Instructor Heidi Koch Awarded PATH Region 11 Professional of the Year

Heidi 3We are very excited to announce that one of our instructors, Heidi Koch, was awarded the PATH International Region 11 Professional of the Year.  Heidi is one of our therapeutic riding instructors and teaches on Wednesdays, as well as instructing Bridle Paths to Success, our young adult program on Thursday mornings.  Heidi received her therapeutic riding instructor training in Switzerland in 1987, and has been teaching at Xenophon since 2005.  Heidi’s dedication to her profession made her the perfect candidate for this award.  She approaches each of her lessons with careful consideration for each student’s individual needs.  Her gentle manner is calming to both the student and the horse and her compassion for both people and animals is passed on to every student.

In addition to teaching at Xenophon, Heidi also teaches able-bodied riders at Summit Ranch.  Her love for her students is deep and she has provided many of Xenophon’s riders, who have aged out of the program, to continue riding under her careful tutelage.  Heidi is extremely active in the horse community, serving on the boards of local associations.  We are very proud of Heidi, as she was chosen from a distinguished group of candidates from throughout California, Nevada and Hawaii.  Heidi will be honored as the regional recipient at the PATH International conference  in Cleveland, OH in November.  She will also be a candidate for the national Professional of the Year,  which will be announced at the conference.  Congratulations, Heidi.