lifelong equine advocate, she has been involved in the EAS field for over 20 years, and has presented and published articles internationally on topics involving equine welfare. Marcie has held positions as the Director of Equine Assisted Services at a large residential facility, and instructor and director of volunteer services at several Premier Accredited PATH Centers. She has worked with The EQUUS Foundation, and recently sat on the Board of Directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension, where she serves as advisor for their equine programming.