About Us
Hope Haven is a specialized equestrian centre offering adaptive riding and horsemanship as well as therapy programs for individuals who have intellectual, physical, social and/or emotional challenges.
Mission Statement
We connect horses and individuals with challenges to improve physical, emotional and cognitive health in a positive and safe learning environment.
Vision Statement
Our equine and therapeutic programs enrich the lives of our participants, their families and our volunteers in a community of hope and healing.
Values
We have a passion for results.
We promote teamwork.
We celebrate fun.
We are committed to safety.
We are committed to the well-being of our horses.
We are accountable to our participants, families, and donors.
We strive to help and improve the communities where we work and live.
We promote wheelchair accessibility.
Meet the Team
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, 2 dogs 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.
Robyn Allen | Program Development Manager
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.
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
Growing up in Lion's Head, Emma had a passion for horses from a young age. After graduating with a degree in Equine Management from the University of Guelph, Emma went on to an administrative role at a local tractor dealership where she continued to increase her knowledge of the agricultural industry.
Emma has always had a passion for working with people (and animals)! She has previously worked at African Lion Safari as a tour guide and has volunteered her time in adaptive riding in the past.
Ann-Ida Beck | CanTRA Senior Instructor (CTRSI)
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)
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.
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.
Hope Haven has over 70 amazing volunteers that help keep our programs running smoothly. Each volunteer brings their unique background and talents which contributes to our team. Our volunteers help groom the horses, prepare them for lessons, lead and side-walk during lessons, and exercise our herd. They also help with assisted activities and general maintenance around Hope Haven. Hope Haven is very thankful to have such amazing volunteers.
Pam Kinzie | Chair
Pam answered a small ad in a local paper soliciting volunteers for Hope Haven about four years ago and has never looked back. She joined the Board of Directors at Hope Haven in 2013.
Pam has extensive experience on volunteer boards, serving on the Collingwood General Marine Hospital where she chaired the Governance and Quality Committee and Georgian College, as Chair of the Board. She also served on the Boards of Georgian College Foundation, the Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club and the Bent River Road Land Corporation.
Currently, Pam is the Principal of Firstbrook Strategies; a consulting firm that specializes in organizational evaluation, project management and consumer service in community health and social service organizations. She resides in the Pretty River Valley, Grey Highlands with her husband, a black labrador and a barn cat.
Ann Jackson CFA, MBA | Director
Ann is a University of Western Ontario graduate and the Founding Partner of Jackson/Martin Reimagine Investments. She worked in the investment management business for 30 years as a financial analyst and sales professional and as a portfolio manager at Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management. As a portfolio manager, she specialized in providing a unique client service model to non-profit/charitable clients.
Ann has served on several Boards and advisory and investment committees. She is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Director’s Governance Essentials Program for Not-for-profit Organizations in Rotman.
In her spare time, Ann enjoys traveling and the odd round of golf.
Cathy Wentworth-Stanley | Director
Cathy is a graduate of the University of Guelph (Honours B.Sc.) and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh (M.Sc. with Distinction in Equine Science). A part-time assistant instructor in Equine Guelph’s Equine Functional Anatomy course, she is currently also completing her Equitation Science International Diploma. A member of ISES (the International Society for Equitation Science), she continues to do research in the area of equine learning and training in an effort to improve equine welfare and rider safety. Occasionally, Cathy shares her Equitation Science knowledge with our staff and volunteers at Hope Haven through seminars and demonstrations.
Cathy has previous Board experience with the Collingwood Family Y and is currently on the local organizing committee for the ISES Conference in Guelph in 2019.
A horse owner for 50+ years, horses continue to play a huge part in her life and her family’s life. When not busy with her own work, you can find Cathy supporting her younger daughter, Olivia, at dressage shows in Canada and the US.
Anne Shenstone | Director
Anne has had a life long love of horses, art and working with children. At Hope Haven, she feels she has found the perfect blend of all passions. As a former Special Education teacher, Anne brings many years of experience developing learning goals for individual needs and creating community. She is a former small business owner, loves to make art and is always on the go with her large and busy family of humans and furry friends!
Mary Thomas | Director
After having grown up on a farm and riding as a youth, Mary was thrilled to become a volunteer with Hope Haven. Initially engaged with the riders and horses, and more recently as a member of the board.
After early success in the technology sector, she decided to follow her heart and employ her sales and management skills in the charitable sector. Now, with more than a decade of volunteering and work experience at some of Ontario’s largest public and non-profit organizations. Mary enjoys traveling and spending as much time as possible in nature.
Rosemary Henry | Director
Rosemary joined the Board of Directors at Hope Haven in November 2018. After many years of holding financial and accounting positions in both industry and
public accounting and having served on volunteer boards in the past in a financial capacity, Rosemary was a natural fit for the Hope Haven board with her background,
work history and education. Although she came to Hope Haven with no previous horse experience she is very excited to be a part of the team. Currently living in Meaford, Rosemary enjoys spending time at the lake and with her two four legged friends, her dogs.
Dawn McConnell | Director
Dawn has recently retired from her law practice in Toronto where she specialized in the fields of civil litigation and employment law for over 35 years. She was a Partner with the law firm of Day, Wilson Campbell and later started her own law practice in association with other employment law specialists.
Riding has been a special pastime, as well as her involvement over the years with her daughter’s show jumping events and the family horses. She also enjoyed competing in the Adult Hunter class in Palgrave. As a new Board member, Dawn looks forward to supporting the Centre’s inspiring work.
Our Horses
Solo
Solo is our newest addition. He is a 5 year old registered paint horse. He has a heart of gold with the patience and wisdom of an older horse. He was originally trained to event but has since adapted to his new job as an adaptive riding horse.
Blizzard
Blizzard is a 12 year old quarterhorse with a loving personality. She arrived at Hope Haven in October of 2019 and quickly became a favourite for many or our riders. She is an experienced and very reliable schooling horse with beautiful movement which she brings to our ridership here at Hope.
Arwen
Arwen is a 16 year old quarter horse who used to be a drill riding horse. She competed at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in her younger years. She arrived at HH the summer of 2017 and quickly proved to be an amazing teacher and reliable school horse.
Dawson
Dawson is a 21 year old quarter horse gelding with years of schooling. It's hard not to immediately fall in love with his adorable face and lovely personality.
Bonnie
Bonnie came the summer of 2017 and is a percheron thoroughbred cross in her mid 20s. She is extremely kind, gentle and has quickly become a favourite for many of our riders.
Gaben & Taylor
There is nothing that this dynamic duo can't do! Gaben and Taylor are often the stars of the show here at Hope. They are so loved for their fun personalities.
Lilly
Lilly is a beautiful and sociable bay quarter horse with a calm disposition, making her very popular with our riders and school groups.
Abe
Abe is an 11 year old Norwegian Fjord and social butterfly! He is eager to learn and has a sweet disposition.
Red
Red is our therapy cat at Hope Haven. We call him "the boss" and you can usually find him socializing with clients and supervising the staff. He also sleeps a lot.
Fred
Our wonderful, steadfast Fred is a Norwegian Fjord, stands 14.3 hh and is in his mid 20s. Due to his age, he has retired from our riding programs and is used primarily for our horsemanship programs.
Gigi
Gigi came to us in the Spring of 2015 and is a beautiful, copper-coloured Haflinger/ Draft cross with a white mane and tail. Approximately 13 years old.
Princess
Princess is our princess! Like her brother Fred, she is also a Norwegian Fjord. She has a lovely gait making her ideal for our hippo therapy and adaptive programs.
Our Facility
Located on 142 acres of beautiful farmland, Hope Haven is situated on the top of Beaver Valley, just northeast of Markdale Ontario.
Hope Haven includes two barns containing eighteen box stalls and thirteen paddocks for our fabulous herd of horses. We have an indoor riding arena with a fully accessible bathroom that permits our programs to occur year round. Our beautiful outdoor dressage ring as well as our extensive trails through our feilds and forests are enjoyed in the warmer months and allow participants to take in the picturesque surroundings of Hope Haven. Our office and spacious activity centre are located in an adjacent building which houses our second fully accessible bathroom.
Contact
545747 Sideroad 4A, RR #2
Markdale, ON N0C 1H0
(t) 519-986-1247
Directions
Located on Sideroad 4a between
7th Line and 9th Line.
Benoit Dube, Executive Director
execdir@hopehavencentre.org
Barb Sheperd, Development Officer
partnerships@hopehavencentre.org
Robyn Allen PT, Program Manager
program@hopehavencentre.org
Emma Houser, Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@hopehavencentre.org
Ann-Ida Beck, CanTRA Senior Instructor (CTRSI)
abeck@hopehavencentre.org
Gillian MacNeill, Horse Trainer
gmacneill@hopehavencentre.org