Our Staff

Staff

Dianne Urquhart, Executive Director

exec_dir@ottawatherapeuticriding.ca
(613) 898-0832

Dianne joined TROtt in 2023, bringing her experience from a long career in the charity sector and as a horse owner.

Fiona Kearney, Operations Manager, (CanTRA Senior Instructor, Equine Canada Instructor)

operations@ottawatherapeuticriding.ca
(613) 821-1844

Fiona joined TROtt in 1999 as a volunteer. She has had many roles over the years with TROtt and is currently our Operations Manager. 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.

Diana Garrett, Volunteer Coordinator since 2023

trottvolunteer@rogers.com
(613) 821-1844

Diana moved from being a TROtt volunteer to volunteer co-ordinator.

France Laliberte, Rider Intake Co-ordinator and Instructor (CanTRA Intermediate Instructor)

ridercoordinator@rogers.com

After 16 years as a paediatric nuclear medicine technologist, France wanted to join her passion for horses with her desire to help children and adults with disabilities.  She started volunteering at TROtt in 2007.  She became a CanTRA (AI) instructor in April 2009 and then a CanTRA intermediate instructor the following year.  She started with the rider coordinator position in November 2021.

Instructors – Therapeutic and Adaptive Riding

Shawna Carlton, Team Lead – Mounted Programs, Instructor and Volunteer Training Facilitator
(Equestrian Canada Competition Coach, CanTRA Intermediate
Instructor  

Amanda Gaudet, Instructor (CanTRA Intermediate Instructor)

Nicole Meyer, Instructor and Volunteer Training Facilitator (CanTRA
Intermediate Instructor, Horse Powered Reading® Facilitator)

Anna Ribberink, Instructor (CanTRA Instructor)

Facilitators – Equine Assisted Learning

Tracey Bender, Team Lead – Unmounted Programs, EAL Facilitator and Instructor (CanTRA Intermediate)  eal@ottawatherapeuticriding.ca

Jason Abramovich, EAL Facilitator 

Leanna Haythorne, EAL Facilitator

Brenda Makad, EAL Facilitator

Stable Staff

Rhonda Roberts, Barn and Equine Coordinator.  rhonda@ottawatherapeuticriding.ca
Brent Botti, Casual Barn Staff

Eilish Connors, Casual Barn Staff
Ikram Khan, Casual Barn Staff
Jessica Oakman, Casual Barn Staff 

Michele Sterling, Casual Barn Staff

Emily Veinot, Night Check and Barn Support

Administration

Joanne Stanley, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@ottawatherapeuticriding.ca