Top

Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton (TROtt)

Our Staff

Who we are

It takes many helping hands to keep this facility and program running smoothly every day. We encourage you to take a minute to get to know our talented staff, instructors and volunteers. Without them, TROtt wouldn’t be an exceptional place to learn, love, laugh and grow.

Staff

Fiona Kearney, Operations Manager, CTRSI, EC Instructor

Fiona joined TROtt in 1999 as a volunteer. She has had many roles over the years with TROtt and is currently our Operations Manager. She is a CanTRA senior instructor. Fiona has more than 20 years experience as a therapeutic riding instructor in the UK and Canada. She was even a certified trail ride leader in Scotland, taking vacationing people out for trail rides in the Scottish Hills. Fiona is also actively involved with the Ottawa Dressage Festival as the Director of Operations at the show.

Ginette Sheen, Book Keeper

Ginette started volunteering at TROtt in the early 1980s. After retiring from her full time job in the municipal sector, she started working for TROtt in April 2001 as Office Administrator. In September 2001 she also took on the job of Bookkeeper. Ginette loves working at TROtt as she can still use her impeccable office skills and be around horses.

Rhonda Roberts, Barn Coordinator

Anna Ribberink, Volunteer Coordinator

Anna joined Trott as a volunteer in 2015. What started as a once-a-week commitment, became an almost full  time volunteering job, helping out in classes, working with the horses, and supporting Fiona in the office. She is also training to become an instructor. In January 2020 Anna joined our staff as our Volunteer Coordinator.

Tracey Bender, Equine Coordinator

Tracey came to TROtt as a volunteer in 2006.  Seeing the benefits of the program, she became a CanTRA Intermediate Instructor in 2013.  Over the years, she has continued to increase her involvement to include the training of new volunteers and running the ground work training for the TROtt horses.  In the spring of 2020, Tracey accepted the new position of Equine Coordinator.

Jess Graham, Superintendent/Night Check 

Weekend Barn Staff

  • Sarah Knoerr
  • Berkley Parisien

Instructors

  • Tracey Bender, CTRII
  • France Laliberte, CTRII
  • Lise Dust, CTRAI, EC Instructor
  • Nicole Meyer, CTRII
  • Amanda Gaudet, CTRII
  • Chrissy Amell, CTRII
  • Emily Smart, CTRII
  • Emily Schinko, EC Competition Coach, CTRII

Instructors in Training

Cynthia Langlois
Anna Ribberink