Our Instructors
SARI instructors have nationally recognized training. They are certified by the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) or North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), or they are in the process of obtaining their Assistant Instructor's certification.
Dana Bell
Dana is currently training for her CanTRA certification as an Intermediate Instructor. She has been working at SARI since 2009 as the Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Event Support. She has been involved in coaching and instructing a large variety of sports, some include: skiing, rowing, white water canoeing, sea kayaking and swimming. Dana attended Lakehead university where she studied Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism with a special interest in therapeutic recreation. In the past she has worked as a wilderness guide and respite worker. Dana moved to London in 2009 with her dog Cody.
Annie Campbell
Annie has been involved at SARI since 2003, beginning as a volunteer and eventually becoming the Camp Director and Program Instructor. She will recieve her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario in the spring of 2011. Annie began riding when she was six years old and participated in Hunter/Jumper on both the Trillium and A circuit levels. At home, Annie has two golden retrievers and a cat but at SARI she spends her time playing with Glory. Her proudest moment was coaching the SARI Prince Phillips Games Team to victory in two ONTRA shows in 2010.
Bonnie Carey
Bonnie has been involved at SARI since the early 1990's as a volunteer in lessons and now, instructing. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, earning an Honours Bachelor of Geography degree. Bonnie has worked for the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority for over 30 years in the fields of communication and teaching outdoor education and is supervisor to a team of staff at Longwoods Road Conservation Area. She has been riding for as many years at a local stable and loves the outdoors, enjoying camping, gardening, and all animals especially her dog and 2 cats.
Kate Day
Kate has been a long-time volunteer at SARI; helping out with weekly lessons and Camp SARI whenever she can. She is currently working on completing her CanTRA Assistant Instructor Certification and is excited to be teaching lessons at SARI. Kate has been riding horses for over 15 years and continues to take English riding lessons. Kate has been a member of both Pony Club and 4H, and has learned lots about horsemanship and riding through these clubs. Kate recently graduated from the University of Western Ontario with her Honours Specialization degree in Psychology. Currently, Kate works at Fanshawe College and is working on completing her graduate certificate in Corporate Communications and Public Relations. In her spare time Kate enjoys running, pilates, horseback riding, volunteering, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.
Rosa Dias
Rosa has been a pleasure rider for about 15 years, taking lessons on and off during that time. She has been volunteering with SARI since 2007 and started to work towards her Cantra level II instructor in the winter of 2009. She is a part time registered nurse in the dialysis unit at LHSC. Rosa lives at home in London with her 2 great children and wonderful husband too. She has 2 dogs, a chocolate lab Bailey, a yellow lab Zoe, and a fussy grey cat named Mika.
Janine Langley
Janine has been involved at SARI since 2001 in various staff positions and holds a very special place in her heart for Camp SARI. Janine is a graduate of the University of Guelph, earning an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in (Agricultural) Animal Biology. She is also a graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Bachelor of Education program and is a high school biology teacher. Janine has been riding and competing in Hunter/Jumper divisions since age 6, and is currently working toward her CTRI certification. When she’s not riding, Janine can be found: in Duke’s stall, chasing the barn cats for cuddles, on the soccer field, in the movie theatre, or wrestlig with her two large dogs, Aldo and Darby!
Angelina Pickering
Angelina has lived on a horse farm her entire life and loves animals. She has 15 horses, 2 goats, 2 dogs and numerous cats, turkeys and chickens. She has been showing hunter/jumper since she was 6, and became involved at SARI in 2006 for community hours for high school and decided to stay. Angelina is a full time travel agent who enjoys running, riding, volleyball and playing on the farm with the workhorses.
Christine Vandenbrink
Christine is an avid horse lover and has her very own quarter horse mare named Brownie. Her younger sister's miniature horse, Ruby, is Brownie's buddy. She lives in the country with her family and has recently started working in a flower shop. Christine is looking forward to training to be an instructor at SARI, as she loves the people, and horses as well. She believes that involvement at SARI is a great opportunity to learn for everyone, both for people and horses!
Maryanne Kjemtrup
Maryanne Kjemtrup has been volunteering at SARI since 1998. She volunteered as an Instructor in the past but now has started working towards her Intermediate Instructor through CANTRA to gain more knowledge because she missed the experience of being an instructor so much. She has worked for The Salvation Army since 1984 in finance, administration and human resources and has volunteered in many different ways with the organization in such areas as respite care, community living, etc. She likes to spend her free time kayaking with her husband. She also loves to visit her Stepson in Kentucky and to spoil her cat named Billy.
Ashley Parker
Ashley has been involved at SARI since 2007 helping out with lessons, Camp SARI, Exercise Rider and Barn Staff. Ashley has been riding and competing since age 4 and has been a member of the London Pony club for six years where she has competed is every competition possible. She has done hunter/jumper to eventing to the Prince Phillip Games provincial team. Ashley enjoys volleyball, traveling, playing all sports and playing with her dog Ivy.
Brianna Steeper
Brianna has been a volunteer at SARI since 2008 and started the process of becoming a lesson instructor in early 2011. She was first introduced to horseback riding at the age of seven and competed in the trillium circuit for a large portion of her riding career. She has recently put competing on hold to finish an honors specialization degree in psychology at King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario. Brianna continues to ride for pleasure and helps out as often as possible at a small stable just outside the city. When she graduates in the spring, she hopes to become a certified CanTRA Instructor. In her spare time, Brianna can be found at the gym, watching movies with friends, experimenting in the kitchen and finalizing wedding details with her wonderful fiancé.
Lauren Harris
Lauren has been involved with SARI since 2004, beginning as a volunteer side walker and becoming an Assistant Instructor. Lauren received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario in 2009. Lauren then went on to receive a graduate certificate from Fanshawe College in Autism Behavioural Science. She currently works for Thames Valley Children’s Centre in the Autism Intervention Program, as an IBI Instructor Therapist. Lauren is looking forward to this opportunity and cherishes all the memories she has developed thus far here at SARI. When Lauren is not at SARI she enjoys skating, spending time with friends and simply living every day to its fullest.
Jordan Newington
Jordan has been volunteering at SARI for 6 years. She started as a volunteer and has undertaken a variety of roles including Camp Director and Instructor. In 2010, she earned her CTRII (Canadian Therapeutic Intermediate Instructor) certification. She has been teaching Friday night lessons for years and looks forward to it every week! She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, earning an Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in Cell and Developmental Biology. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Biology at the University of Western Ontario with the hope of finishing by 2013.
Holly Olivier
Holly started volunteering at Sari in the fall of 2010. She went with the Sari's Prince Phillips Games team and helped them to victory at the ONTRA show in Kitchener.Holly has been a volunteer instructor since 2010 and currently working towards her Cantra level II Instructor Certification .She is taking the Human Services Foundation course at Fanshawe College and is enrolled in the Social Service Worked Program for the fall session.Holly brought one of her horses to campus this year to present the benefits of equine therapy to her Special Populations class.Holly trail rides and competes in dressage where she and her 6 six year old chestnut thouroghbred won two Grand Champion awards at The Hoofbeats Dressage club in Melbourn this year.
Katie Westwood
Katie is currently training for her CanTRA certification. She has been volunteering and excersize riding at Sari. She has been riding at local barns, athough her favorite pony is Indie. Katie plans to attend UWO next year for general science.
