Benoit Dube | Executive Director

Benoit’s love of horses and a desire to give back lead him to join Hope Haven as a volunteer in the Spring of 2017. Seeing firsthand the benefits of Hope Haven’s Therapeutic Riding Program he was driven to contribute further by joining the Board of Directors in November 2017.

In May 2018, he was honoured to be named Executive Director where his abilities honed over 25 years in the corporate world leading initiatives through project management & strategic planning supported by solid financial acumen will help grow and sustain the success of Hope Haven.

Benoit lives with his wife Michelle, Indy their Great Dane and cat in the wonderful town of Meaford.

Barb Sheperd | Development Officer

Barb was delighted to join the Hope Haven Board in April 2016 and has now stepped into the role of Development Officer. After 16 years of leading the charge as Chief Marketing Officer for law firms, Barb now combines her decades of business, marketing and coaching experience with her lifelong passion for horses and equine therapy to help enrich the lives of people with challenges.

When she’s not building fund raising campaigns, Barb can be found riding the trails with her handsome Tennessee Walkers, Archer and Kit or hiking with her Great Dane Oliver.

Robyn Allen | Program Manager & Physiotherapist

Originally from London, Robyn grew up riding horses competitively in Hunter-Jumper until she attended McMaster University, obtaining degrees in both Kinesiology and Physiotherapy. Robyn currently resides in the Georgian Bay area with her husband and three boys and enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle with her 2 dogs Rosko and Ruby.

Robyn started at Hope Haven as a volunteer and consulting Physiotherapist. She went on to receive her certificate in Hippotherapy and then proceeded to come on board as our Program Manager. She is enjoying being able to wear both her Physiotherapist and Program Manager hats as she helps to Make Hope Happen! Outside of Hope Haven, Robyn is one of 6 National Para Equestrian Classifiers in the disciplines of Para Dressage and Para Driving.

Emma Houser | Volunteer Coordinator & Instructor (PATH Intl. CTRI)

Ann-Ida Beck | CanTRA Senior Instructor (CTRSI) & PATH Intl. CTRI

Ann-Ida Beck is a certified Canadian Therapeutic Riding Senior Instructor and brings her amazing experience and attention to detail to her role. Her love of horses and equine activity guided her to therapeutic riding in the early 90’s. Her commitment to the riders and nurturing their development and success is what keeps her coming back.

Ann-Ida also enjoys cross-country skiing and hiking the picturesque trails of our community, but she is best known for her amazing artistic abilities and a keen eye for colour. She and her husband Richard are an amazing team at Hope Haven on Saturdays, but when not grooming and navigating horses together, they can be found gliding gracefully in one another’s arms on the ballroom floor.

Gillian MacNeill | CanTRA Intermediate Instructor (CTRII) & PATH Intl. CTRI

Gillian an Intermediate Instructor, certified through the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association was raised in Scotland where she learned to ride and develop her skill. Following high school, she completed her British Horse Instructor /Masters Program and worked at an Eventing/Hunter facility in Scotland before moving to the London, Ontario area.

Gillian attributes her current riding style and ability to her long-time mentor and coach Rennie Zimmer, who passed on his skills from the well-known Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Under Rennie’s tutelage, Gillian learned to train and school horse to compete at a basic Dressage level.

After raising her three children with her husband, she started volunteering at a Therapeutic riding facility and in 2011 achieved her CTR Intermediate Instructor certificate.

Robin Rich | PATH Intl. CTRI

Robin joined Hope's instructor team in the fall of 2019 and is certified through PATH Intl. She began riding around the age of eight - not a horse but her dad's big red gas tank. He eventually felt sorry for her a bought her a real horse. "Sam" came with a western saddle, so barrel racing and pole bending became her pursuits, but she eventually became interested in english riding styles and got involved with 3-day eventing. Different interests and work lured her away from the horse world for a couple of decades, but Robin eventually returned, kindled by a growing interest and fascination with the Canadian horse. She found her dream Canadian and together they explored the world of natural horsemanship, undergoing years of in-depth study and training. 

Over the past 3 years, Robin has been developing an adaptive riding program at a rural residential community in Angus for adults with disabilities called Camphill Village. Her brother Mike lives there, and he and his pals were the inspiration to begin the program. 

In addition to things horsey, Robin plays music professionally, and is the music director at a church in Durham where she lives with her cat, Miguel.

Danielle Rose | Horse Manager & Instructor (PATH Intl. CTRI)

Danielle has been involved in the equine industry since 2010 and has enjoyed every minute of it! She started out at pony camp but quickly realized her passion for horses and that the barn was where she belonged. She has spent many years working as a stable hand, working student, and has even started her own equine grooming and exercising business. As a 2021 graduate of the BBRM Equine Management program at the University of Guelph, Danielle is now focusing on training horses and helping others enjoy them as much as she does through coaching. 

When she isn’t riding and teaching at Hope Haven, Danielle can be found riding her own horse, O’Malley, who she is currently training 3rd level dressage and hopes to take to the Grand Prix level!

Jessica Ross | Property and Barn Manager

Jessica has been with Hope Haven from the beginning, starting as a faithful volunteer in 2009. She has continued her studies in Equine Health and Management through the University of Guelph and has earned her current position based on her knowledge and experience with horses.

Like our Fjords, Jess is part of the foundation of Hope Haven and she rarely has a negative thing to say about her equine friends and likewise, they would never bite the hand that feeds. A true Grey County girl, Jess enjoys everything about the outdoors especially her annual camping trip with her father.

Anita Moldovanyi | Barn & Property Assistant

Anita grew up in and around the GTA but has always known one day she’d be a country girl. Anita started volunteering at Hope Haven in 2014 which evolved into a part-time job as a Barn and Property Assistant.

Anita inherited her love for horses from her father who was a horse trainer in the Canadian Military. He encouraged and supported Anita in all her equine adventures. She started riding at a young age, stopped for a few years when life in general interrupted and now is getting back into the swing of things. She began studying wild horses in Nevada with equine biologist Craig Downer and continued her equine studies under Dr. Leonard Blach in New Mexico before returning to Canada.

When not at Hope Haven, Anita can be found on her own farm pampering her own horses including one of Hope Haven’s retired equine friend, Cutter. He is in good hands.