Healing Strides of VA (HSVA), a 501©3 non-profit organization, has announced that two of their instructors are now USHJA Certified Trainers.
Head Trainer, Stacey Fitzgerald and Ferrum College Equestrian Coach, Margaret Cornwell have completed the process to gain their certification. These ladies are the only USHJA Certified Trainers within a fifty (50) mile radius. HSVA is a PATH, Intn’l, Premier Accredited Center offering Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT).
“As the only Premier Accredited Center in the Roanoke Valley, having two USHJA trainers at this level of education strengthens Healing Strides as an organization, keeping the horses balanced and responsive for all levels of riding offered, from wheelchairs to collegiate,” said Carol Young Executive Director of HSVA.
To help subsidize the continued need for therapeutic programs in our area, Healing Strides of VA began to host the Ferrum College Equestrian Team and became an approved United States Pony Club Center (USPC). “Having a leadership team that thinks “outside of the box” by joining forces with other programs and then integrating the programs have made HSVA a successful organization in challenging economic times as these,” Young said.
The USHJA Trainer Certification Program was developed to preserve the American Hunter/Jumper Forward Riding System by offering a comprehensive educational program based on that system and providing increasing levels of certification for professional horse trainers.
HSVA’s head trainer, Stacey Fitzgerald, has over 20 years of experience training and producing top sport horses and riders using natural horsemanship methods that build lifelong enjoyment for both horse and rider. Ferrum College Equestrian Coach Margaret Cornwell has worked in the horse industry for the past 14 years and is an alumnus of Ferrum College 02’ riding on the IHSA team in the Open division from 1997 – 1999.
Healing Strides of VA is situated on 22 acres bordering Magadee Creek- just North of Boones Mill, on Naff Rd, 10 minutes South of Roanoke – Tanglewood Mall area. For more information visit www.healingstridesofva.org or call 540-334-5825.
