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The Ridgebury Team
Katy Schermann
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Katy started in the finance world working at Bridgewater Associates and later on at the Blackstone Group. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to create a personal assisting and concierge firm which she successfully ran and grew for over 8 years before selling. Following her heart she created and co-founded Ridgebury Farm and Stables leveraging her passion of helping children, horses, and her entrepreneurial background. Katy has also studied Equine Science at the University of Connecticut and enjoys her involvement in the Wilton Pony Club with her two daughters.
Assistant Director
Whitney holds a Bachelor of Arts from Sacred Heart University, and a Master of Arts in Special Education from Fairfield University. Whitney has worked as a therapist for children and young adults with a variety of special needs for nearly a decade and believes in the unique benefits that horses can bring to neurodiverse individuals. She is also a lifelong rider, and owns Pip and Storm. Whitney is passionate about making riding an accessible sport for everyone and has seen the transformation in her clients when she incorporates horses in her therapy. She has the distinct ability to combine her knowledge and experience of horses and best practices in therapy and we are thrilled to have her as a part of Ridgebury Farm.
Whitney Gearin
Ian Schermann
Ian Schermann
Director of Operations and Development
Ian has worked in both entrepreneurial environments, corporate and non-profit settings for over 15 years focusing on business operations and human resources. Ian is responsible for the back-end operations of the farm and holds certifications in human resources, project management and operations management. Ian is also responsible for the non-profit development including grants and strategic planning. Ian’s knowledge of best practices for systems and project management allows us to operate seamlessly, unlike any other barn.
Michele Farrelly
Clinical Director and Physical Therapist
Michele received a Bachelor of Arts in both Rehabilitation and Psychology from West Virginia Wesleyan College and her Master of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. Her first job at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh taught her the value of bringing fun and joy to her work with children. Michele has more than 2 decades of experience providing physical therapy services to young children of all abilities. She has worked in Birth to Three, in-patient, out-patient, home care, and schools. She believes children and families do their best with a team approach of collaboration and out-of-the-box thinking. Some of her favorite childhood memories come from being on her grandfather’s farm. Walking into the barn always brings Michele a sense of happiness and calm.
Jill Salman
Jill Salman
Occupational Therapist
Jill received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut in Animal Science and Equine Science and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University. She is a pediatric specialist and has worked in private practice, schools, and specializes in sensory integration. She is certified in Hippotherapy with the American Hippotherapy Association. In addition to bringing her 18 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, Jill is also a lifelong equestrian including competing on the UCONN Equestrian Team. She has been involved in many facets of Equine Therapy, including volunteering with Pegasus Therapeutic Riding. For Jill, hippotherapy is truly where her two passions come together. Jill is a mother to 3 children and multiple pets including a 21-year-old off-the-track thoroughbred that she adopted 17 years ago and rehabbed and retrained.
Judith Liu
Psychotherapist
Judith Liu a licensed clinical social worker who specialized in Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (AAT). She has been working within this specialized space with Canines and Equines. She is a certified Eagala practitioner which specializes in providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and has experience working with various populations. She is trained in modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical behavioral Therapy (DBT) which are effective with treating clients who struggle with Anxiety, ADHD, Depression, and trauma. Judith is currently completing her certification in Natural Lifemanship.
Phil Allen
Property Manager
Phil holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology focusing on Atmospheric and Earth Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has worked with farms in North Carolina and is meticulous in his work and care for both the landscape, barns and overall property. He oversees the safety of the staff, animals, and visitors by keeping the farm a beautiful and functional place for all to enjoy.
David Wildman
Barn Manager
David comes to us with a lifetime of experience both in horses and carpentry, a wonderful combination for a farm! He owns Ace, and takes the utmost pride in ensuring that our therapy herd receives the best care possible at all times. David also brings many of our therapy ideas to life with his carpentry skills.
Haley Levesque
Program Coordinator and Trainer
Haley’s love for horses began at the age of five when she began taking riding lessons at a small stable in Westchester County. Throughout her life she continued to ride as much as possible while also exploring her love for art and design. As an adult, Haley began working in Social Media and Marketing, but continued to ride and began volunteering at a Therapeutic Riding Center. After a few weeks of Volunteering as a Side Walker and Horse Leader, she took the plunge and began her training at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding in 2017 to become an Adaptive Horseback Riding Instructor. Haley earned her PATH Intl. Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification in 2018 and has taught and worked as a Volunteer Coordinator at Riding Centers throughout New York State.
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